Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by FalloutJack
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FalloutJack The Long Dark Nuka-Break of the Soul

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A pair of soldiers were taking a bit long to prepare for the mission today...but it isn't what you think.

With the ever-looming mission and all that could happen lying in front of them, Isaac and Britta had decided to do something constructive to put their anxious feelings about it aside. It wasn't anything intimate. That might make them even more worried about their future. When dealing in uncertainties - things like 'How many troops will we be facing?' or 'Will there be more gas?' or 'What caused that explosion, last night?' - it's best to deal with something in front of you that will leave you with less regrets. The two Gunners had no regrets about each other. Really, they were more afraid to pursue things further because of their mission, but they still acknowledged that they were close

That was why they decided to compose letters together.

The two of them sat at a table, with Rikes either lying nearby or padding around somewhere, and were writing to their folks, respectively. They were kinda' left alone, or at least given a bit of distance, because this lupine bastard kept giving people The Stare. That's that quiet glare a wolf can give where you don't know what they're thinking. Of course, Isaac had told a couple of soldiers never to maintain eye contact with a wolf for too long. They don't like it. It could be taken as a challenge. Rikes wasn't likely to lash out at random, but while he'd had discipline engrained into his being, so too had he had training to attack, as well. If a man looked suspicious, even in the right uniform, he could strike, thinking it was someone with the wrong smell or body language. But mostly, everything was quiet at the table, as they put pen to paper, each with a shitty cup of coffee that Rikes wouldn't drink.

"So, do you have any other family other than your parents and Hans?"

"Some relatives, but nobody as close. We don't see them that often. I see that you do."

She could read the top line upside-down well enough.

"The Black family is a bit of a clan that stems a bit further west. Sometimes, we go off to get together and have a party. I'll probably have missed one by now. Alex and Emeri are just good hard-working siblings."

"Don't you work hard too?"

"Yeah, but that's what defines them more. Alex is an optimist, very supporting and looking for answers to everyone's problems. Emeri's inciteful, caring, funny at times. You'd like them."

"Well, maybe I'll meet them when we pull off this plan of yours to corner the farmer's market."

They laughed. They based their possible future plans around the idea of their families partnering up to make a killing in produce and livestock, supporting each other in an alliance that would rule the farm world for all time! It was a funny idea, and it was kind of what they were saying instead of 'I don't want to leave you'. Both of them might've known it on some level, but they were keeping it low-key to prevent it getting all up in their heads in a distracting way. Soon, they had to get a move on, because they would be running late, sending off their letters with Rikes to the dispatchers as they headed off. After all, it was his other job and main line of training.





The last thoughts of those who go off to face death with dignity...

Truth be told, of course, they'd rather not face death at all, but rather fight for life. Still, you can't know what's coming for you. All they knew for sure was that today, they would be heading towards the Amone Cathedral, birthplace of religion in this area and fortified position in battle. If anyone was in it, they were taking it from them, and if anybody wanted it after that, they were to prevent them from doing so. With that grim thought in mind, the Gunners would find their days suddenly brightened up by-

"Lucia! How are you?"

"You look well. I hope Middleton isn't working you too hard."

-a definite morale boost on two legs. Isaac wondered how she'll react once the morale boost on four legs gets back...
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by CFProxy
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CFProxy Für Gott und Kaiser

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"You like him don't you?"

"Hm?"

"Don't play coy Senji"

"Oh lord... What have you wrapped around your mind today?"

"So what is it about him? Think he's cute?"

"Still avoiding the question like you are so very certain that I know."

"Still so very dismissive when you're smart enough to know who I'm talking about."

"Even if I liked a boy it isn't my place yet. Have patience, Anneli."

"Hmph. You're normally more flustered. I guess I can't blame you. How many bodies did our Darcsen friend bury?"

"Too many. It's always too many. He carries a darkness in his heart. I think that he is on the brink of losing himself entirely. If he suffers more then he may just become what he desperately hopes he never becomes."

"They call him a reaper. A black headed Darcsen who has an equally black hand."

"Tsch! A reaper? He's a victim doing his best! They have no foundation for such claims!"

"Oh? Sensitive are we?"

"An-Anneli!"

"Ha! So you like them both!"

"Huh?"

"Here I thought you were the homogenous type. So tell me, why the shrimp?"

"Look... Even if it is true I can't get involved. I don't even know them. I want to- but I also understand how relationships can be here. Their culture is different from ours."

"How different could it be?"

"Religion, region, tradition-"

"Okay- not what I meant. Hush." With a sip of water Anneli laid back in her bed, pulling Senja in with her. "You mentioned religion first so I guess you just like that he's a Cruxian then?"

"...In my order it is said that we are best matched when we are upon someone of equal yoke. He is an intelligent man with a heart beyond himself. My sisters of faith dream upon finding someone as selfless as he."

"Oh? So what is different for you?"

"I have heard- there is another. Similarly- Franz also seems to love another."

"So that's why."

"I am not to ruin what has already become. That is not who I am."

"So what are you going to do then- Senja? Wait until you find someone who doesn't have loose feelings for someone else? What about those children you keep naming in your sleep? Will they ever be born?"

"Anneli!"

"Ha!"

"I... I don't know. I just don't want to be responsible for another's heartache."

"Naive- aren't you? Maybe they've been looking for someone who will chase after them yet you cower here in our room speaking of responsibility. Don't you think they would be heartbroken that you never tried?"

"You don't know what you mean. Besides, I must know the man I am to marry. I wish to never subjugate myself to multiple partners- and god forbid marriages."

"Hmm... Well if it doesn't go well, you can always marry me."

"Persistant as always!"

"Trust me, if I could give you children I would. Damned be my parents for giving me the head instead of the handle!"

"You're sweet... in your own way. Although rather crude!"

"Senja!"




From the distance came a familiar humming. Though its tone was foreign in its melody the voice of the huntress approached followed by the humming of the taller one behind her. Into the presence of the support group came another. The foreigners of another land made themselves known by their noise and their flags which they wore with pride. In the hands of Senja was some fresh sweet rolls held by a blanket of a handkerchief. In the hands of Anneli was an extra canister of potato soup.

"I guess we got the adorable crew today, didn't we Senja?" Anneli chuckled, Senja just looking over to her briefly with a smile.

"Behave."

"Yes, Senja."

"Who's hungry?" Senja pondered, looking to ensure that the morale of the soldiers would be high as they ventured into danger.

@Bushman501@Conscripts
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by dwyer austin
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dwyer austin

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Oliver Sinclair
September 10, 1914
Vinland Basic Training Base



The transition from civilian to soldier in training was jarring. Inside of a week it seemed to Oliver like he changed the course of his life forever. He barely had time to say goodbye to his family and friends before he was ushered onto the train to basic training, the promises of letters from everyone being the only thing keeping him from second guessing the choice, even if he couldn’t go back on it if he wanted to. The train ride was hard, Oliver unaccustomed to the constant movement and loud noise of the tracks under him as the train rolled along. The bus ride was worse.
Somewhere in between the train and the bus, there was a shift in attitude from both the soldiers and the recruits. The soldier’s attitudes shifted from relaxed and jovial with the lot of recruits to one of stern, almost cold distance from them. And the recruits on the train slowly began to silence their boisterous chatter. Something was coming, and everyone aboard knew it. Oliver for the most part kept to himself, the nervousness over the ordeal he signed up for and not wanting to be questioned over the welt and bruise that formed where the cut he received was enough to keep him quiet. Instead he people watched, the different faces from all around Darport, and other cities along the way. He noted Texio as one of the stops because of how far he was from home at that point, furthest he’s ever been in his life.
Getting on the bus was where the situation Oliver and all his fellow recruits came into focus. The group of recruiters were replaced with stern faced Sergeants with broad brimmed military caps. The drill sergeants weren’t civil with their commands, shouting at the recruits to get off the train, file into their respective bus separated by train cab, and pipe down while they explained what would be expected of them all. Everyone Oliver could see obeyed, motivated by fear, excitement or both. Oliver was no acception. The bus ride to the front gate of the training facility was tense, Oliver’s heart pounding harder the closer they got. As the buses slowed to a stop the screaming started. It seemed the screaming was a constant for the entirety of that first night. Move, stop, turn around, repeat. The commands from the sergeants kept coming and Oliver struggled to keep up, growing flustered every time he was chastised for being too slow, or not audibly replying to commands. It was chaos.
At some point during the chaos of the first night Oliver found himself with a large group of other recruits inside a barracks. Dozens of bunks lined each wall calling to the travel weary and exhausted recruits. They were allowed a moment's respite each recruit splitting off into groups. Far as Oliver could tell, some of the larger groups we're the guys who were lucky, all from the same town, friends facing an ordeal, together for a new frontier, a new adventure. Oliver had none of that. He filed in toward the back right, last bunk in the room, a few faces joining him. Others who didn’t belong to the groups that were forming. Oliver stayed silent, sitting down on the last bottom bunk in the room, marking the place as his. He rubbed the cut on his head, the tender, dull pain jolting him, but also reminding him of home. The reason he was here.
A loud bang came from the end of the barracks. Oliver glanced over and saw an imposing man in a similar drill sergeants uniform flanked by men to his right and left. The only difference in the apparel the men wore immaculately was a black belt with golden buckle the lead man wore, as opposed to the green and silver the other two had on.
“Atten-hut! Get on the line recruits Move it!” Shouted the lead sergeant, his voice booming and strong. Oliver, just like his counter parts all quickly shuffled to the bright line in front of every bunk to listen to the words the man began to speak.
“Listen up maggots! You all signed the same damn dotted line and now your ass is mine!” The man roared, as he paced the floor of the barracks, a lion looking over a flock of sheep, trying to pick which one to devour.
“So let's get you acquainted with the man that owns you for the next two months.” The man said, a smug smile on his face as he continued.
“I am Gunnery Sergeant Clay.” Sergeant Clay said, stopping to face the first group of people from the same town.
“Let me make something crystal clear recruits! From this point on! I don’t care who you were before you decided to wear the uniform you’ve been issued. You’re not that person anymore. You’re apart of something bigger! And the only way you can survive here, the only way you survive the shit storm out in europe? Is by accepting that fact. You obey! You fall in line! You live!” Sergeant Clay said as he glared at one of the recruits in the group of hometowners.
“As you are now, those bastard Imps will eat you alive! All of you! Not a one will make it out of this war alive!” The mans words struck a chord with Oliver. Death? Oliver knew from the jump it was a possibility, but the prospect of it being upfront and center now, terrified him.
“ But my job is to make you ready! So get some sleep maggots! . . . You’ll need it.” Sergeant clay barked before promptly leaving the room, the two auxiliary sergeants barked an at ease to the recruits, letting them settle into bed as they left. Oliver again picked the last bottom bunk, sitting down gingerly as he spoke, to himself? To the people around him? He wasn’t sure.
“What the hell did we just sign up for..”


DELILA COOPER

September 10, 1914

Vinland Basic Training Base

Everything around Delila felt so surreal, just a day ago she was a normal civilian helping her family. Now she was standing hands at her sides with a girl who couldn't be any older than sixteen next to her trying to hold back tears as a angry D.I. walked up and down yelling. Delila couldn't help but question how she even thought any of this had been a good idea or why it even crossed her mind. How was joining the Vinland army for war going to protect her family... how was she ever going to taste her fathers homemade Shepherds pie again? Even though she should have been paying attention Delila's mind couldn't help but wonder off.
The sunlight that day seemed to be stronger than any other she could remember that summer, especially with fall only being a week away. But even with the sun being so scorching Delila and her father still had an entire fence post to fix up with barbed wire going through the spaces. It wasnt even noon and more than half of the fence posts had been finished, but that was just how hard Delila worked especially her father. He was a well built man who was always known as one of the best farmhands, in the entire state of Texio. Delila had always admired her father as the strong man he was.
"Hey Delila! I think that's good for now!" He was making his way over to her, none of his tools in hand or placed inside his leather tool belt. "Damn good fine job girl, ya shoulda told ya pops yar a chip off da ol block. Now come on yar moms whipped up somethin good for us im bettin."
"Alright pa, I'm right behind ya." Realistically Delila just wanted to finish that darn fence post then and there. It was common knowledge that taking rest after working hard would only make ones body ache, and Delila didnt even feel like taking a rest. But who was she to say no to her father, if he needed her to she would have gladly went back in time and sacrificed herself in order to bring back her brothers.
As they both entered the house the smell of freshly cooked meat and baked bread overloaded Delila's senses. She was sure there was saliva leaving her mouth, and from the look on her dads face he was just as if not more hungry than she was.
Both of them took a seat at the families wooden dining table, but not even five seconds later a loud shriek came from the kitchen. "DAWSON AND DELILA FRENTO COOPER! HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SAY NOT TO SIT YOUR ASSES ON MY CLEAN FURNITURE AFTER WORK! ONE DAY I'LL SKIN YOU BOTH ALIVE AND THEN YOU'LL LISTEN TO ME!" Isabelle Cooper, Delila's mom, was always that type of woman. She lived for a clean productive household and her threats have never fallen on deaf ears ever. But there was no chance to follow her orders since the woman was already standing at the end of the table with two plates of sausages, bacon and toast for them both. Both Delila and her father didn't waste a second of time to dig in. The only words that could describe them at that very moment was. Animals. "CHEW YOUR DAMN FOOD BOTH OF YA! I SWEAR IM MARRIED TO AND RAISED A PACK OF DAMN HYENAS!" A fist connected with the table surface as Isabelle scolded both her daughter and husband, but more to her daughter. But that didn't stop her father from doing her exist orders which prompted Delila to do the same. Delila looked at her mother and couldnt help but shiver at that cold smile on her face as if she had just tamed two wild beasts and were gonna lead them to the slaughterhouse.
An hour nearly passed and the time was coming up on eleven o'clock. Delila had long finished her food and was now sitting next to the window of her families living room with a ivory pipe she had gotten from the towns sheriff as an apology for the situation that happened with her brothers. She sat there with the stem in her mouth blowing O's from the end of the pipe. The ivory was slowing starting to lose it's white color and was slolwy with each time Delila placed tobacco inside the pipe would get a bit more brown, although it wasnt noticeable to anyone else but Delila. While smoking the pipe and letting the smoking tobacco burn away, Delila noticed something very odd going on with the streets. Every ten seconds a group of people would ride past, either on horse back or in a carriage. Hell a group of boys, all brothers, were having a foot race at least that's what she assumed. That is until Delila decided to turn on the radio which was next to her father who was also smoking a wooden pipe and reading a newspaper. First there was static until, alot of static. So Delila tampered with the radio until she reached the correct station, which is when she heard the words. "My fellow Vinlanders, we are now at war with the Imperial Empire. We have now joined the war with our allies and shall be joining them on the frontlines. This was signed an hour ago at exactly ten am. I repeat." And that's exactly what the messaged repeated. Delila couldnt believe her ears, in fact nobody in the room could not her father, mother who had dropped her sewing sticks, nor her two younger siblings who had been playing around with a toy truck. The room fell silent in that very moment.
Dawson and Isabelle both stood up with lightning speed to block the way of their daughter. it wasnt a secret Delila had planned on joining the military after her brothers death and this was her perfect chance. Without even wasting a breath and ignoring all the protests coming from her father and mother. They followed her screaming about her brothers, and the house all the way to the door. And even outside on the way to the stables were Delila kept her horse chestnut horse with white socks, Lewbowski. Somewhere along the way her mother had stopped yelling at Delila to fall on the ground to cry tears that practically broke Delila apart. But even then she climbed on top of her horse and rode him outside of the stable. "Please take good care all of ya... I'll be back home. But this is somethin I just have to do. Pa i know you understand." Dawson stopped in his tracks and took off the straw hat that rested on his head. The man placed it on his chest and with a stone face he nodded to his eldest child. With that nod Delila took one last look at her family and house then rode off down the dirt walkway and onto the streets.
Delila practically raced her horse down the rode and to the town, which is where everyone else had been heading to. On the way to the town she passed the group of boys who had foot raced riding inside of a wagon and all of them were exhausted. Delinquents and normal farmboys and girls alike were riding horses or carriages all the way into town.
When she arrived to the bustling town, there were boys, girls, men and women everyone running around frantically. Delila stepped down from Lewbowski and led him forward with her to the recruiting office. But sadly to her surprise that line didnt seem to have any type of end to it. Everyone it seemed wanted to go off to war and fight for their homeland. For Vinland.
In total it took Delila exactly and hour to get to the town, and then it was thirty minutes before she could even sign up. At least the line was moving quick enough. To Delilas surprise someone had came out the office crying. They'd just been rejected. She'd never seen him before, but he couldn't be any older than fourteen, not old enough to join the military yet. Along the way this situation happened five different times with five different people, all of them came out crying and screaming as they wouldn't be able to one day spread their tales of war. One by one, person after person, people walked inside the recruiment office and back outside with a new uniform along. Once outside they would climb onto the back of a wagon and wait for it to fill before riding off a yard and being replaced with another.
By the time it was Delila's turn she wanted nothing more than to just sign the papers get measured and head on to the wagons. For some reason to Delila's surprise the whole process went by without any complications or problems, it would have been a lie if Delila said she wasnt a bit nervous she would be treated like a reject. But luckily for Delila she received and changed into her uniform with the most shit eating grin on her face. With her head held high, she walked towards the wagons as if the uniform was a shining suit of armor. Although that wasnt the best part to Delila, in fact the best part was once she arrived at the wagons with people all clapping and cheering for her like they'd done everyone else, she was offered a hand from her fellow recruits and up onto the wagon. She was leaving everything behind, everything and everyone she loved, but she left with zero regrets.
It was another hour and a half before one of the recruiting officers were able to get through everyone who wanted to enlist. With his sound off the wagons began to move out one by one. As the wagons rode out of town the crowd of people threw rice at the young men and women who were heading off to war, the crowd screamed and cheered for the soldiers some girls who didnt sign up exposed their bare chest to them all even. That sparked the people most of who were men around her age to laugh out loud with whoops and hollers.
Once out of the town Delila was finally able to sit back and relax to think about the adventure that awaited her. Everyone including herself talked about how many kills they'd get, or the momentos of war they'd all be able to collect. Spirits were high and moral showed no sign of dying down, that is until the group from her town arrived to the train station. One by one they all hopped off the wagons and walked in a single filed line to board the trains. That is where her real adventure began.
Bootcamp

It was almost as if she had been dreaming but Delila was soon snapped out of her transit daydream and back into reality as she found her back in her original position. Next to a sixteen year old girl who seemed almost three seconds away from pissing herself and a angry drill sergeant who was about three girls down from Delila. "OH OKAY YOU PIECES OF SHIT MAGGOTS! WHO'S NEXT! YOU!" He pointed towards Delila and walked over to her steam coming fromhis nose like a bull.
"Private Delila Frento Cooper! SIR!"
"PRIVATE COOPER! WHY DID A PIECE OF SHIT LIKE YOU THINK IT WAS OKAY TO SLEEP IN THE GIRLS BARRACKS! OH DONT TELL ME YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE AN ACTUAL GIRL DIDNT YOU!? WELL LISTEN HER YOU TUCKED IN WEASEL COCK BASTARD! THIS WILL BE HELL ON EARTH FOR YOU! HELL I LIKE YOU BOY! YOU'VE GOT BALLS OF FUCKING STEEL! WHICH IS WHY I'M ASSIGNING YOU PLATOON CAPTAIN YOU TWINKLE TOED CUMSTAIN! IF ANYONE ACTS OUT OF LINE BOYS OR GIRLS IM BLAMING YOU PIXIE DICK! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME MAGGOT! NOW WHO'S NEXT!" This torment went on for every girl until the drill sergeant walked towards the door and screamed out, "GOODNIGHT MAGGOTS!"
"Fuck... fuck.. fuck... I think i made a big fucking mistake." She crawled into her bed which was now to


Austin Dwyer
September 10, 1914
Vinland basic training base

Austin was reminiscing about his time back home while on the carriage going out to the next stop of the way to the training base. Where he lived peacefully with his family and friends and took care of the stray cat that lived out in the town without a care in the world. He loved that cat. He made sure it had shelter at all times. He couldn’t bring it home unfortunately but he still cared for it when he could. He felt bad for it being alone out in the cold all the time. He was always taught to be kind and respectful towards everyone so he felt like he should extend it to animals as well. But then wartime struck and unlike everyone eager to go to war, Austin had no such plans. He hated the idea of war and would rather stay out of it. That was until members of the Vinlandian army came to his house in Richamon Hill in search of able bodies for the war effort. When they threatened to take his mother when he refused he caved in and agreed to fight for the war. Because if his mother left his father would have to stay home to take care of his younger sister, who was too young to go to way at 15. And his father had a long work schedule as he worked making medicine for the common folk and army. So if he was forced to stay home it could cause him to lose his job trying to take care of his family. Austin sighed as he felt the carrages take a stop and heard all sorts of yelling from the insufferable sergeants, to get up and move out. Which he did as told. However what Austin didn’t know was that he had a little furry critter following him throughout the whole adventure. He constantly worried about his family back home, hoping they could get by without him around to help run errands and such.
Once they all finally arrived at the military base and the orders just wouldn’t stop. Do this and that for several hours. Austin was annoyed by it all but never spoke a word. He was not about to get in trouble over all this nonsense. He was surprisingly able to keep pace with everyone, being one of the people who was well built in muscle for his upper and lower body, even if it was mostly concealed due to his clothing. Once they were done for the night he was sent with a group of boys into a barracks and sighed as he wasn’t finally able to rest. While he could keep up, his body hurt, he wasn’t used to such exercises. He went to the back of the barracks where another’s boy seemed to head. He preferred to be alone Right now as he was in a bad mood. Being forced into the army will do that to you. He heard the door slam open and the yelling of an angry sergeant. Once he stood in place and the yelling stopped he sighed, finally, some time to rest.... But he then noticed something rubbing against his leg and looked down....... Fuck. It was the cat! Did it follow him all the way there?! Christ sake! He groaned as he heard another’s boy question what they just signed up for and out of annoyance without thinking Austin responded. “Don’t lump me in with the rest of you. I never asked to be here! I was forced to come here!” He then took a moment and sighed. “Sorry...... I’ve just had a bad day.... I didn’t mean to yell... Just don’t make the assumption that all of us are here because we want to be....” Austin then put his bags away and grabbed the cat quietly and went up into the bunk over the boy he had just yelled at. With that, he began to pet the cat Sam it laid down and purrs slightly as it snuggled up against him. He rolled his eyes as he looked at the little sneak. “What am I gonna do with Bastion?....” And that is the end of the first day for the new recruits of war, from Vinland.


September 11, 1914

“ . . . don’t make the assumption that all of us are here because we want to be. ” Those words stayed with Oliver as he stared at the top of his bunk. They were harsh, but the guy who had spoken them already apologized.Today’s been hard on all of us. Oliver thought as he closed his eyes. Sleep didn’t come easy, and Oliver was sure he was beginning to hallucinate. He was hearing the purring of a cat, but that was impossible. Eventually sleep came, but only in bursts anxiety rearing its head multiple times in the night in the form of nightmares.
A few hours into the night and the sounds of trumpets began to play outside, the rhythm there at least but it was way too early for it. Oliver groaned in protest but couldn’t get any words out before the barrack doors swung open, the banging of a trash bin and the lights snapping on calling the room to attention
“Reveille, Reveille! Get your asses up maggots Move it! Lets go we don’t have all day!” Sergeant clay’s voice boomed the banging of the trash bin and the trumpets outside doing nothing to silence it. All around Oliver chaos began as clay and the sergeants began to shout and the tired and frighten recruits around him began to fall into the line.
Oliver sat in his bunk for a moment, taking the chaos in, it was only a couple seconds, but it was enough to get the attention of one of the Sergeants, Oliver couldn’t even see the nametag before the man was yanking him up by his arm and screaming in his face.
“WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM RECRUIT? HUH? THAT BRUISE ON YOUR FACE WORSE THAN IT LOOKS?! YOU GOT BRAIN DAMAGE?!” the man barked Oliver fumbled with a reply before being cut off.
“I DON’T GIVE A RATS ASS RECRUIT, WHAT’S YOUR NAME HUH?” The man barked as he dragged him over toward the line.
“O-Oliver James S-Sinclair sir!” Oliver shouted as he got into the line with the other recruits, the man letting him go and walking into the center before turning around and facing Oliver again.
“I GOT YOUR NAME NOW SINCLAIR, YOU MOVE WHEN YOU’RE TOLD TO MOVE! YOU PUSSYFOOT AROUND AGAIN AND I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER! CLEAR?!” The man screamed until the vein in his neck bulged, Oliver was reminded of Mr.Sheffer then as he nodded his confirmation.
“Yes sir!”
The man didn’t respond again, moving off to another recruit that didn’t meet his standards. The noise of orders being given and replies being shouted back carried on for another minute before the group was marched outside to begin their first day of training. It didn’t take Oliver long to notice the girls we’re filing in with the boys, but any lingering glances were met with harsh reprimand from the officers. There was no socializing allowed while training. They made that very clear.
The day continued, the sergeants drilling the recruits in everything from formations to how to properly blouse the boots they were wearing. Nothing about how to fight a war yet Oliver noted.The only thing that even came close was the Sergeants issuing the recruits their training rifles. Sergeant Clay called the group into formation, girls and boys both mixing and standing at attention as he stood at the front, the rifle held in his hands as he began to speak.
“Recruits! This here is the M1914 Fielder. This here will be your first battle buddy!” The man paused for a moment, his eyes floating between the different faces before speaking again.
“You will memorize the serial number, you will memorize every inch of this weapon. From this point on she is your lover. You’re going to learn all the ways to please her, she likes to be Clean! She likes to be greased! She likes to sit beside y’all when you eat! She likes sleeping next to each and every one of y’all at night. Hell she might be the only person who ever will you sorry sacks of shit! So line up! Come get your rifles!” Clay’s command was met with swift action, Oliver moving quick to be the first one in formation for the rifle. He didn’t buy into everything Sergeant clay said, but a rifle was familiar. He wanted familiar.
Not long after the guns were issued Oliver found himself in a marching run with his group, the Sergeants singing cadence. Oliver hugged his rifle close to his chest as they ran, controlling his breathing as best he could. He thought his legs would give out when Clay finally ordered them to stop. Oliver glanced at his watch, the only personal effect they let him keep told him it was noon. They’ve been up since before dawn and Oliver was starting to feel it. Thankfully, noon meant lunch, and soon the Sergeants allowed the recruits in to enjoy what Oliver considered to be a decent meal.
The Sergeants exerted themselves less in the chow hall Oliver noted as he took his food, only really barking orders if the room got too rowdy, the recruits from the same home town wisened up to this, speaking in hushed tones at their own table, soon many of the others followed suit. Oliver went over to one of the empty tables and watched the room as he ate. Girls and boys intermingled and talked. The rifles,uniforms, and hushed voices being the only difference between this boot camp chow hall and a restaurant. So he ate, his rifle resting against the table at his side, silently waiting for the lunch hour to be done.


Delila laid on the bed with her hand behind her head and the other resting across her stomach. There really was no way of getting sleep as she laid there just... Angry? She had no idea how to feel especially with being called out and assigned the leader of a bunch of people who had no idea about. Hell throughout that short night she could hear various sniffles and cries coming from all over the barracks, that damn D.I. really showed his fangs to them all and she knew that treatment was going to be common. If this is what they called breaking down and building up a soldier then Delila knew it was going to be a gruesome experience.
It couldn't have even been six in the morning, before Delila heard the bugles outside and followed by that was a loud bang and crack. Someone had kicked the door completely open and walked inside beating a metallic trash bin to near death. "UP YOU SLIME TOAD MAGGOTS! UP TO YOUR FEET! BE DRESSED AND READY TO WALK OUT IN FIVE MINUTES YOU SLIMY TWINKLE TOAD CANNON FODDER! ANYONE WHO ISNT READY WITHIN FIVE MINUTES IS A TRAITOROUS IMP!" Half of the girls in the room were already moving in a frantic mess trying their best to put on the correct clothes, the other half found what they needed with relative ease and were filing into a line at the door to begin the morning training. Delila was in that groop but yet she wasn't the fastest of the bunch and ended up being in the fifth position of the line. The D.I. walked up to her barking like a rabies infested dog. "PRIVATE COOPER YOU INSUFFERABLE PIXIE DICK! WHY WEREN'T YOU THE FASTEST OF THE BUNCH! YOU ARE THE CAPTAIN ARE YOU NOT!?"
"Sir yes sir! I will be faster next time sir!"
"I DONT WANT TO HERE ABOUT NEXT TIME! YOU BETTER STOP FUCKING ME PIXIE DICK OR I SWEAR I WILL FUCK YOU AND THEN UNFUCK YOU LIKE THE BABY MAGGOT YOU ARE!" He spit at the ground only missing her boots by an inch before moving on to the next of the trainees who he deemed deserved his fury next.
That five minutes felt almost like a lifetime, Delila fought the need to breath properly as she was too nervous to fuck up and be at the end of the D.I.'s anger. But with a blow of a very loud whistle from one of the other two assistant drill sergeants Delila began to actually breathe. They were led out of the barracks and to an open field where they all filed into rows and lines alongside the boys. There was never a chance to even get a proper look at any them as the moment every last recruit was in perfect order the worst of the day began. It started out as simple stretches and basic exercises like push ups, but it quickly started to escalate into things Delila had never even heard.
By the end of that first portion of what was to be called 'the basics' Delila was sure she had made a mistake. Although she never voiced how she felt or even groaned alongside the rest of the company. As the day went on Delila made sure to do everything they were taught to the exact motion. Hell most of it was basic work that she had already picked up thanks to growing up on a farm, but for others she could tell some of them were just flat out confused or didnt have proper hand eye coordination. But something that was also very noticeable was how every time they would finish learning something new, Delila would get pummled with insults by the screeching voice of the D.I. who they all learned was named Cobel, Drill Sergeant Cobel. He made it clear that it would be her fault whenever anyone of them fell behind or didn't understand, and thus it continued like that for the day.
Once they were all given their rifles, Delila felt at a loss for the first time during it all. She'd never held a gun before despite living in Texio. The brand new M1914 in her hand was almost like a beautiful work of wood and metal, Rosenburg, that is what she named her weapon. During the final marching run of the morning it took Delila a while to figure out how to properly hold her weapon comfortably while running, the added weight of the rifle also slowed her down a bit. But she knew Rosenburg would just be another part of her, a part that she could carry without even slowing down or being awkward around.
Now it was chow time, the only time the recruits had without worrying about getting drilled for any reason, or so she thought. While everyone had scattered out of line and towards the mess hall, Delila on the other hand was pulled to the side once again and felt the sharp tongue of sergeant Cobel. "ARE YOU TRYING TO GET THESE MEN AND WOMEN KILLED COOPER?! EVERYTIME SOMEONE FALLS BEHIND! EVERYTIME ONE OF THEM MISPLACES A SHOELACE OR EVEN FORGET TO PROPERLY CLEAN AND BLOUSE THEIR BOOTS! THAT IS ANOTHER DEATH THAT YOU AS CAPTAIN WILL HAVE TO BURDEN! YOU ARE A SHIT FILLED CARCASS TO ME AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT MAGGOT! THE ARMY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SCRAPING SHIT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD RATHER THAN DEALING WITH YOU! PIXIE DICK! YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN DRIED UP CRAP FROM MY MOTHERS DECEASED CORPSE! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR MAGGOT!? YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE THIS PLACE! AND IF BY THE GREEN DICK OF GOD YOU DO! YOU WILL BE THE FIRST ONE DEAD ON THE FRONTLINE! NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT MAGGOT!".
"Sir yes sir!" Delila gave the sergeant a salute before turning on her heels and heading towards the mess hall to join everyone else. She ignored giving anyone a gaze and walked past each table with her head high, there was no way she was going to show anyone that what the sergeant had said to her really did bother her. The mess hall food looked wonderful to Delila as she walked by with a plate full, it wasnt anything like home cooking but with everything that had been going through, this was a five star meal.
Most of the table had been filled with people already, consequence of being late. By the time she had found a near empty table her appetite for food had all but suddenly vanished, but she still placed her tray down anyway. She noticed a boy sitting across from the spot she had chosen, "Hey you mind if i take this seat?" Even though she had asked, there was no time to wait for a response her butt was already planted in the seat and a long sigh of relief left her lips. Delila reached into the pockets of her uniform and removed a carton of cigarettes and a box of matches. She would take one of the cigarettes and place it to her mouth, then followed that with lighting it with a match. Before putting it all away she extended her hand and offered one to everyone around her, majority of the people she offered them to took them without a second thought. "What about you? Want one?" She was holding the box towards the boy who sat across from her.


While the other two had rough nights sleeping, Austin had a wonderful sleep. He was used to sharing a room with someone so any noise that was there was rather comforting... He and his little sister shared a room where they slept, they always were messing around and having fun at night. So in a weird way, sleeping in a room with other people was calming to him. What Austin wasn’t prepared for was the sound of trumpets in the air and the sound of a very angry drill sergeant booting open the damn door and screaming at the top of his lungs, which not only woke Austin and his cat Bastian up but also made him fall out of bed and onto the hard concrete floor. Everyone found it hilarious but didn’t dare laugh as the drill instructor saw the whole thing. Bastian However was a very smart cat, and hid under the covers and laid down flat so no one would notice him. He groaned as he soon got up and got ready for the training, being one of the first ready, However he did reactive exercises harsh glares from the drill Sargent as he screamed at the boy next to him about getting up and getting ready. Once they were outside and training Austin was able to keep up with the normal training exercises..... But soon began to fall off due to how long and how many of them they had to do. And some of the shit they came up with sounded like out of a book of fake news. It didn’t take long before he was on the receiving end of the drill sergeants harsh words, in front of the boys and girls that they were joined with.
“Private this is the sorriest display of physical prowess I have ever seen in all my years! You dare call yourself a man?! All these girls could kick your ass all the way back to where ever it is that your sorry excuse of a mother birthed you without even breaking a sweat! Pick up the pace or pick up your bags and go home so that we may shoot you and put you out of your misery you limp dicked, pussyfooting, waste of human filth!!!!” Austin was about to lose it on this man for daring to insults his mother, but he barely held himself back as he then continued doing the exercises as instructed. He had nothing to say to these assholes, and he really didn’t care if they insulted him, but his family was another matter.
When they finally got their rifles, Austin couldn’t have cared less. He stayed near the back of the line to get his own rifle. Once he had it he held it, and didn’t really care for it, why give him this when they didn’t need it? There was no point in his eyes. It was a waste of time to carry this human killing thing. But alas he had to. And followed the rest of the drill procedures as told, as he also got yelled at some more seduce to his slower pace and his worse stances. Once it was time for lunch, Austin was the first to leave, he really didn’t care for any of this bullshit. He quickly got his food and sat down at an isolated table alone.... That is until two other figures sat down in front of him. One of which he recognized. The boy from last night and the one who got yelled at this morning. He was wondering if he came by to talk to him. But the other one, the girl, she seemed a bit more composed, though he really didn’t know as he focused on himself during training..... But she did something that pissed him right off.... Handed out cigarettes..... Austin took the one offered to him, aimed it, and flicked it all the way into a trash bin. He then turned and glared at her. “I’d rather not shorten my life span thank you very much. Nor do I want to get yelled at by a drill sergeant who will find out about this from the smell of your breath. You all better get rid of those damn toxic sticks. Don’t bother giving any to me.” Austin knew his words were harsh, but he was just hating that he even had to be here. All this was just making it worse. He hated being anywhere near cigarettes and their smoke, it made him ill. He then sighed as he laid his head in his arms. “I’m sorry......... I just hate being here........”


Oliver watched the guy who slept above him take the cigarette and flick it away in Bemusement. It didn’t make sense, like maybe he was trying to make the girl mad. Then he apologized, and that made it just a bit more confusing. Oliver just scratched his face at the whole thing for a moment before smiling at the girl.
“No thank you miss.” Oliver said before gesturing at the boy.
“He’s right y’know? I don’t have an inkling on how you got your hands on those smokes, but I reckon they’ll only cause you more trouble with the angry little gremlin that’s been badgerin’ you.” Oliver paused for a moment, his smile never fading as he regarded the girl. She was tall, that fact jumped out right away as she approached them. Her hair was cut short and Oliver found himself chuckling slightly at the creativeness of Cobel Pixie Dick How ridiculous.
“‘Sides that, pleasure to meet’cha Pixie. I hope you don’t mind me callin’ you that. Sergeants got the right idea when it comes to names to call ya. I’ll drop the obscenity though.” Oliver said with a wink and a chuckle before turning his attention to the boy regarding him with a smile as well before saying.
“y’mentioned you didn’t want to be here to me last night Partner. I’m sorry to hear that.” Oliver stopped for a moment before continuing.
“I don’t reckon ya need to be so aggressive with us though fella, better or worse, we're all in this together right?” Oliver looked between the pair of them before saying.
“I’m Oliver Sinclair. What can I call y’all?”


"Hey partner, were all having a rough go of it. Ya hear me? Dont go on bout spoilin' the fun for us just 'causing you ain't seeing this being the great ballroom or whatever." Delila said with the lit cigarette still in her mouth. She wasn't upset with how her gift had been tossed to the trash, but she also wasn't going to let one downer effect the moral of everyone else's drained bodies.
"And you, Oliver right? Dont go round here callin me Pixie all casual like. ‘Cause the moment you do it, so will everyone else. I tolerate it from that stupid Sergeant Cobel cause i have to for now." She wanted to nip that nickname in the bud before it sprouted, but sadly it had already taken root as she overheard a couple other recruits refer to her as Pixie when they thanked her for the cigarettes.
"By the way Oliver wasn't it? Im Delila. Delila Cooper... Or now known as Pixie." She wasn't happy with the nickname but at least it didn't involve the second part, and at least none of the boys knew why he gave her that name.


“You can call me by my name. Austin Dwyer. I’m sorry for my rude behaviour but personally, I never wanted to come here. It was either me or my mom. I wasn’t about to let that happen. I just wish no one ever came to my home. What about you two? You two rush to the lines to join this damned war?” Austin was trying to not be rude as he spoke. He just didn’t want to be in this damned place. But no matter how much he hated it, he couldn’t change the fact that he was here. He had no right to take it out on others, but seeing them acting all casual like this is all normal made him angry. They had no idea what war would be like, he knew it would be death and nothing more. He sat there as he ate his food, he wasn’t picky about what food he ate. He had to make sure to have something in his system before he lost it all to training. He looked to the gun by his side and glared before turning his gaze back to the other two. “So, Oliver, you look like you got hit by a truck. What’s up with the bruises?”


“Well I wouldn’t say I was keen on getting yelled at, or any of this war business if i'm being honest.”
Oliver said considering whether or not he wanted to say more. These people seemed like decent folk, but he just met them. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to spill his life story just yet. So hesitation filled in the blanks.
“Things just sort of.. Ended up like this.” Oliver said with a shrug. “Long stories like that need more than just a lunch to fill in. Maybe i’ll let y’all know when we got more time. And uh. As for this?” Oliver said before gesturing to his face.
“Hunting accident, I took a pretty hard tumble down a cliff.” He paused then, considering what to say next.
“Murphy’s law.” Oliver finally said with a chuckle before looking at Delila
“What about you Pixie? Got a story?”


"Who me? Ehh, there aint much tellin honestly. Just want to make sure my family is safe. If not for that being the case, you fellas wouldn' have ever seen this pretty face."
There was alot more she could tell them all about why she joined, but seeing as she barely even knew them Delila kept everything to herself. In reality she was sure she had the most boring story out of them all there.
Delila looked at the cigarette she had and noticed the flame was practically dead and at it's last legs. "But to be honest, even though i've been hearin' all bout this dang war on the radio. Never in my life did I think i'd end up running off to go join it. But i'm kinda glad i did. On the train ride here, I heard from some of those mean looking veterans that we would just roll through the Imps like some kind of bull."
Delila snubbed the flame out by smothering it under her boot and went on pretending the thing never existed. Somehow she must've had the luck of the heavens that day, since she noticed two angry looking drill sergeants walking up to the door.
"Look alive fellas. Troubles coming."


Austin listened to the two speak. He could tell they had their motives, hearing Delila speak of family made him smile a little bit actually. “Fight for family. That’s what I’m doing. Glad to know I’m not the only one who is thinking about the right things. I don’t care for any of this glory or killing Imps nonsense. It’s ridiculous. War is never easy, plus the Empire is twice the size of the federation, no way are we going to win so easily.” Austin then turned to see the two nasty drill instructors leaving to do things. Well at least they were going to bother their little group. He continued to eat his meal as he felt his body recovering from the strenuous workout they had been doing for the past several hours. Speaking of which during the workout he had heard some nasty things come out of the Sergents mouth towards the lady he sat with. He also recalled her being called a captain. But she just joined, how did she already have a rank?
“Delila, mind if I ask how you came to be a captain? I over heard some of the others mention it along with your nickname. How the hell did you get promoted so quickly? Didn’t you just join like the rest of us?” Austin had no idea how any of this worked, it seemed extremely stupid to put a rookie in charge of a group of people, why not assign someone with more experience? We’re the higher ups just that mentally stupid? “Either way whether we like it or not we are all stuck here..... Might as well make the best of it right?...... Either one of you know how to use these guns they gave us? I’m as clueless as my sister is with math.”


Oliver watched the drill instructors leave. Something about it made him uneasy, like the respite might end soon, or worse. Somebody was going to get into trouble. Oliver looked around at each of the people Pixie had given cigarettes to as Austin asked his question. He took a moment, leaning back in his seat as he finished the last of his lunch before replying to Austin.
“Yeah man. I was a hunter for a living before all this. I used a Lever action so the bolt is new to me, but.. I should be able to get the hang of it soon enough. Same principle. I can teach you, maybe.” Oliver smiled at Austin, reaching out and patting the mans shoulder before looking at Pixie with a worried look.
“Pix, You gave those cigarettes out to more’n a few recruits… You sure they’re all solid?” Oliver paused after the question, he gave another glance around at the recruits he knows she handed out cigarettes to before his landed on the woman's facial features.
“I'd hate for you to go get in trouble in case one of these.. Folk get caught with the smokes. You ought to be careful. It wouldn’t take a lot to rat you out, ‘specially if it were gunna save their own skin.”
Oliver offered her a weak smile before continuing
“Be careful alright? Id ditch the smokes... And uh.. If you need help like Austin here? I'd be happy to sometime.”


Delila stared at both of them as they spoke, she was actually enjoying the conversation being held. "I dont know why the bastard made me a captain either sadly. He said he liked my guts for goin' to the girls barracks or somethin' alon' them lines..." She stopped for a second and scratched the top of her head, hell she even went as far as to feel her chest. "I dont even resemble anything lookin' close to a boy. Maybe it was just because I looked strong or somethin." Turning her attention to the group of recruits behind her Delila shrugged her shoulders before turning back to Austin and Oliver.
"Ya fellas know we're gonna be goin off to the otherside of the world we these fellas right? I have no choice but to trust em all as solid. Besides if they weren't solid they wouldn't have turned up here. Even you Austin, even if it wasnt by choice. I still think you have more guts than anyone else just for even coming here." She was sure her point of having to trust each other had gotten across. Even though it was only the first day, and not to mention training was only going to get worse. "By the way Oli, think you can show me how to shoot as well? I'm not so good with a gun. But give me a pair of wire cutters and a hammer, and i'll whip of a nice little wire fence for ya."


Austin looked at them both. He was enjoying the conversation at least. “Because you looked tough huh? A bit reckless. Even the strongest looking person could be incredibly weak. I mean no offence though. Just stating a fact.” He then began listening to her speak about trust and how she already trusted them, or rather had to trust them. She made a very fair point, some people might have just abandoned this and left. But he was sticking it out. Perhaps it was true.... But he still hated it and wanted out. “Yeah.... Well let’s see if any of us survive these training schedules..... I swear they’d shoot us willingly without a second thought if given the chance...... The drill instructors I mean...... But boy.... When he mentioned my mother like that, I was about to sock the fucker right in the face!” He was still pissed about that as well. No one spoke badly and got away with it. Except for them. It pissed him off greatly. And it showed, his brow furrowed as he finished up his plate and pushed it away, now just aiming to talk. He shook his head and put a hand up to hold it. There was also the matter with his little travel buddy Bastian. Damn cat, how was he supposed to properly take care of him here while hiding him?
“Hey one question, I know we are supposed to train here for awhile, but does anyone know how long we are going to be here for? I really have no idea and it worries me a bit. I feel like they are going to throw us at the enemy the first chance they get.” This legitimately worried him. He didn’t want to have a single day of training and then be thrown into the enemy the next day.


Oliver frowned as Pixie recanted the story of how she came to be a squad leader. Sergeant Cobel was an asshole to be sure, but up until just now Oliver thought he was just doing his job. Signalling out Pixie the way he did made him seem like he was more cruel than originally considered.
“Like I told Austin Pix, I'd be more than happy to teach y’all a thing or two. And uh.. Maybe you’re right, we do need to trust these folks ‘specially with us all being shipped off to war together and all… But uh, maybe not with your ill gotten gains, this early into your career?”
Oliver offered the pair a weak chuckle before he considered Austins question, recalling the conversations he had with his recruiter back home.
“I think we’re going to be here for two months Austin. That's what the recruiter told me before I signed the dotted line back home. So at the very least we’ll know.. Some things, by the time we ship out.”
Oliver paused then, chuckling once more as he considered the timing of their training.
“Downside being we’re heading over there in the middle of winter.. So I hope y’all like the cold.”


Delila shrugged her shoulders at Austins comment about her being tough. Of course she knew he meant no harm by it even if he didn't point that out, but it still rubbed her in a wrong way nonetheless. Mostly due to the fact that she was aware of how stupid and vile the choice was. "Yeah I reckon better than anyone that pickin' anyone based off their looks is a shitty idea. But who am I to go against whatever those damn drill sergeants do to us. They could come in the middle of the night and flip me off my bed and then proceed to toss my stuff around. And yet there wouldn't be a single darn thin' i could do 'bout it.
Delila couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to the person temporarily in charge of these guys for the few short months they'd be there. It was honestly intimidating.
"So we gonna be stuck here with that jackass and this gruelin' trainin' all the way till winter? She shuddered slightly at the thought. "Look on the brightside Austin, the sooner they ship us out the, closer we are to blowin away some Imp scum, and gettin back to our families. Hell maybe even start little ones of our own.
"I'm sure once we get there we'll probably be too busy to even notice the cold. Heads up fellas i think i see the Cobel heading this way.


Austin listened to them and groaned. Two months? That’s it? Wow the people here were far more stupid than he thought. There was no way they could learn what they needed to learn in just two damn months! They really were trying to get people killed. They were going to be shipped out in winter? Just great..... Just what he always wanted, to freeze his ass off and die of hypothermia in an infested camp filled with guns and empty of showers. He looked at the two of them and shook his head. “Fuck that man..... Winter seriously? Do they really want us to die that badly? Why don’t they just shoot us to get it over with, I’d rather go quickly and painlessly than freeze slowly over the course of several days.... I fucking hate winter.” He looked at Delila and heard her mention the Cobel moving to the group. “I don’t care if he is coming over here, he can go fuck himself and the hole he came out of. Why should we suffer for his inflated ego and his inability to lead people? That’s probably why he made you leader, because he is so incompetent he was ordered to give the job to someone else.” He groaned and nearly let his body flop, he was in no mood to deal with his bullshit. But he sat up still and waited for the screen fest to begin. He was already done with his food so he figured they were about to get singled out to do extra training or some shit.


Oliver tensed at the mention of Cobel. Him coming over to the group meant nothing good, and if he were to hear Austins saying he can go fuck himself it’d probably be worse than bad. Oliver glanced at his new found friends before looking at Cobel as stopped in the center of the room, making his voice boom.
“Alright you filthy Maggots! Lunch time is done! Get your asses up now, do it now!” The man screamed and began to single out recruits immediately near him that moved too slowly.
Before long other sergeants joined him in hassling the recruits, Oliver barely had time to look at Pixie, giving her a nod of recognition before he was corralled outside into formation in the hot sun. He stood there among all the recruits who slept with him in the barracks, and waited for a time his rifle held in his hands firmly, the only familiar comfort he had in this place so far.
“I hope you enjoyed lunch recruits!” The voice of Sergeant Clay boomed from behind the formation.
Some recruits glanced backward toward him and the entire company was made to do push ups for the offense; there was no breaking attention while in formation they wanted to make that clear.
“Now then! Rest of the days events! You’ll be marching! Formations, and a healthy serving of exercise! Good for the soul!” Sergeant Clay spoke in bursts, a grin on his face as he did.
It was then Oliver noted the heat, his issued uniform was suffocating under the scorch of the sun and he figured the sergeants knew that. The rest of the day was going to be hell. Maybe the rest of his days in training.
The sergeants made Oliver's company march and run in the sun from that afternoon until early sunset, it took all Oliver had not to throw up his lunch, or his dinner. And the weight of the rifle he’d been carrying all day felt like it had tripled.
He stood in the evenings formation right outside the barracks and all he could think about was his bed. But Clay stood in front of them all, the boys and girls. And he spoke in his regular tone.
“Ladies and gentleman, congratulations. You survived your first day, and not a single one of you quit or cried to mama! Impressive. Now, I won't lie to you recruits. You are still! A sorry. Miserable lot. You all have a looong! Way to go before you’re ready for war… but don’t worry! You might be ready by the time graduation comes.” Clay’s words held the inflection of doubt, but his poker face remained intact.
Before long the recruits we’re allowed into the barracks for lights out. Oliver took the entirety of the time allotted to bathe himself, letting the warm water soothe his aching muscles before he shuffled over to his bed without preamble where he laid down and groaned in a mixture of pain and relief, speaking out loud softly for anyone in the vicinity to hear him.
“Just fifty nine more days of this..”


Austin groaned as he stood up and was, like the others, corralled into the training regime for all of the recruits. This was going to suck. The scorching sun beating down on his skin and clothing, making him sweat like a fucking pig. He hated it all. Burn he went along with it because if it wasn’t this he’d probably get shot for any sort of insubordination. The dumbasses that turned when they heard the drill sergeant behind them forced them all to do push-ups. Dumbasses. After that they began their training..... It was fucking brutal! He felt like he was going to die all the way through! I mean, they ran for so long, did so much shit in such heavy articles of clothing and holding ammo and a damn gun. During the training on of the sergeants started screaming at him to pick up the pace, and Austin wanted to yell at him to shut up, but he held his tongue. He was honestly terrified that he might not survive the day. During his run he noticed someone collapsed and he stopped and helped them up, like they say, leave no man or woman behind. He’d help anyone else along the way and they’d finish the run together along with doing their exercises together as well, making sure to help where someone falters.
It was a very fucking rough day and it made his entire body sore, but he survived. He was very, very tired. He just wanted to sleep and go home. But like always that wasn’t an option. Once they were given the go to, to go to bed, Austin turned and began heading back, nodding to ‘Pixie’ as a sign to say “goodnight.” He was one of the first in the showers and thoroughly scrubbed himself of his dirt and grime that was all over his face and body. Feeling refreshed he got out and into bed. Ready to rest. Then Bastian suddenly popped his little head out of the covers of the bed and snuggled up to Austin as Austin began giving him pets. He was a good kitty. He was happy he at least had an old friend with him right now. He’d probably lose his sanity if he was here alone. Speaking of which, Bastian was purring from being petted not loud enough for the beds nearby to hear but maybe the one under could. He looked to Oliver as he saw him finally come out of the showers. Hearing him speak he sighed. “Fifty nine more days of hell in prison you mean. This is going to suck big time..... Nothing we can do about it though.”

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”Oh nevermind, she’s here.”

Save a lot of convenience for the sappers.

Despite the looks of it, the Vinland girl wasn’t the last of the squad to arrive. She was the last among the attacking sappers to arrive, but they weren’t yet up the headcount just yet.

”I think there are still a couple of escort troops that still aren’t here yet, but all the sappers are here.” Michael turned a bit, giving clear view of the two other sapper of company D. ”Yes, we only have this many...”

“Don’t be a defeatist.” The boy beside Anna suddenly spoke, seemingly dissatisfied by Michael’s unenthusiasm. “There must be a reason they only assign so few of us. It mu-.”

“Owen.” His sister sternly cut him off. Just like what she had feared. ”We just have to do with what we have.”

They have had the entire night to dwell on it. It had grown boring already.

”Anyway.” The Richelieu siblings, led by the older one, stepped forward to greet the Vindander. ”I’m Anna. And this is Owen. We’re your partner in this tunnel mission. How are you today?”

”I’m Reyna. And I’m tired.” Reyna offered a sheepish smile as she started to finally wake up. “I’ll manage, don’t worry. What about you three?” Reyna looked at the three other sappers with a small amount of interest. Slowly, Reyna kept nibbling on the cracker, halfway through with it. The very act helped with her nerves and kept her from thinking about other more stressful topics.

“Oh we’re ready for this! Right sis?” The younger boy was just waiting for this moment. The power of youth. He wanted to prove. It was usually combined with bad knowledge, leading to undesirable consequences, but thankfully his words were pretty benign. On the contrary, it was an up to the spirits of the other three, who seemed to be dead tired to be awake before the sun.

”I’m doing good, thank you Reyna. I’m honored to be cooperating.“ His sister couldn’t help but nod in his stead.

”I’m doing good too, a little sore but good. Thanks.” Michael followed.

Reyna’s smile grew a little wider as she blurted out to Michael “Did Lucia cuddle you a little too hard last night?” Once the words left Reyna’s mouth, she realized what she just said and mentally slapped herself. Why did she say that? It must be because she was tired, but she hoped she didn’t make Michael mad or anything.

”Pfft”

Oh, she didn’t know. The dwarf of the nobleman has a mistress? But she wasn’t too surprised. But still.

Michael found the surge of embarrassment rushing up his face, as soon as he heard his friend from company struggling to stymie a laugh. That last time she jumped on Michael’s back and then swung around him made his popularity too well-known. Or the fact that she stayed with him the entire time in Amone. That was probably the reason Middleton knew. A little depressing too, that because of it, she was forcibly dragged away from the squad.

Just as Anna was stopping her laugh, Michael stopped, or tried to, prevent his face from turning into a tomato. He cleared his throat twice. His attempts clearly highlighted otherwise.

”Whatever suits your likings, I guess.” He admitted it. Sort of...with a passive aggressive remark down the line. ”If you want my version of the story: I was down the street hit by the shell to rescue some survivors of that shell.”

So that is what really happened to Michael. Although embarrassed herself that she blurted out something so adorable she couldn’t help but giggle a little at Michael’s response. That’s something that she could tell Lucia later, how easily embarrassed he is anyway. Aside from that, the grim thought of the shell was not something Reyna wanted to think of, and so she decided to believe her own version a little more, if only in imagination.

“Sorry...but I’m glad you’re ok.” She quickly apologized to Michael. Reyna’s face was slightly tinted red, the laughter from Anna not helping not to mention the cute image she had in her mind. They now probably thought she went around telling secrets now, which was untrue. In fact, Reyna didn’t think many knew much about her due solely to the fact she normally kept herself in places where fewer people were around and she certainly didn’t make it her mission to speak to everyone, even though she did speak to others every so often.

She’s glad that he’s ok. That’s sort of eerie when he was the rescuer instead of the one being rescued. The one who saw hundreds of people being ‘not ok’ in that street. But for the sake of good will, he didn’t voice his victimizing complaint. Just a nod to accept her apology.

”I think I’ll be handling it just fine though.”

Let his spirit carry this battered body forward. If he did not collapse after this whole debacle, it’d be a miracle.
“Big sis, looks like our guys are calling us.” Owen tugged on Anna’s shirt

”Oh?” She looked over in the distance. A soldier waving at her and making hand gesture telling her to get going ”Looks like my squad is ready to go. I guess we’ll make our departure.”

She extended her hands both to the sappers of the 15th Atlantic Rifle.

”Good luck to you both.” Then to Michael specifically. ”Remember our scheduled time?”

”Yeah, but unfortunately I lost my watch in one of the Amone fight.” Michael replied, to which Anna considered for a few seconds.

”Then use this.” She pulled from her shirt pocket her own watch. ”I’ll share with my little brother. Return it to me once you’re done, ok?”

The Edinburgh sapper nodded firmly in reassurance, as she placed the silver watch onto his hand. The slick streamline design was really timeless when combined with the silver glow of the metal itself. A rather classic design for the upper class who value some good simplicity, though unfortunately it was still victimized by the dirty war.

Michael turned back to Reyna. He knew it might be foreign hearing what they just exchanged. He knew that he still hadn’t communicated the plan over to Reyna yet, which was something that he shouldn’t do, but it was easy to understand. Or at least it should be. If anything, he can just lead the way until then.

”I’ll explain when we are getting there.”

Reyna was indeed unsure of what just transpired, but she recognized valuable objects when she saw them. The watch was exquisitely detailed enough for the upper echelons of society yet did its intended job. Noting this, Reyna nodded to Michael and the other two before that. She didn’t pretend to know about the relationship that Michael had to the other two sappers, but nor did she really ask.

“Ok.” Reyna replied simply to Michael. It was the best response she could think of, with Reyna just now feeling the urge to eat more food. It was a good thing she prepared a little water in advance to quench her thirst. She turned her head to a noise to the right of her, spying Senja and another soldier she was not familiar with. Even Senja she only knew barely by name, but the accent she had was very distinct, probably especially so in the Atlantic Rifles. Hearing the question Senja asked, Reyna raised her hand with a nod in reply. Then again, Reyna was always hungry it seemed. With a small smile at the thought of food, Reyna finally said “Yes. Thanks”

”Oh Senja. It’s lovely to see you again.” Michael’s attention turned from the watch to the two final guests of this sortie. And to his surprise was Senja, along with a girl that he didn’t really know. Nevertheless he didn’t spare them his greeting gestures.

”Is your injury ok now?” And his concern for the injury Senja suffered the day before due to Michael’s hasty but arguably good intentioned decision. And also for the food she gave him.

”Thank you very much Senja. I appreciate it.”

A little breakfast could really help with the upcoming tough fight

Once the little break for some breakfast had ended, the tunnel strike force departed as soon as the sun was visible on the horizon.

”Ok I’ll get on with what I have been planning to do.” Michael spoke as they were halfway along the quiet, eerie sight of devastation. Hopefully it would both give Reyna the information and avoid the distraction of contemplation. There should be none of that now. ”You still have that map I gave you before coming into Amone?”

“Yeah, I got it right here.” Reyna pulled out the map Michael gave her at the beginning and held it out to him to take and use.

”May I have that for a moment?” He took out the pencil in his shirt pocket and marked a few spots on the paper. The most important one, the medical bay, he circled, and he did so more boldly than others.

”It’s gonna be easy to remember. We’ll enter at this exact time, and then exactly by the seconds ten minutes later, we will set the charge right here, to coordinate with the other team. We’ll cut their potential reinforcement from within. ”

Then he pointed at the other spots in which he marked differently with an X.

”Then we will blow these areas up. We can go together or split up, that’s one thing I want to ask you. I kind of want to make it fast by splitting up, so we can leave faster, but you may have a better idea”

Reyna looked at what Michael drew on the map, listening to him and asking small questions to clarify information. Finally, she nodded to Michael. “I agree. I’ll be fine on my own, but we need to have longer fuses so that both of us can get out of there.” Reyna observed. “Little concerning we’re detonating near a medical bay, but I see a barracks that leads right into it and then to only one exit if we destroy the tunnels here.” Reyna pointed out the points connecting to the medbay. “It don’t lead to anywhere but their above-ground barracks so if you wanted to we can give the wounded a chance if you’re feeling moral.” Though probably not ideal to the higher ups, Reyna was more than a little moral even in this hellish war.

”Well, we can’t really collapse the other exit anyway, so I don’t have any objections to that.”

Now that he realized it, the tunnel actually has three exits, but one of them was accessible directly from their above-ground barracks, so it made no sense entering from there. And who knows, maybe that can attract soldiers to actually enter the tunnel that way instead of the two ways that the Federation task force would attack, thus delaying them significantly. Every seconds count here. But essentially, it really counted as two exits.

How about longer fuses then?

Michael leaned his head a little on his shoulders, pondering. The tunnel was indeed quite deep, and the charges must be at the correct location, or else the entire tunnel could collapse and burying everyone. He wasn’t sure how tough these tunnels were. These charges were designed for a heavy demolition, so to be safe, 40 seconds may be a little too short of a time. It would be totally fine if the tunnel was empty, an ideal situation that probably no one ever had in a fight like this.

”That can be a good idea.” Michael’s eyes look up the sky for a few seconds. ”Though the first charge is still the same fuse. We want the timing to be exact. For the subsequent one, you can use longer ones. How long though? Two minutes is sufficient, do you think?”

“Yes. That will work. Can’t be too long or there is more potential for them to disarm them.” Reyna nodded, feeling a little relieved. They won’t have to murder a bunch of people who can’t even defend themselves and still proceed with their objective. Middleton can cry later especially if it works out for the better for all she cared.

“Unless something happens, I’ll take the farthest storage room when we split up if you don’t mind?” Reyna pointed at the storage room in question. it was not considerably further than the other, but still further.

”That’s fine by me. Then that leaves me with this clustered area on the other side.” Perhaps the kitchen or the ration area or something. ”And this small path here, on the same branch.”

”In case something happens though, that you can’t attack conventionally. Just do what you must. If not then just retreat. We’re not mandatory for a total destruction.”

It’s better to do so, but it’s not really a must.

”But then what about this room here?” He pointed out. It’s the one closer to Reyna’s side, but it’s not that further into her side of the tunnel branch.

“Hm, I’ll secure that room then keep moving to the storage room. After the storage is done I’ll set another charge in there.” Reyna replied after a bit of thought. “It’ll also make a good shelter from the storage room explosion if I have to use a shorter fuse or run into some trouble.”

”Well…” It looked shallow enough to be a susceptible shelter. Not too deep, but then again heavily reliant on how it was built in the first place. If anything, he’d wait until he got into the tunnel for the proper assessment, but for now. ”Yeah I’m alright with that. We’ll see if the plan holds when in the tunnel, but or now I guess we have a plan.”

He gave her back the map she gave him, now marked with clear objectives. It was just a matter of waiting for the big moment. Was there anything inherently, or perhaps not so inherent, bad about the plan? Probably, if he thought hard enough. But going back would probably make it more complex and shatters the certainty of it. It wouldn’t help, so he let it go. He had done his best. Let the Lord decide his worth of life.

Nodding and taking back the map, Reyna took Michael’s response as a solid plan formed. Nothing to do but wait and see what happens now, and succeed. “Yeah, we will.Well, we still have a little bit of time to kill before it is time to go so what do you want to do while we wait?” It didn’t bother Reyna she was with Michael. In fact, Michael was a saint compared to…..well the likes of Diana...or Ines...or Victoria…. Those conversations with Diana and Ines, while interesting, were very embarrassing and Victoria....well Victoria was Victoria.

What could they do? Well, they’re walking, so there’s not many options to do things. But they could talk. In fact it could be an interesting talk, if not the last they’d ever have.

”Not much, but we haven’t talked much, have we?” Lucia and Jean’s constant influence may have affected that. ”You’re from Vinland, if I’m not mistaken. How’s life there? Is it as colorful as people think?”

“That is correct. I am from Vinland. Father and momma own a company and so we are really well off back home. The countryside is really beautiful and as colorful as some say it is.” Reyna did not expect such talk to occur, but it was a welcome change from the business talk they had before. And so, with the memories that came to her Reyna had a small smile as she spoke. “There’s horses, forest, rolling hills and a nice little town back home.”

”That sounds like a peaceful area to live in.” That’s a rather different perspective she said. From what he had heard and previously described by his dad on his trip abroad, it was an industrial powerhouse. Skyscrapers really scraped the sky there. A place of bustling activities throughout the entire day and night, so it was a rather unique experience from the side of nature. Perhaps a countryside person, but from what she had mentioned and described, she is from a well off family. But well-off doesn’t mean being in a metropolis.

”I’ve been living in the city for long, since my father works at a university in Tyrella, Edinburgh. I’ve actually toured the countryside of Edinburgh, but it’s no comparison to living by nature.” He couldn’t help but remember the old times, a distant smile grew. ”Say, if you don’t mind sharing, what does your parent do?”

“Dad is the CEO of Hall Industries, the company he built from the ground up. It makes industrial machinery and other things. Momma usually stays home, but is a great florist and cook.” Reyna kept smiling, rather proud of her family. “He’s gone to Edinburgh too. He made a few business trips and told me it’s nice. And that explains how you’re soundin’ like you know what you’re talkin’ about.” She couldn’t imagine Michael being really dumb now. University professors, she heard, really pushed their children to going to, well, universities. It came as no surprise to Reyna.

“The city is a little different in Vinland, but it’s nice enough I guess? I don’t know, I haven’t visited many cities.”

”My father had been there. If you aren’t a fan of crowded places, or fast-paced life, it probably isn’t a place for you. But it is a sight to be seen. From what I’ve heard from my father’s story, going up the high towers of these skyscrapers can be breathtaking.” He said, his fondness of the stories about his father’s first trip to Vinland was deep in his mind. ”Also the place he met my mother too, but that’s another story.”

But being a CEO’s daughter, and being the Hall Industries no less. He had heard of it a little, but that did not diminish her as being less than an average upper class.

”So is it why you’re in the sapper role here? Because I do partly owed that to my own education as well.”

“Ya. I went to a private school and have a university already arranged for me myself. My parents were really adamant about making sure I was ready when I decided to join the military and putting me in the best place possible and, well, made me go through a month with McGriffin, so sapper it was.” Reyna thought for a moment before speaking again. “I wanted to fight the Empire and choose to do what I wanted to do, so here I am.”

He may have a lot more in common with Reyna than he thought he did. Though her in the army is rather voluntary, not forced like Michael. Ahhh, if only the university had sent their confirmation of enrollment just a few days earlier! While it could be argued that he had indeed grown a lot throughout the war, it was still worse than a minimum wage job, or being homeless, or whatever. Totally not worth it.

”That’s nice. I was also about to be in university myself, but country calls.”

It’s also rather convenient that she had some special training. Honestly, he didn’t really care if she had a prior advantage. She’s gonna be his teammate, so anything helps.

”I wasn’t really into the whole war business myself, but at least I get to know you guys. It is a nice change of atmosphere to be talking like this.” He nodded. Moments like this could really be a factor in making this hellhole a bit less of it, or more so. ”Say, after this, if we make it, do you want to have a tea party later? I’ve been longing for the taste of your tea the other day back in the inn. Its reputation is well-deserved.”

A big grin showed up on Reyna’s face as she nodded “Of course! Thanks for your compliment too! It’s honestly just a more sophisticated version of what most Vinland women make for their tea. I uh...unfortunately had to work with what I had at the time so it wasn’t my best.” She loved getting praised for her tea, but Michael forgot one little detail in his words that she should correct. “Also, don’t you mean girls? From what I have seen, most of the notable people and those in the squad around are women.”

”Well…”

Diana

Senja

Anna

Reyna

Lucia

She got a point.

Though he couldn’t really discredit the other guys though. Thomas, god rest his soul. Franz. Jean. But he couldn’t deny that the ladies play a much more prominent role in shaping him, so it was still a valid point. Huh, it’s a bit funny how that happened to him. It was as if fate dealt him a hand that was probably supposed to be dealt to someone else.

”Yeah, it’s no denying that, now that I think about it.” He curled a smile of both amusement and curiosity. Unlike last time, he was now more tolerant of these things hurled at him ”I guess I should return the favor somehow.”

“You really should.” Reyna snickered. “Sometimes I think Jean starts to want us all given how much of a romantic he is.” She spoke in a very light tone and giggle, while Michael’s was quite indistinguishable. It was....very amusing behavior on his part.

”Hmm...”

He concurred.
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“God…” Luke muttered to himself as he sat outside his tent, his head hung low and his rifle safely in his lap as he lazily inspected the weapon with exhausted eyes. He let out an irritated sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck, his exhaustion making his body feel heavy and his mind cloudy. The night had been rough for the young soldier, sleep was nothing but a distant pleasure that he just couldn’t reach, his mind cluttered with yesterday's ordeals alongside vivid and twisted dreams that only suffocated him with a heavy wave of dread and anxiety. After the fifth time he awoke, his lungs empty of air and a coat of sweat covering his body, there was no hope for a blissful sleep. Remaining awake wasn’t any better for the exhausted soldier. Trapped with only his thoughts Luke found himself repeatedly thinking of yesterdays encounter with Green Fox, recounting every step he took during the fight, questioning if his actions were truly for the best. There was so much dread behind his thoughts, feeling slightly sick as he remembered the demise of Green Fox by his own hand, the blind rage he fell in as he put that bastard's life to an end. In the moment it seemed like a proper punishment for his fallen comrade, but had he gone too far? Was it really the right call? He could never answer that question for himself, instead he pushed it away in the back of his mind, the thought feeling to heavy a burden for his mind to carry in the moment.

A hiss escaped Luke as he felt a throbbing pain in the middle of his forehead and rubbed it gently with a small frown. He gritted his teeth in a mixture of annoyance and pain as he remembered his fight with Ines, her words remaining with him and only souring his mood even further. Blaming him for Thomas’s death and tearing into him. It still irritated him a bit, but his anger had now dulled and with his sleepless night he had plenty of time to think of her words. Too much time maybe. Then there was Isaac and Diana throwing in their thoughts, Diana pouring out her heart about the team and how she didn't want to lose anyone else to this war. Then there was Isaac who compared Luke to Middleton, saying Thomas deserved a better end than the one he got. It was all so much to take in, especially since he was alone in the argument. No wonder he exploded the way he did, it was bound to happen one way or the other. There was one thing though that Ines said that he couldn’t deny, Luke was afraid. His fear of death was present, but he feared more of dying a pointless death, or leaving his loved ones behind to deal with his demise. In the end the only thing Luke wanted out of this war was to carve his name into it for others to remember it, making sure he would never be forgotten. He wanted his sisters to remember his determination and strength to achieve his goals. If they came to hate him for his decisions then so be it, but they could never deny his ambitions to become something better than himself.

Luke winced again as the throbbing in his head brought him out of his thoughts. Not only were his thoughts burdening his mind, but now his sore skull pounded away without mercy. The only way he could be free of this horrible experience was located at the end of his rifle barrel, but that would waste a bullet. He’ll need that extra bullet to kill some Imps in the coming days. With a heavy sigh he loaded a fresh round into his rifle and rose to his feet with a groan, his body feeling sluggish and sore. Luke looked up to the sky and frowned, knowing it was almost time to go to work again. Apparently this was going to be a big mission, probably the biggest Luke has ever done in this war. He could feel it in the air, the mixture of dread, anger and even bloodlust. For Luke he could give a damn about it all. He felt like a zombie, readying to shamble to the next battle without any thought about it. After a moment of thinking to himself Luke popped in a crumpled cigarette and lit with a match. For the first time in hours Luke felt his mind dull for a moment as he breathed in the chemicals into his lungs, enjoying the taste before releasing the smoke into the air.

After relishing in brief moment of relief Luke strapped on his new helmet and began to make his way to his teams briefing area, walking slowly through the rain with his rifle securely strapped to his shoulder and his new pistol tucked away in his pants. It was definitely busy today as he saw several soldiers hurrying around the camp to fulfil their duties before the assault. There were so many, but all Luke could think was how many of them would come back alive. It didn’t matter to him too much, just a curious thought on how many lives have been extinguished in this damned city. Just thinking about it made him wonder how many lives were taken in this war all together. Lots of holes to dig. Blowing some smoke through his nose Luke continued on as he let the thought fade from his mind. Soon he reached his teams briefing area and saw his team gradually gathering together to prepare for the assault. Without any words Luke kept to himself and remained to the side, focusing on his cigarette and trying to keep his exhausted mind focused on the coming battle instead of his dwelling thoughts. All that mattered right now was making sure he was up to get his job done.
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The Siege of Amone, September 28th - Ignition




As their conversation became nothing but strange exchanges of an informal manner. Lucia struck first, asking about the weather with a plainly innocent smile plastered onto her face. At first, Jean was unsure of how to answer, as they were stood outside in the rain already. To his surprise, it was a genuine question she'd asked, not a joke, and that she was more struggling to find ways to converse with her apparent newly-adopted older brother. That thought still felt weird to admit. Jean was never an older sibling, nor was he Lucia's actual sibling. She'd taken it upon herself to claim him as her own out of a strange twist of fate that even confused the Francian. She was definitely a bizarre girl, one that wandered the streets of lacklustre freedom without a sense of direction. Her random rants of a childlike manner saddened Jean slightly, reminding him of her youthful innocence that was still lurking inside of her. Clearly Lucia hadn't ever truly grown up. Whether that was through shallow parenting or the influence of one aggressive Captain, that true naivety was yet to leave her frail and bruised body. Such knowledge pained Jean, knowing full well that she was either blissfully unaware of her own situation or had simply accepted who she'd become.

Breaking his muse was the arrival of an Issac and Britta. Jean at first was quick to smile, knowing that these two were quite the wholesome pair indeed. Even without any sort of official announcement, Jean could tell that the two had more than just chemistry between them. It was a blooming spectrum of potential love and affection that had blossomed from either heavy drinking or wonderful conversation. Lucia seemed to be infatuated by their sudden sprouting of confessional binding that had taken a toll on their life together. Whether it was her thinking of implementing a certain confession of her own onto a certain small, yet handy Edinburgh, young man was up for debate, but Jean could see through her intentions rather easily. Perhaps she needed more time to herself to plan such a sporadic choice of words. And perhaps Michael himself needed the time to figure out his position in the foul war. Jean's smile slightly dipped away as he thought of Michael's situation, alongside Reyna. The two were being sent into the heart of the Imperial steel and mettle located in Amone, acting as a potential tide-turner in the Liberation that was soon to begin. The likelihood of them returning was as great as the chances of them never returning at all. For all that they'd been through, this could've been the last time they'd have ever seen one another, without any sort of goodbye or a final send off to go with it. Stories from Jean's childhood told him of great war heroes that would rekindle their bravery through speeches prior to their sacrifice. Here, Jean hadn't seen a single worthy sacrifice. Death lurked around every street corner, in every trench and in every field of Francia, Assen and Wessel.

Lucia gently fumbled towards Isaac and Britta, who both shot a couple of quick questions towards her. At first, she prepared to answer her question quickly and flawlessly, but the mentioning of Middleton threw her off balance. A silence only stayed between them for a few seconds before Lucia eventually hid the staggering hesitation with that of another blissful glimmer in her own sparkling eyes.


"Fair morning, Lance Corporal and Mrs. Black!" Unintentionally, she shot the switching of surnames to Britta with a mischievous smirk plastered onto her face. Lucia still hadn't forgotten about how Isaac had planted some form of cunning evidence within the letters on the train trip to Amone. Being one step ahead of her annoyed Lucia greatly, and thus she wanted to at least get some of her own ways back onto the pair. "Me and Jean were talking about the weather, and the stupid rain. Hate the rain. I'm doing okay, never been better maybe? Also we were arguing about who'd be the ring bearer at your weddi-"

"No we weren't! Lucia, don't spread false rumours amongst your friends and squadmates." Jean couldn't help but let his smile loose upon the trio before him. Their glimmering fascination of humorous banter took him off-guard and left him slightly improper to his NCO responsibilities. In reality, Jean never saw himself as an NCO, only a young man people barely trusted in the field of combat. To that day, Jean was more than aware that there were many adversaries within his own ranks towards his leadership, or rather a lack of it. To many that would be acceptable, but it troubled Jean's confidence and forced him to wise up. "I beg your pardon, Isaac...and Britta. How are you two doing on this miserable morning? All stocked and ready?" Jean cleared his throat and turned specifically towards Isaac, almost as if to pull him aside from the conversation. With Lucia around, he didn't want to raise too much alarm to their upcoming responsibilities, and the things they made be held accountable for. "We've got a lot on our plate, Isaac; I hope you realise that. This time it isn't just the squad, it's whoever needs guidance. You're leadership will be minimal here, as I know you'll be manning that machine gun, but be prepared to help any soldier you see in need of help once we hit that Cathedral. I know for the hell of it I'll be in the thick of the firefight, so I hope to maybe see you there too."

To Lucia's surprise, Diana came and joined the conversation not long after. Her small appraisal for assaulting the Cathedral was quite adorable at first, however the latter half of her sentence struck a sudden nerve in Lucia's personal intrigue. Her mentioning of making Michael smile seemed oddly too specific for Lucia, and illogically she immediately aimed to pursue what she meant by that. Lucia sauntered closer to Diana, almost pulling her in for a friendly hug, before she started her interrogation.

"That better not be flirting with Mickey, I hear." At first, Lucia giggled, but soon the thought dwelt upon her further. A panic of losing someone she'd firstly grown to like was immensely scary to her. Her voice was one of distress and panic, despite her misreading Diana's intentions. "Don't tell me you have a crush on Mickey? That's unfair! You've done the lovey-dovey stuff with everyone, including Luke! Don't add Mickey to that list!"

Immediately, Jean guffawed at Lucia's silent outburst, listening in on the private discussion between Diana and the young Asseni girl. The innocently adorable conflict between the two was easily enough to start easing Jean's mind into the thick of what was to come. A much needed morale boost, so to speak. Some would find it irritating, of course, to see such tomfoolery plague the ranks of the 15th Atlantic Rifles, however Jean was less interested in all that formality in the moment that passed. Whilst his focus would be on sheer violence in the coming minutes and hours, their flaunting discussion at least gave him something to smile about. A short reminder of the purity of the world...well...Diana wasn't exactly pure herself, though.

Jean nodded to Diana, giving her a sort of friendly, silent welcoming to the group before he picked up his rifle once more and checked its bolt. Operational and still reliable. The SM-Longfield was surely a reliable weapon in comparison to its competitive adversaries here on the frontline of the Great Europan War. Jean igniting the firing catch to empty the primed mode, taking out his stripper clips and loading the ten total rounds into the firearm. Ten shots before a full reload: surely, this was quite a deadly rifle in comparison to the breach-loaded designs of the pre-war era. Its smoother bolt action was comfortable to use as well, whilst designs from across the continent and international counterparts were still figuring out the best mechanism for quickly following up a multitude of rounds before the much needed reload was a requirement.

As Jean concluded his loading of the rifle, he took a step out into the rain, hearing the familiar pitter-patter of droplets against his steel helmet as he called for the group to move with him. Not far from where they'd been talking, lines and ranks of drenched soldiers stood out in the rain near the barricading of the unofficial Federation frontline. Between them and the Imperial holdout zones laid an apparent no-man's land. Iconic, vapid landscapes that usually indicated the lacklustre of human stationary presence, Jean couldn't help but notice the irony of this battle's own being the previous habitat for many a thousand civilians, religious followers, bakers, smiths, accountants, attorneys and children. Market places were now graveyards for the fallen hundreds of the most recent incursion of Amone. Homes were now medical centres, basements were ammunition stockpile zones and bedrooms even acted as a machine gun nest form time to time. Churches were used by snipers and the streets were watched by squads of riflemen preparing to savagely blast away at anyone who dared to wander unsupervised. There were no crimes or any acts of petty thievery; instead these had been replaced by men and women eager to kill one another in order to survive. Truly, these streets had become something of an apocalypse. Jean and Lucia joined the line together, unaware of where those following them were going to fall in. Those directing their attention to other major objectives joined different formations of unfamiliar faces, knowing full well to move in full force towards their hopeful objective.

Atop of the barricades, two heavily dressed individuals rose to the top of the orderly formations. One of them was rightfully familiar, the other not so much. Besides the disdain of Captain Alexander-John Middleton, who silently stood with his own rifle in hand, beneath a large long-coat of wool and other itchy materials, an elder man with a great and twirling moustache stood proudly. To himself, he didn't hold any weapon. Why would he? The rank of Major laid his gloved hands across his parade staff's helm. He had no intention of joining the fight, only watching it from afar with the regular changes to how the plan would formulate. It was likely that the two stood before them were responsible for concurring formulation of the Amone Liberation. Usually a General or Colonel of their stance would be responsible for such a highly responsible task, but with Captain Middleton in the mix they seemed more than fine with letting him have another crack at the preposition of troops.


"Regiment, regiment...'SHUN!" The simultaneous clamp of boots against the cold, moist pavement below shot through the air as Captain Middleton called out the beginning of the briefing, keeping them all at attention for a few seconds before the Major interjected as per the formalities of war.

"Stand at ease, soldiers!" Whilst the soldiers about relaxed their stances, they were by no means relaxed at all. Jean found himself tightly clasping the rifle strap around his shoulder, his fingers trembling in the cold of the morning dew. A few more quiet seconds passed as the Major whispered something to the Captain, only to return to his commanding, booming tone to address the masses before him. "What we are about to do today may not shape the war, but it will shape the year, my fellow men and women. If we are to take Amone today, we will open the opportunities that our entire Army will be proud of. Taking Amone today will scramble the Imperial army. It will force a panicked redeployment, and it will allow us to deliver a great blow to the Northern Frontier. Taking Amone today doesn't just allow us to enter the lost fields, villages and cities of Assen, but it will also grant us, the Army of the Federation, the means to break the stalemate in Gallia up north, and ridicule the Imperial trenchlines that have so awfully slaughtered our friends. Let this day be one of great pride, my soldiers, as we will break this stalemate for a while longer!

From the right of Jean, a large group of youthful and elder lads cheered, raising their arms up to congratulate the speech. Of course, it wasn't exactly the most thrilling. The Major had essentially admitted to only breaking the frontline momentarily. Many of those still around weren't likely very compassionate about Gallia itself, finding it to be just another nation hopelessly outside of the Federation. Jean felt his eyes roll slightly. It wasn't that much of an achievement in the grand scale of all things considered. However, compared to the sluggish and downright embarrassing pacing of the continental conflict, perhaps the little individual victories were all that these faltered soldiers had left to clench onto. Jean sure knew that the smallest things seemed ever larger than before.

Middleton cleared his throat and scanned the group, raising his own hand to try and silence them. The speech of the Major was short and bittersweet, hoping to detail the less logical and pragmatic concepts the battle had to delve into. Inspiration was the Major's game, meanwhile for Middleton it was about heading straight into the briefing, allowing them to keep on schedule and instigate their assault right on cue.


"Simmer down, soldiers!" Middleton began to silence them quickly, fiercely interrupting the nationalised cheers of the regimental's lowest ranking officials. Once again, the Asseni Captain cleared his throat and moved towards the front of the duo, a strong and pointed fist behind him. "Out there is going to be one hell of a fight, ladies and gentlemen. Their numbers may be less than ours physically but in spirit they are just as powerful. Through plans a scouting party obtained yesterday by luck, we've managed to pinpoint a few estimated locations of where they will be garrisoning machine guns, sniper nests and rifleman squads. All these locations aren't confirmed, so we ask that you watch the rooftops, windows and open streets. The main forces will assault the Cathedral and City Market in full force, all whilst we spread smaller support teams across the frontline to hit all their defences at once. The more bullets we throw at them, the further spread out they'll be. Those assaulting potential Officer's Quarters will be lower in numbers but are instructed to capture any officers you may find. If they don't come quietly, and we have reasons to believe they won't, then you have your orders to engage with extreme prejudice in mind." For once, Jean felt relieved that he wasn't entrusted with the far closer environment of the headquarters. He'd had enough of close engagements since his first day in Amone, where the brutal anguish of his enemy's perish came face to face with himself. Jean hated that more than anything else he'd been through in the war: having to watch his enemies die, eye to eye. "As for everyone, I ask that you not only be vicious, but also careful. I won't lead you into a slaughter here, and we need to ensure that most of us get out alive. Stick to the rubble, push when you have openings and flush out Imperial defences until they raise their hands in mercy. Now, brace yourselves! Last minute checks!"

When given the order, Jean heard the synchronised effort of the Federation infantry checking their gear. Many bolted their rifles and loaded their magazines in if they'd hadn't already. Those with machine guns loaded their belts and prepared their melee weapons for bludgeoning their foes. Sappers who weren't assigned to demolition tasks prepped their entrenching tools and clasped onto their ammunition magazines. The marksmen zeroed their sights in closely and braced for separating from the pack, moving ahead to secure spots of importance. Jean took a deep breath as the sounds of sachets of grenades were hooked onto the webbing of shocktroopers. Everyone was eager to get into the fight, or rather eager to finish the bloodbath of Amone. No one wanted to be there anymore. If anything, the sheer waiting was the worst part. It took Jean back to the fields of Garnia for a moment.



Jean's face dropped as he heard the distant machine gun rattle away, waiting to execute all of those rummaging up Hill 58. Something about those screams four hundred miles away sent shivers down his spine. Never before had any sort of training failed to prepare a single man for the agony that was to ensue ahead. Millions were being told of the trade of glory to combat, and yet here he was, six or seven feet buried in the bottom of a muddy, soaking wet trench. The duckboards beneath his very boots were doused in blood, disease and piss. A smell of foul intent showered and stained the familiar brown uniforms of all the Federation soldiers. The whistle was about to blow. He could feel it. He could hear it. The fear in the soldiers around him kept him on his knees. He'd just finished his attempts to calm the nerves of a seemingly experienced soldier in that form of combat. Charging was always going to be the worst part of the day. In the books, they always spoke about how it was going to be glorious, about how the sun of the Valkyrur and other gods blessed upon them eagerly without a moment to spare. Unfortunately, all they received was the sickly taste of blood; and soon, the sour sense of steel would be upon them too, like the devil incarnate.



As Jean snapped back into the present, he found himself surrounded by even more soldiers, awaiting their destiny beyond the shoddy wooden barricades and sandbags used to fend off Imperial scouting parties. Sappers and medical officers expended their energy removing the barricades one by one, tearing them down and setting them aside like the passing of a red sea. Mandates of violence were approaching fast. Jean took his breaths of peace, hoping to conceal them within his lungs throughout the entirety of the brutal objective before them. He had to put his trust not only in his comrades, but himself. There was no room for error. Error was going to cost lives, and a lot of them. Every single imperfection was a chance for another man to fire his weapon into his heart. If it weren't for the fact that someone was out to kill him and his friends, maybe caution and mercy could be expressed on this terrible field of war. However, prejudice would prevail. And in that agonising, fleeting second, Jean sighed the biggest he'd done in a while. He unslung his rifle and tightened the chin strap on his helmet, before Middleton's voice flooded the alleyways once more. All the heads of the fumbling soldiers, fiddling away with their gear, rifles and clothing directed themselves towards him.


"Remember everyone," shouted Middleton, who's back now faced the rest of the infantry behind him. His body was ready to scale down the barricade that he and the Major had positioned themselves onto. "Expect those armoured vehicles, amongst other things. If you see any of their special toys, you better get rid of them. And watch out for whatever blew the fuck out of our medical compartment. I'm sure you're more than happy to give them a bruise back."

Jean's mind had almost pushed out the vivid memory of the explosion the day Thomas died. What's worse was that it was simply the previous day. There wasn't any real time to grieve over the incomprehensible flame and fury that had been unearthed onto the Federation defensive lines. Whatever shot the blast was likely preparing another round, only then could it try and have a chance at diminishing the Federation advance. As long as they were spread out enough however, it was unlikely that the behemoth's gunshot would've been able to wipe out the entire Federation advance on its own.

Slowly, Middleton began to raise his hand upwards, preparing the other to blow the whistle that would ring out for a hundred years. This was going to be the moment the 15th Atlantic Rifles had been waiting for. Their goals beforehand were nothing compared to the Liberation of a Religious Capital. Many were eager to get their names plastered in history amidst the great peers they served alongside. Others were just hoping to get through the campaign alive, or at least with an injury enough to send them home to their mothers and fathers. Those who'd accepted the possibility of death were the most prepared, hoping to truly set aside their aspirations for either their Gods, Kings, Queens, Presidents, Ministers, families or nations entirely. For a slight second, everyone continuously held their breath, preparing to let out the battle cry that had so easily become a tradition for those wartime charges. Jean prepared his legs for the struggle. Lucia pushed herself slightly closer to her Corporal and finally realised what was to happen. Compared to Hill 58, she seemed slightly more prepared for the incursion, at least only a little bit.

The seconds began to tick down. A slightly ambience of trembling shudders of metallic gear clattering against one another in dampened webbing began to echo through the quiet streets. Captain Middleton kept his hand raised up and slowly moved the whistle towards his mouth. Jean closed his eyes, whispering something obscure to himself. He didn't want it to end here. With Lucia by his side, he hoped to never see this end. The faces of those he had survived alongside were to be tested, and in all things considered they could be lost from here onward. The friends he'd made along the way were at a threat. Jean wasn't going to let that happen. It was the only thing keeping the poor fool alive.

From above, the sound of a cannonade once again blasted overhead. Jean looked up, seeing the whistle of shells from behind AMone soar over, heading to pepper the foreground they were heading to reclaim. He clasped his hands around the straps of his uniform, whispering to himself more. The darkest of times was upon them. Jean was no religious man; yet here he was, praying to a god that perhaps he might see it through to the end of this day with his friends still there to smile upon him. With only seconds left until the zero hour was upon them, Middleton turned his head and opened his mouth, unleashing his lungpower to its full extent.

"Two years ago, your brothers and sisters died near these lands! Fight in their name, and do not let their honour be a burden to your victory. Make ready your arms, for today we shall have ourselves a leap forward. GLORIFICA!



"Onwards and charge!" Even with such a notorious reputation, his words kindled a fury unlike anything seen before. Even compared to the rags of the poverty ridden Garnian Trenches, the booming roar of four thousands lions screamed throughout the streets of Amone. With the artillery barrage continuing to pepper the Imperial frontlines ahead, the warcry began to fly through the morning sky. Jean didn't shout, only grab Lucia and nod at her, as the crowd lunged their way forwards. Jean felt his feet begin to move with the crowd as they funnelled their bodies out of the barricaded exits, instantly spreading out as soon as they were free in the open streets. Throughout the sky, a display of fireworks rained down upon their enemy's positions ahead, and the unending thump of heavy boots clattering against the pavements, street roads and wooden porches rose up.

Everyone had been told of Middleton's change in the regular movement. Once first contact was made, a progressive movement of cover-to-cover, suppressive aggression was to be employed quickly and decisively. Within minutes, each position was predicted to be swarmed with rifle fire from a 180 degree curvature before the Imperial's very eyes, forcing them into cover. It was a glorious combination of the mass charge combined with the more cautious split of supportive fire from both artillery and fellow soldier alike. Jean, now running alongside Lucia and splitting off into the left, yet greater, group of soldiers, started to make his way towards the Cathedral. All around the pair, men and women of all walks of life, experience and views tried to yell words of encouragement to ensure that the soldiers they stood by were ready to defend their sides as they were for them.


"Move fast! We'll bloody murder the first Imp' we see!" An Edinburgh Sergeant yelled, Longfield in arm and spirits as high as the remaining patriots that followed in his footsteps. Jean closely followed by, trying to ensure Lucia didn't fall behind with the crowd of support companies and Machine Guns setting up small fallback nests in the event of a retreat. Another part of Middleton's recent doctrine, the progressive placement of temporary shelters behind the main charge was necessary for the chance of a failed assault, in which a counter-attack was expected to follow suit from its powerful defenders. "Maintain your course, we're heading for the Cathedral, lads and lasses! Let's clear the scum out of the buildings!"

In the distant fogginess of the rainy, morning weather, the silhouette of a giant spire could be made out in the thickness of morn. Jean held his breath, only having seen the Cathedral itself from an even further distance. Never before had such a beauty of architecture been so close to his eyes. It felt wrong to assault it, to go forth and prepare for an all around engagement against such a beautifully crafted homestead of religious value. If only-

CRACK!


Jean slipped and scurried to the right, taking himself to the lightest piece of cover he could as the soldiers around them split apart. The street was flooded with an explosive noise of early gunfire, far earlier than they'd anticipated. A rifleman's nest had been set up before them, and Jean immediately saw the Sergeant and three of his closest allies drop down into the street. A few more Federation soldiers were clipped by bullets as they searched for a quick getaway from the sudden volley that fired into their direction. Immediately, the return fire came, and the charging units launched their aggression back, quickly unloading round after round into the now identified windows that housed their adversaries. Jean hesitated for a second, but soon promised himself to keep focused if he were to try and keep Lucia and the others alive. Keeping Lucia crouched, Jean stood up and aimed towards the windows he suspected his enemy was slumbered up inside, firing a round and quickly following it up with two more, before the rapid familiarity of a unnamed soldier's machine gun rattled the remaining windows, blasting and suppressing the remaining streets ahead.

Jean looked to the Sergeant, seeing another forty or so men and women crowded around him. All of them held onto their helmets as the exasperating belittlement of the artillery continued to soar overhead, only to go behind the early-interception parties of Imperial soldiers housed in the streets. They still had a ways go to the Cathedral, and expecting only this many more soldiers to be laying inw wait for then, Jean flipped in initiative on. It was more of a panicked surge of confidence than anything brave, but as the Corporal sitting towards the front, he knew that for once he'd had to take some form of responsibility for the others around him.


"The machine guns will keep them down! Keep moving, don't let them stop us. Take to the buildings if you have to to advance safer, but keep yourself moving if the enemy permits it. Don't get shot, we'll...we'll make it!" Lucia noticed a new surge in Jean's core, seeing him stand up and begin shuffling himself and several other confident soldiers out into the open streets to continue the charge. Soon enough, soldier after soldier began to follow, and the street had once again become a running track. Lucia found herself smiling, though only slightly, and tagged along behind them. With Jean leading one of the many groups heading to the Cathedral, they expected nothing less than a secure entryway to their objective, where the real battle was going to take place.

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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by FalloutJack
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FalloutJack The Long Dark Nuka-Break of the Soul

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It's worth mentioning that it's not as though the two Gunners had professed anny sort of binding declaration of affection. What they had was something, but as stated in the White Hart, all they knew was that it was something. Whether it was out of love or just a feeling of lonelyness and isolation, a void to be filled in a war where both their lives were in doubt, had yet to be determined.

This is a fairly-important distinction, as it was a heavy contributor to the fact that Lucia just blew them out of the water.

The initial strike caused the two of them to stop, with Isaac thinking 'What, what?' and Britta likewise going 'WHAT did she say?' in her head, while her face was starting to go red. This carried on further as Lucia kept talking rather casually about their impending marriage, causing Isaac to stare in shock and for Britta to choke as she was swallowing, which brought about a sudden coughing fit. Here they are, all going off to some serious combat and being mentally prepared for it, and just out of the blue she starts talking like...

I know we're fairly obvious at times, but DID YOU HAVE TO?!

NOW, he understood why Britta reacted the way she did to some of the things he said! And Jean? Not helping. Well, not entirely. His mouth disapproved, but his smile said otherwise. Well, at least he wasn't feeling terribly depressed. Lord knows the guy needed a break. Didn't realize his gun support was to be sacrificed to that. Oh well. The two of them recovered and managed to chuckle at this in the age-old practice of having a decent sense of humor. Though the whole thing caught them off-guard, it had to be admitted that they were awfully close and not partcularly cagey about it. There just wasn't anything committed officially to the whole thing. They DID share a glance and a brief smile. I mean, if the 'children' of this squad don't disapprove...can it be all that bad? Moving along, though, Jean asked them if they were ready for the day's work on this scummy morning misery.

"We are locked and loaded, Jean. Just another day in Edinburgh, for me."

"I'll bet you never had to stand in it for as long before being in the army."

"You would probably be right. The work doesn't exactly do well in the rain."

It was after this that Jean reminded them of what was coming, how tough it would be. They knew. That's why they prepared letters to their families ahead of time, and had Rikes send them to dispatch. They'd keep him a while and he would be out of immediate trouble, at least until he did something like break away. Might happen, but Isaac didn't know for sure. The Gunners both nodded.

"I know. We're prepared for this to get bad."

"We'll do our best to keep everyone alive, I promise."

That was when they all heard it. Not so much about Diana's declaration upon finding the group, but rather what followed after from Lucia. Good god, was everybody gonna get it from her?! Isaac was holding his mouth shut. Britta's expression was that of barely-held-in silent laughter. After the initial surprise bomb that Lucia had hit them with, they were having trouble keeping that one to themselves. The walking, talking morale booster was on a roll! Anyway, Jean took time now to check his rifle and such. Isaac and Britta had done that, so they had little more to do than stand around before things got started. They simply fell in line nearby when it seemed right, though not before. The rain was, after all, miserable, and they'd had to walk through it to get here.

Beholden to them now, looking upon their ranks, was a man they all knew and hated - Captain Grumpus - and another who was...not so well-known. He was older, moustached, and smiling. This, to Isaac, meant that he was an officer of some high rank who would not be joining them on the battlefield, where they would all get shot at in this heavy offensive to about the same degree as the enemy itself could expect. To wit, ALOT of gunfire. This was confirmed by his rousing speech about how this position was REALLY hard to take and that they should feel happy to go and take it. Some people cheered, but those who were under Middleton's thumb in the 15th were not so enthused. This was followed by Middleton stating that they had information on probably locations of the enemies forthcoming, only it could as much as not, so that basically made it useless. And then, he said that they were to try and capture any Imperial officers that they found - Good luck on that one. - and to kill them of they wouldn't cooperate.

And of course, he won't be leading because he gets the luxury of staying behind with this Major, and not have to deal with ANY of this. God dammit on a silver platter...

Soon, they would be charging into a town and...well, it wasn't going to be the same as open land, but it was still gonna be brutal. The only real advantage that they seemed to have here was that they now had experience in the field, where before they did not. But then, the Imperials had their damn machine gun cars and other things, for sure. They still didn't even know WHAT caused that explosion. This wasn't going to be easy... Middleton prepared to let off a whistle. Soldiers were preparing to let off some noise. It suddenly occurred to Isaac, 'Why the hell are we letting them know that we're about to charge?'. They could hear this, right? The Imperials had men with scoped rifles and binoculars, people who could see and hear them? Why were they helping the bastards with all this noise?

Still, the whistle was blown. The charge was sounded.

They began to move like a tide, each of those who shouted not realizing that the noise they made ALSO drowned out when they were getting shot at, or when someone could warn them about such things. Morale is one thing, but survival is another. The wolf does not bark. It only howls to reach the ears of another, farther off. This was a signal, but it was to the wrong recipient. Isaac and Britta got out there, moving with the rest of the charge, and once covers had been found, the two of them nodded at each other, and spread out. They were Gunners, supportive fire. They worked together, but they were suppose to be spread out to be more effective in their coverage of the troops. They too were making their way to the Cathedral, but they were going to make sure that nobody could just take them both out with a grenade or something. They checked for anybody poking their heads out of windows or rooftops, plinked 'em with a burst of gunfire if there was anyone, and moved on.

The Cathedral lay ahead, effectively a fortress and inappropriately used as such. Granted, it was built as a sanctuary to those in need, but this wasn't the same thing. And they were no less guilty of that act, as they would demonstrate as soon as they took it for themselves. There was, in fact, little chance to marvel at the wonderous human creation...before someone fired at them. Actually, it was several someones, which is why Isaac suddenly had to backpeddle so quickly into cover as he felt the presence of bullets lance into the ground near him, Britta immediately slamming her back against a wall, as she'd been more cautious. Isaac was on the ground, quickly inspecting his leg. He'd felt something zing across his leg. He'd been near some men, some who DID get hit, and he found that what actually got him was not from a bullet, but from a piece of the road chipping off and striking him. Then, he inspected another spot on his side that he'd felt something give and...that was a piece of his armor vest damaged, right there. It was on the edge, where it would soon meet flesh. That's why it stung as well, but not as badly as being gunshot. There was just a little blood from a graze is all.

Okay, Isaac. That was your first and last warning. Don't let that happen again.

Once that was sorted, though, Jean called out and Isaac brought out his machine gun and opened fire! He did what he often did with Britta, trading times to spray their bullets at the enemy, and on this occasion it was coming from different angles, so initially the riflemen at the church were probably taken off guard! If it had a gun or a head poking out, they were going to fire in, and they were gonna take that Cathedral!
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Landaus Five-One
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Landaus Five-One The Sadist Insaneous One

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Diana’s Brutal Reality – Shock, Aww and War – September 28th, 1914 (Siege of Amone)




Diana had a slightly confused look on her face at what is going on at this moment. It was on the back of her mind, mostly because of how Isaac and Britta were acting. However, they do feel like a great couple with a slight smile on her face. ”...I wondered what I missed? In terms of what was talked about before I arrived. However, it would be nice if they do get married.” Diana thought to herself, slightly wondering about it. She didn’t really know what would happen but it would be better to understand whom said it. There was one person that took her by surprise by hugging her, which is Lucia.

She was utterly shocked at what Lucia had said before the more embarrassing thing. It was just a friendly gesture nothing harmful for what she had said. ”I didn’t mean it that way, Lucia.” Diana said. She was trying to enjoy the hug that Lucia was giving her. But then all hell broke loose in her mind, specifically when Lucia said all those things. She couldn’t help but try to defuse the situation, however. It felt like it was going to make things worst than better. ”I don’t have a crush on Mickey. What’s unfair is my heart is in between two men? I have no idea if they love me back as much as I love them.” Diana said, with a laugh. It was obvious whom she was speaking about, which was Jean and Luke. There’s a reason why she was a bit into Luke is because of his short jokes and Jean is a great leader, underneath an a jackass Captain who hates Darscens. Her eyes go really wide and becomes utterly embarrasses and starts blushing heavily, which was caused by her bluntness yet again. ”What the fuck is wrong with me? My bluntness is embarrassing me so much its a bit much to handle. I wouldn’t want to faint.” Diana thought in her head, which was definitely an important thing.

Diana noticed the nod from Jean and smiled a bit. However, it was still embarrassing to the whole thing because of her basic admittance saying she loved Jean and Luke out in public basically. She did notice Luke standing around silently while smoking a cigarette. Hopefully he didn’t hear it, however, the likelihood of that happening would be a bit slim. Because she was a bit louder than Lucia silently interrogating her. However, she checked her weapon, alike her comrades to get ready for the up coming battle in Amone at the Cathedral. ”I think I will never live that down… in the entire lifetime for basically saying that out loud. It will be something that someone will be saying to keep me embarrassed. While trying to make them not embarrassed at the same time.” Diana thought to herself. Her mother told her that it’s always better to have a one up on someone else, since any embarrassing stories usually helps.

It happened, her mood was basically ruined after noticing the Captain of the 15th Atlantic Rifles. This was the one thing she didn’t really like seeing but the war needed to end sooner than later. Because it would be better to go home with scars than dying in the middle of a street in a heavily destroyed town. She relaxed her stance after the Major interjected with a stand at ease. The words of the major was a bit inspiring but she didn’t felt inspired when it was the Federation that used Gas on civilians. She rolled her eyes a bit at that, with the whole thing. It didn’t really help she didn’t really know of Gallia, but they were their allies. She basically felt like the morale needed a boost, however, after the most grueling campaign she had to deal with was Hill 58. Amone was definitely much more brutal than the hill was ever mostly because of the gas and other horrible things she had to deal with.

”Guess he like the sound of his voice… Captain Grumpus.” Diana thought to herself, while hearing Simmer down soldiers. This war has taken a toll on Diana but as long as she can stay smiling and what not and get through with this war. It will be better to deal with Amone and to the end of EW1. She did hear the important information of what the Captain said about Cathedral and the Imperials hiding through the city in unconfirmed locations. It was definitely going to be a long day, today to deal with the enemy. She was grateful that he gave the order for last minute checks. It took her a bit to do the last minute checks on her rifle, which she was holding a bit tight. The only reason for this is because she needs to hold it and at least get some glory for herself. Since one kill isn’t that great, however, she will definitely be trying much harder to kill more Imperials. There is many things she would rather be at alike her home. With all her family there chatting and being happy together, it was the only thing that kept her going since she wanted to see them again.

Middleton finally ordered the charge, which felt like they had to wait for an age. However, she stayed with Jean and Lucia, while running through the streets. It felt a bit annoying to deal with but she was a rifleman. However, then the enemy started to fire back at them, which they still got a long way to get to the Cathedral. At least she moved away from the gunfire so she wouldn’t die because more than anything she wants to stay alive. She basically felt like she cursed because that felt a bit too close for comfort at least stayed with Jean and Lucia and trying to hide by the rubble. It was something she not enjoying about certain things. However, she heard basically telling her that the machine guns will keep the enemy down it gave her a bit more confidence. Therefore, she went with Jean onto the streets to follow them since she didn’t want to get shot. It feels slightly a bit adrenaline pumping to do something that feels a bit risky but she’s doesn’t want to die. She keeps her rifle out and holding it, which she will be able to move it to a firing position so she will shoot an enemy than not. ”I do like that Jean is much more confident. And We will definitely make it.” Diana thought to herself, with a slight smirk on her face. She wanted to get to the harder part of the battle, which is the Cathedral. It was good to keep her eyes out on whatever is unexpected, however, it is good there’s many more soldiers than her to help with that. She kept herself a bit lower than most but she was definitely short, which helped somewhat.

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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Conscripts
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Conscripts An Atom Trying to Understand Itself

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Things gradually grew silent. The casual conversations soon became echoes, as the calm began to settle in. A calm of discomfort before the great storm. The ambience of metallic shackles rocked his guts, as with each stride he felt himself getting closer and closer to a thin treadmill above a huge mass grave. It would soon prove to be their greatest challenge of all. But the danger wasn’t just reserved for that.

The brief silence had been slewn, the molecules blasted into the ears of the tunnel squad of pummeling artilleries. This was no ambience of war. The continuous and relentless bangs echoed deafeningly and closely that everyone knew its meanings. That hundreds or even thousands of lives would be lost in a couple of hours. That the tide of this battle would change in the near future. The battle for Amone had begun.

The tunnel squad was still making their way through the empty streets of Amone towards the tunnel, away from the front line - from the enemy’s front line. And that meant detection right now could blew the entire operation before it even started. And worse, envelopment would be entirely possible, if not likely. They must maintain discretion.

And that fact was quickly came to a head when shouts echoed from down the street where they were heading. Shouts that resembled languages that most of the tunnel squad had little knowledge of. The Imperial language.

”Oh no...hide!”

They were just briefly crossing the path that the tunnel squad was moving, but Michael knew that if some, even just one of them, with good enough eyesight, looked down the street, they would be able to spot an enemy behind the line, and the squad would die. So he quickly edged himself into the doorstep of a building, hoping to use the small bit of wall that was there to keep himself away from their line of sight.

Quickly, Reyna dashed behind a gray slab of concrete and laid prone behind it after hearing Michael’s words and reacting nearly at the same time as him. It wasn’t the best cover for the scenario, but it was the closest and any more sudden moves were risky. Staying quiet, but having eyesight on Michael and a free hand, Michael. Spotting the empty houses, Reyna made a small wave toward Michael then pointed to some empty houses they could use that she saw to have less of a chance to be detected. And all the while she was doing this, Reyna’s heart was pounding.

His breath was disappearing, but his pulse was racing. Please, don’t let anyone look his way. Every sound of boot clapping on the stone hard concrete was another pound to his mind. He only had his companions to look at, a certain number of faces, just as terrified as he was, edging into whatever covers they could find. And then, he saw Reyna on the opposite side of the street behind a slab of concrete flashing him a wave. Then she pointed at the house on his side of the street.

At first, Michael didn’t get it. What was she pointing at? He was curious as to what was the message, but he knew what she pointed at was not in his line of sight. He needed to peek out to see. But peeking out right now, when Imperials were marching down the streets like that, the fear of detection forced him to push his back against the door again, waiting for the sign of boots to die down.

Eventually, the sound did die down, a bit. And Michael finally found the courage to peek out a little, bit by bit. And he saw what Reyna meant. An empty house. Or rather multiple empty Gallian houses, made with Gallian architecture and design. And most importantly for the squad right now, it is interconnected. Or it seems so from the outside. Of course! That means they could use that to move down to their objectives more silently.

Taking full advantage of the downtime, Michael crept out of his hiding spot and moved to the house. The door was closed, but desolation had worn down the place. Michael resolved it with a single kick, bursting the door open, and went in. There, his rifle swirled around the room, checking for any Imperials, to which there were none. Unlike the last excursion, the Imperials probably were rallying for the Federation assault, so none were loitering around here.

With the safety assured, Michael peeked out of the house, looking at both Reyna, Senja, Anneli and the rest of the escort squadron, flashing them the signal to come. A quick glance down the street saw no Imperials crossing by, for now. And he flashed harder. This was their golden chance!

Reyna had held her breath while the Imperial patrol sauntered by, glad that Michael got the message she was trying to give to them. Wasting no time, Reyna got up from her belly and went inside the house while they still had time, making sure everyone else knew what they were doing. After getting in, she nodded to Michael as they continued forward.

Going through the houses and sometimes out of them, Reyna spotted an anomaly: three Imperial soldiers. One of them appeared to be one of the sappers on the Imperial side, but the other two seemed to be basic riflemen. What made this an anomaly to Reyna was the fact that the sapper was making a small barricade facing outward from a makeshift alleyway with two entrances into it, the other guarded by one of the riflemen. Even more interesting was the fact that she spotted a few Imperials going into that entrance with large backpacks and crates.

“Hey, think that’s it?” Reyna quietly said as she pointed out the activity she saw carefully. She had to assume one thing: if she saw them, there is a chance the Imperials could see them at any moment and so caution was necessary.

After Reyna was the rest of the squad. Each soldier through was a sigh of relief, but also another prayer that the remaining ones would not be dealt a poor hand. They were close, and to fail here would arguably be even worse than failing from the get go. And once the last man was through, and the door quietly crept its way shut, Michael finally threw down all his immediate burdens for now, and thanked whatever or whoever kept them from being spotted.

After that, the journey through the interconnected house was largely uneventful, yet the tension still hung around in their chest. They had to avoid those windows, moved silently, creeping their way through the old wooden floors, hoping these planks would not let out an alarming screech with each footstep. And then there was the occasional crossings between houses. It was much less terrifying as the first time, as all the houses they were traversing were all on the same side. Still, the heavy feeling of being constantly watched still tormented them all.

The uneventful trip was finally broken when Reyna peered out of the windows and spotted something. Hearing the call, Michael crouched down near the window next to him, using his small size to his hiding advantage. And what he saw and what she said goes too well.

”It looks like it.”

He couldn’t see the tunnel entrance from this spot but the moving crates and guards seemed too suspicious of a location. But he had to be sure, it could be their barracks. So Michael briefly told the squad to stay and he personally went to the upper floor, where a higher window was present. Again, he minimally peered his eyes over the window and there it was. Eureka! The entrance of the tunnel, barely covered by the view of the house on the other side of the street. But his delight of finding his target comes with concern. How could he pass those guys anyway? Sure, the rest of the squad could overwhelm them easily, but that may trigger those close by and those inside the tunnel. And that would blow the whole discretion part of the operation.

”Hmm” Michael pondered for a moment, before leaving his position and ran downstairs to Reyna and the rest of the squad. ”That’s the place, but we need to get rid of those guards. Any ideas?”

”Hmm.” Reyna started to go into thought. The situation was not ideal for them to get into the tunnels. If they made too much noise or hassle, there’d be a response by the Imperials. On the other hand, this would also mean the other entrances were just as likely to be guarded, maybe even by more than just three. This would be their best chance to complete their objective.

The sudden boom of artillery in the distance, however, gave her an idea as much as it felt like background or worse to her. Maybe….just maybe….

“If there’s an explosion close enough, we could all shoot at the same time?”

”That’s...” Echoed in his ears among the sound of thundering death an opportunity. ”A great idea.”

There are three guards. They need at least three shooters. Each for one life taken.

”Anyone here shoot well?”

Michael glanced at the escort soldiers all hidden beneath visible windows. The question rang out among the ranks, as these youngsters began to look among themselves. You? No you? I’m not that good. Those were the unspoken message beneath their shaky eyes. None of them seemed to be willing to take up the command earlier, so there were considerable reasons behind the assumption that they weren’t very experienced in this.

Except for one.

”Thank you Senja.” He said, waving her over to the observation window. ”Pick your targets guys.”

The fact that no one in the escort squad was confident in their ability to shoot, or even willing to kill at this time, told Reyna all she needed to know: she was going to have to pick and choose one of the Imperials to shoot. This time, it wasn’t going to be the heat of the moment. It’d be colder, more calculating. Unlike any other act she has done. Still, it must be done for the good of the mission and she was confident in her ability to shoot despite not being the most accurate soldier.

Three guards…..one was near the side entrance, if one could call it that, and the other two were on a patrol near the “main” entrance.

“ I- I’ll take one on the right.” Reyna silently said, her hands trembling only slightly as she nodded to the “main” entrance. The guy was sitting on a crate, with his rifle by his side. It was the sapper, who seemed eager to take a long break from his job. It should be an easy shot for her.

After Senja’s reply, Michael had no options but the last one; the one that was not particularly difficult, but he wasn’t an easy kill. He was casually making strolls around in a circle, seemingly bored, in spite of the huge fight going on right now. Perhaps that’s why. Everybody he knew was fighting for the so-called ‘glory’ while he was stuck dangling his guns around his shoulders, with no enemy in sight. But if his movement was significant enough during the execution, they’d be screwed. So Michael had to be extra careful with his shot.

With almost an unspoken command, Michael immediately got into his firing position, a few windows apart from Reyna and Senja.

”Fire when the next artillery goes off. Don’t wait for anyone.”

And then was the process of waiting. Minutes of silence dragged in his mind. The signal of death was just around the corner, but no one knew when they would bell.
The three guards were especially ignorant. They weren’t aware of how the situation on the frontline were raging, thinking that they were safe, with the trust that their Imperial comrades would secure the fatherland a heroic victory. They weren’t aware that three sights were on them, and that they were on the doorstep of hell.

And inevitably, the artilleries raged.

BANG!

Michael’s gun rang out first, but not far ahead of the two. The guard was fortunately still at the time, and he took a bullet on his chest. His collapse came as quickly as the bullet. If the shot didn’t kill him, he’d have no hope of reporting the tales.

Reyna’s shot fell in either second or third. She was not sure, but her hands shook when she pulled the trigger. As a result, the barrel moved slightly to the left, just enough for her to miss her intended target, which was the chest. However, the Imperial moved his head in the same direction and it just so happened that the missed shot went straight through the side of the man’s head, blowing open a ugly hole.

Her luck was so high in this circumstance that it took Reyna off-guard. She froze, not believing her luck at the moment before looking to see if anyone saw or heard the shots very quietly and still in disbelief.

Senja also finished her shots seemingly without issues either. And then the few seconds of results...no alarms, no Imperials...good.

”Your training did us a big service.” Michael turned to Reyna with a thumbs-up. He didn’t see exactly how the shots line up, but the headshot was pretty neat, if you did not count the terrible mess it left behind.

”Nice shot too Senja. You know your stuff well indeed.” He also had no compliments left unspoken for the Nordic huntress. ”Alright, let’s go.”

The entrance was soon brought under Federation control as soon as the tunnel team moved out of the building. After making sure no Imperial was in the vicinity, Michael quickly addressed the rest of the squad.

”We’ll be off now. We’ll be seeing you in around an hour or so, hopefully in tact. If we don’t come out...you may leave us. Good luck.”

Michael saluted the squad with two fingers before going over his equipment for the last time. Shovels, explosives, magazines, bayonet,...all present. He was ready to go.

“Stay safe, everyone.” Reyna spoke to the escort squad after Michael did, giving them a nod as she followed Michael.

Their time of running away from the inevitable had run out. Here and now they will have to come face to face with the darkness that threatened to consume their frail mortality. There was no going around them; only courage, skills and luck can carry them through the day.

It wasn’t the danger of tunnel fighting that hurt the most. It was the threat of it. They had predicted that the tunnel would be dark, but theorizing couldn’t predict the hazy, cold and claustrophobic darkness that enclosed them. Lightings were barely enough to attract moths, not to mention some parts of the lights were also broken, deemed not significant enough for replacement, making whatever part of the tunnel that came after that completely in the mist.

Michael’s pace slowed and converged as he moved through the tunnel, his mind reciting the direction he had spent hours memorizing the days before. There were times his memories fail him, and he prayed it wouldn’t be this time. And on the while, his eyes peered into the blackness before him. With each step, his arms held back the desire to flinch his bayoneted gun, afraid of the entity that might be behind the veil of darkness. His heart raced, but his mind calmed his breathe. His teeth were clashing, but his mouth kept shut, grinding two jaws into each other. Occasionally, his hand would open the pocket-watch Anna had given him, adjusting his strides with time ticking, the very few sounds in this madness-inducing silence.

Reyna didn’t know how much she truly hated caves and tunnels until she entered them. She was not claustrophobic, but there was just something eerie about these tunnels in particular. The danger was obvious as she gripped her rifle, not having a bayonet on it so she wouldn’t stab her comrade accidently, but the danger was not what scared her. It was, as was the case with Michael, the potential danger. The potential of these tunnels not being well-supported and not need their intervention to collapse. She hoped that they did for now.

And before he even realized it, his memory ran out. And as he looked up the familiar landmark clicked another part in his mind. If it hadn’t checked out with it already, the wooden sign saying ‘Infirmary’ hung on the side of the tunnel pointing deep further in was the obvious sign that they had arrived at their destination.

”We’re here.” Michael placed his hand on Reyna’s shoulder as a signal. He quickly took out his pocket watch to check the time. ”We still have a few minutes. Let’s get our explosives ready.”

He swung both his rifle and his backpack down before opening the surprise gift the Imperials hadn’t known they were on the receiving end. These were no shocktrooper’s grenades. These were demolition explosives. It could destroy an entire room if not multiple. And this could highly backfire if not calculated. They must be reserved.

’Let’s see…’

Two on each side was probably more than enough.

”I’d say use one, if you have no objections.”

“No objections here. Let’s get this done.” This was all Reyna needed to say as she got to setting the explosives carefully with Michael.

Once they’re done, the backpack was on their back again. It would be haphazardly closed though. He’d need it for later.

The clock’s hand was slowly reaching the designated point. Their preparation was complete.

The only item outside the backpack was the pocket-watch firmly on his hand, and the lighter on the other. Michael waited intensely as each strike of the clock sync with his racing breathe.

”Wait…....Now!”

The spark was lit. The rope burned. It was set. There was no going back now. In 40 seconds, this part of the tunnel would be buried in the dirt.

Michael quickly grabbed the rifle on the ground and made a run for it, finding cover in one of the corners. The remaining time: counting.

BOOM!


One explosion.

BOOM!


Two. Not far apart.

Anna and her squadmate made it as well.

The dirt falling from the ceiling sent adrenaline racing in his veins, but it died as soon as nothing followed. His calculation was perfect, or at least good enough to work perfectly.

But this was no mere grand finale. This was just the opening. Now the Imperials would be alarmed, and they would be racing over to see what was going on soon enough.

”Good luck Reyna!” He knew this was the time. No time for fancy encouragement. Just the same salute he gave the squad before he raced off towards his intended targets.

“You too, Michael!” Reyna returned the salute before making haste to her target area.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Jeep Wrangler
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Jeep Wrangler VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

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The Siege of Amone, September 28th - Increasing the Pressure




With the street clear for another solid minute, Jean turned around back to his fellow soldiers. Diana, Isaac and Britta had been hot on his heels since the first whistle had blown, with Lucia close by his side. Now, the Cathedral was starting to appear on the urban horizon. Turning the last few corners, a colossal radiance of righteous authority clashed with the remaining backdrop of destroyed buildings, ruined streets and empty casings. Standing still for a minute, he heard the continuous orchestration of gunfire unravel amidst the silence of Amone. His breath was short and bittersweet, leaving a vapour of disgusted confidence to follow alongside it. Their march was far from over and the day was still young and spirited. Moments of pure shock were being left in the dust of their own heels whilst the Federation's forces paced themselves with intensity and without mercy. Amone wasn't just a city to some, it was a home for their religious sentiment. Jean empathised with their intent without holding his own candle to their Cruxian beliefs. Looking around, Jean noticed the streets light up with more troops, who'd cleared neighbouring streets quickly. For a while, Jean felt pity for the frontline defenders caught in the swarm. They had no chance, even if their objective was to slow down the approaching infantry. After all, they never really slowed anyone down properly. A mirrored sense of power entered Jean's mind, making him feel actually useful for a short while. As the footsteps and gunfire grew exponentially as the days went by, with countless lives being ended every second. Jean took another deep breath. For now they were to go ahead without their commanders. Middleton was nowhere to be seen at the Cathedral, so it was only believable that he was elsewhere in the siege of Amone, touring the ranks of his soldiers to lead them to some brutal victory he spied upon. Whereas on the road to the cathedral things were far different. Individual skill had become a vast fixation, giving way to the common soldier to thrive over the actions of one commander. Immediately, Jean turned to Isaac and Diana.

"You two, I want you to join the right flank. There might be resistance outside, but use that as an opportunity to take the interior guard of the Cathedral by surprise. Britta, Lucia and myself will take the centre still. Be careful, see you inside!" With his orders to split up in play, he turned back to the ranks of anonymous soldiers still waiting for the next order to push. When one Sergeant called out their opportunity, Jean edged his gaze to Britta and Lucia quickly before nodding with a comforting smile. Their task was more taxing than the others in their small and formulated party, taking the brunt of the assault's force through the full storm. Hoping their were ready, he spoke softly and knocked on Lucia's helmet with a clenched fist. "Let's get through this...together."

With the next advancement initiated, Jean joined the platoons worth of soldiers moving towards their next checkpoint: the Cathedral's entrance itself. For the first half of the journey, a cunning silence warned them of the ambush ahead, leading to an organised split and spread forged into the Army's formation. Taking two sides of the street each, most of them kept their eyes to the sides whilst only the front few watched their direct path. All around them the splintering shrieks of shots savagely scraped by the stones and steel bodies of destroyed motor vehicles. At the end of the vast, open street, spanning the width of most infamous motorways, a flurry of machine gun fire suddenly started to head their way. When the first few dropped, Jean immediately found himself piled with more unnamed soldiers, all taking a peak ahead to see what had interrupted their advance. Surely enough, when Jean took a look all he felt was the immense pain of a terrible flashback. The near past had shown itself to be brutal by all means, and the metallic horse at the end of the street fully realised it. The Armoured Cars had been deployed once more, two of them instead. Those too slow to reach the endless streams of rubble, collapsed housing and park walls dropped immediately, finding no time to react to their undying skewer. Lucia held onto her own helmet tightly, silently whispering to herself as the meander of gunfire kept them at an unease. Before long, several more soldiers started to join their pile, with others brandishing strange weapons Jean hadn't seen before. Grenades strapped into huge piles, bottles filled with oil and conversions to standard rifles, where only a single, far greater cartridge was loaded at a time. They weren't an entirely new invention, just the reconfiguration of an old and common rifle to use a single, larger bullet. Its effectiveness wasn't well recorded, but with the grin of the Fusiliers joined by their side it seemed to be an honest task. Many of them sang praise to the initial push, before noting that they needed to get closer to ensure their shot would hit.

Jean let the air escape his lungs before breathing a fresh intake. Turning to Lucia, he clasped a hand onto her arm to get her attention, letting them get a good second to look at one another to freshen their nerves. Once he did so, he turned back to Britta and patted her on the back. Carefully, he pointed a hand to a closer pile of rubble, not too far from their current position.


"Could you take a few rifleman and set up your Em'Gee behind there? Might give you a good spot to return fire. We'll take these guys around the side to get closer to those things." If Britta wanted to find a better position, he wouldn't of had any qualms about it. It was only his own speculation in the heat of the moment before he could finalise the best possible location for her to lay down a suppressive volley back at the defenders before them. Infantry had begun to surround the cars, using sandbags of their own nearby to create an even thicker exterior defence than the one encountered moments before. Hesitantly assigning a few soldiers to stay behind at Britta's discretion, he took Lucia and the prepped anti-armour troops to the left. Sure, their equipment was hastily put together, but it wasn't an unwelcomed addition if it was their best shot at moving upwards. Besides, they weren't his. These soldiers wanted the credit to use their newfound tools of destruction, then Jean would have to help the greater warriors pave the way for them.

Darting left was a moderate task. Every soldier went one by one, where the occasional skiff of smoke and dust slammed off of the wall whenever a bullet came whizzing by. Luckily they were blessed with the covering haven of an interior household, letting them traverse the buildings until they could get a clear shot at their target. With many holes in each of the buildings' walls, a consecutive path opened up and allowed for them to move quickly. Jean was amongst the first few to lead the group, with Lucia still closely following behind. He wanted to ensure her safety, knowing that in death her agony would only provide the absolute devastation of one Captain Middleton. She seemed to be handling herself quite well, keeping her head on her shoulders with her rifle tightly clenched in her hands. Her youthful shiver garnered the attention of the fusiliers around her, silently questioning the legitimacy of her own inclusion. Jean's protection wasn't great, but it was enough to maintain her focus on the task at hand. One by one, they clambered through open windows, broken walls and up spiralled stairs, figuring out their positioning whilst the rattling of machine guns and blasting of rifles only a few metres outside raged on. Their flank wasn't to bring them right beside the vehicles, only close enough to unleash their tools.

Several more minutes of climbing, where they silently held their breaths in an attempt to not give away their position was met with the occasional hand-to-hand engagement. Jean witnessed the fusiliers find several soldiers positioned in the upper windows, quickly silencing them with the piercing of the back with knifes, crushing of their windpipes through rifle-based strangulation and moment-to-moment executions that attempted to mask their sauntering engagement. Finally, they reached a point of which the rifles could set themselves up. One by one, they each loaded their larger bullets into their chambers, bolting the rifles with an intense weight to them. When the first took position in one window, the other two spread themselves out further. Jean and Lucia sat closely to the first anti-armoured gunner. On a silent count to three, he squeezed the trigger and the blasting boom of the far greater projectile sent a shockwave throughout the windowsill, shuddering the smashed glass that sat upon it. Jean watched the round flutter through the air, denting into the side of the armoured car before scattering onto the ground. The soldier cursed himself.


"Shit! Bad angle, get the others to shoot-" Immediately, the turret of the car suddenly shifted, and its barrel began to face the window they looked out of. The destructive rifleman turned back to Lucia and Jean, pushing them back quickly. "Get away from the windo-"

Cut short by a bullet cleanly sweeping from the back of his head out the front, the corpse dropped on the floor, narrowly missing Lucia. The two scattered away, holding their hands upon their helmets as the bullets reigned upon their position, flying over their heads quickly. Jean began to crawl to the side, using a free hand to make sure Lucia was following closely behind. With the car distracted, a second rifleman poked his head out of a parallel window, his round already loaded, before firing a piercing shot to breach the gunner's protective shell. As soon as the clang of a metallic splinter rang out, the gunner's suppressive ability ceased immediately. The bullet had pierced the first Car's mode of offence and defence, giving allowance for a second soldier, clutching a cluster of grenades tightly bound together, to charge towards the window, using the run up to monumentally extend its reach. The cluster of explosives landed directly next to the vehicle and exploding on its short remaining fuse, blasting shrapnel and fire in a multitude of directions. Any imperial infantry stood within its proximity were showered with its blast whilst the vehicle itself rocked, its wheels and underside breached by the ordinance.

Seconds of ash and smoke passed, letting them cough and splutter. The gunfire continued on the other side of the street as only the first of the duo had been executed via flame and fury. Besides, the explosion wasn't enough to blast through the remainder of the infantry outside their building, making way for any potential rivals to enter their homestead in a violent clash. Jean poked his head over the window sill again, seeing the back hatch of the vehicle open as the commander wandered out, smoked and plumed in ash. Before anyone reacted, Lucia poked her own head up, rifle ready and slammed her finger down onto the trigger, quickly and efficiently dropping the driver in his escape, before taking cover once more to avoid the several rifle shots returning to their position. Now, all they had to do was hope that Britta, Isaac or Diana were ready to deal with the opposing car, or they would have to find alternatives in clearing it. Only a hundred metres away from their position, the grand entrance to the Cathedral sat still, waiting and beckoning the Federation soldiers to go inside. Only once they cleared the outside could they enter safely, hoping to deal with the beast inside. All while this was happening, a second thunderous clap shook the earth. Wherever it was, the behemoth had just fired its second shot of the Siege, arcing once more towards the headquarters of the Amone offensive instead of the frontline itself. Jean heard the immense grumble in the floor beneath him as a distant explosion shivered the foundations of the ground. He hoped whoever it hadn't hit anyone, but with its blast radius, it was sure to have devastated more than just immobile, injured soldiers.


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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by FalloutJack
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FalloutJack The Long Dark Nuka-Break of the Soul

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The initial shock of bullets from the Cathedral had been a problem, but from there, the somewhat-more-cautious and definitely forceful infantry found gaps and flaws in their Imperial defense and pressed on. Unable to stem the tide of soldiers and coordinated fire, their control over the area swiftly began to fold, the strong position wavering and breaking down as they got in close with minimal amounts of fuss. The Federation had thrown superior numbers at the problem and the math checked out. Many of their own troops had cleaned out the area leading to the Cathedral and now that gigantic monument lay before them with enemy soldiers more trapped than fortified now.

Of course, they still had to take it.

With no sign of Middleton, Isaac (gladly) defaulted to Jean's authority, as would many in the 15th. His orders were simple. He, Lucia, and Britta were to keep on pressing towards the front-and-center of the Cathedral, going for the main entrance. At the same time, Isaac would be heading off to the side - presumably to one of the side or back ways in - to clean out any trooops still outside and gain entry there to take them by surprise. You might be thinking now 'Split the two Gunners? They'll never do that! Not after all they've been through!', except you'd be wrong. More than just being properly trained and knowing that this was strategically the right move, they trusted each other and their skills. When Jean declared the intent for all of them to get out of this together, they both nodded.

"We will."

"Without question. C'mon, Diana."

The Lance-Corporal would get a move on, likely with Diana following. We'll leave that for now and focus on Britta's end of things as she prepared her gun to oversee those still here with Jean. They proceeded, along with a number of other soldiers they didn't know, towards the Cathedral proper now. There were wrecked cars and rubble all over the place, not so much that you couldn't get through anywhere because of the width of the street, but...it was a bit of a mess. However, before long, everybody had to duck into some kind of cover - Britta reflexively letting loose a few bullets back at the attackers as she ran - as machine guns opened fire!



It was their worst fears confirmed, or at least...one of them. There were machine gun cars on the approach. Of course they'd be here! This place was a lynch-pin in the entire Amone conflict! From her cover with Jean and Lucia, Britta waited carefully before sighting their actual positions, raising her helmet on the end of her on the end of her machine gun with her actual head peaking up a few seconds later about a foot-and-a-half away from that. She'd been quick enough to avoid fire to helmet or head, but dammit...they had good coverage here, and because those were armored, there was almost no point in firing back, except to try and get at those narrow slits for visibility. That would distract, but practically never penetrate without lots of luck. That's when a bunch of men with some...very basic rifles and modified explosives with them. The rifles were firing heavy single-shot slugs and the bombs were basically anything flammable or explosive they could tie into a wad. That would've been nice to be able to get back at the line, but nooo... That all aside, Jean asked her to take some of the riflemen to a pile of stone rubble. It looked like she was working cover and a bit of decoying for his team, which she nodded at without even speaking. She instead turned to those she was taking with her and said...

"One or two at a time, only. I'll cover you, but I can only do so much to that thing."

And it was, admittedly, not that much. Even still, they knew what to do and - one by one - they all transferred over with a minimum of potential harm. At much, Britta felt something kinda' close as she ran and fired for herself before taking a dive. Here, they would be suppressing with bullet-fire, trying to take some of the attention from Jean and Company, which mostly worked, at least until one of the cars swiveled and shot at a window that'd been fired out of. There was the occasional Imperial soldier out to support the cars, but they actually looked like they were running from something else...like Isaac.

Alright, he's made it back there, and Jean's got one of the cars stitched up, but what about the other one...?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Isaac and Diana would be heading around to flank the Cathedral. It wasn't long, though, before he heard a familiar sound and reflexively flinched. While he, the female rifleman, and whatever other unnamed soldiers were going around, picking off whatever Imperials might've been wandering or even shooting from windows, it sounded like Jean, Britta, and Lucia were facing off against heavier combatants. Isaac couldn't let that slide. He'd asked him and Diana to come back here to flank the enemy and make this easier, but those things were as much an obstacle to them as the frontal assault! They came within few, and could see the backs and at least parts of the side of one of them. It was at this point that Isaac saw a bunch of Imperial soldiers looking to use their armored friends as cover against the first team and immediately, he opened fire, everyone else following suit. Imps took cover back the way they came, plunged forwards more into the open, or were cut down, but still...the same problem remained: The cars. Now, it looked like someone was giving one of them hell via improvised explosives, but that didn't really help Isaac's position...unless...

The exhaust grill...

The vehicle was armored, and you couldn't harm the Ragnite engine, and you probably couldn't even do much to the underside of the vehicle except maybe ruin the brakes or something. But...there was one possible chance here, something they'd overlooked when they modified this car. Isaac looked among those with him.

"Have we got a Shocktrooper here?"

"Uhh, me!"

One guy only. Damn...

"Got any bombs?"

"Yes, but they're not going to penetrate-"

"Don't want 'em to. You see that grill?"

"Yyyes? Why?"

"Try to hit it, best you can. If we can get it off, we get a hole with alot of heat coming out of it. My father's truck once got its whole thing blocked up after a storm and the truck nearly overheated when he started it. You and me, we'll knock it off. Everyone else, gather anything you can to stuff into that hole. Socks with dirt and rocks, loose shirts, whatever you got!"

With that order, the few others around would start to do that. If Diana wanted to help shoot instead of doing that or watching their OWN flanks like some of the troops were busy doing, that was up to her. He was trading shots with this other car, letting the Shocktrooper with...sadly only two grenades...try to lob that grill off with combined machine gun fire when somebody else up front - probably Britta and some others who appeared to have some kinda' different rifles - tried their luck at the main gun.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Bushman501
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Bushman501 The Saber of Hungry

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September 28, 1914




I better hurry. There's no telling when Imperials will arrive to investigate the explosion... Reyna thought as she kept her rifle at a low ready, moving through the tunnel system. She already passed the room her and Michael agreed would be a good shelter from the explosion she would cause, but just in case she took the time to secure the room. This room did not have much: it was just an empty storage room, albeit small. There were racks for firearms and empty crates, but that was all there was to this room. No person was inside of it.

Satisfied that this particular room was empty, Reyna moved on to toward her goal, her objective. She moved quickly, but cautiously for she didn't know when any Imperials could show up. Her heart was beating rapidly while her hands only swayed a little. Hyper-alertness was a funny thing. Every sound she heard caught her attention, if only for a split second or less, before she moved on. She never had to worry about such things back home or in the encampments.

Finally, she reached the storage room that was her target. After clearing the room the same as she did the first, she moved to the middle of the room and set down her pack. One at a time, she took out the equipment to set up the demolition charge, then finally the demolition charge itself. As a sapper, she was entrusted with the knowledge of setting up such dangerous explosives as well as how to disarm them. But, this all took time even with such knowledge of the explosives, especially since she had to put a longer fuse on the charge so she'd have time to escape.

Right after she finished setting the charge, which took her two minutes, she heard voices. They were certainly not friendly voices, but rather Imperial voices, and from what she heard they sounded a bit rushed. Reyna figured these Imperials came to investigate the explosion earlier, or they were getting supplies for the defense against the Federation assault. Unfortunately, that meant that she had only a few seconds before they would undoubtedly search the room she was in. If they found the demolition charges....

Reyna knew what she had to do: ambush them. She didn't know how many were coming, but that didn't change what she had to do, only how difficult it would make her situation. Carefully, she hid behind a few heavy crates after retrieving her pack, crouched in darkness, attach a bayonet, aimed her carbine at the entrance and waited with anticipation.

Sure enough, what seemed to be only two Imperials entered the room via the entrance. Reyna, however, took an opportunity as soon as her sights were upon the first one who entered the room. A heavy trigger pull and a sizable rifle bullet was the end of the unlucky Imperial who entered the room first. The Imperial was felled with a shot in the chest, the man not moving as he fell to the ground. The other, however, quickly unholstered his rifle and fired a shot at Reyna's direction.

Thankfully, she chose her cover well. While the bullet passed through the heavy crate, the view between her and the Imperial was obscured and the bullet did not hit its intended target. Reyna remembered what McGriffin told her to do: if you don't know what else to do, move forward and attack. Thus, she immediately after firing and cranking the bolt on her carbine moved to another set of crates. Her ears were ringing from all the gunfire that was being thrown in the enclosed space, so she couldn't hear when the Imperial was cranking his bolt. She only knew a second shot came after her while she was moving toward those crates.

After guessing another time that a shot was pulled, Reyna charged the Imperial who was behind the corner of the entrance to the room. The Imperial fired, Reyna feeling some kind of impact before she was pointing her carbine right at the man's chest. Another trigger pull later, her gun discharged a bullet to the man's chest, Reyna thrusting her bayonet another second later again into the man's chest, this time where the heart was. A moment later, the man fell down to the ground with a stab wound in his heart and a bullet in his shoulder.

Reyna quickly ran over to the demolition charge to light the fuse. She lit the fuse and stood back up, starting to walk back out. However, right when she did so she felt a large stabbing pain as the adrenaline in her body started to go down. By instinct, she put her hand at the spot on her torso and held it tightly. Staggering a little further from the place she lit the fuse she lifted her hand up. Already, her small hand had the red liquid of life on it. In fact, now that she was starting to realize it, she felt that liquid slowly drench her shirt.

Oh Valkyrur....... Reyna was normally not a religious person at all, being agnostic between the Cruz faith and the faith of the Valkyrurs. However, right now.....

Nothing could prepare her for this. She saw soldiers who were shot before but she never thought she'd be one of them truly. She started to panic, breathing quickly as she tried to move away from the upcoming explosion. Survival was her priority right now. That is what she had to do. Survive.

She finally staggered close to the room she cleared earlier. The long fuse should give her time to get out...if she was in peak condition. That room could provide her with protection, and it was fairly close to the place her and Michael split off. However, she was not going to make it out of these tunnels by herself now. She already felt dizzy, disoriented and her body was weakening. The wound must be worse than she thought.

How to survive....Reyna had an idea. Actually, it was a small hope. She was not sure if Michael was gone by now, but she had to try. It was either that, be captured by Imperials, or die. With great struggle, Reyna took off her pack and the entrenching tool she had. Following that, she put her bloody hand several times of her pack and threw them at the intersection, tying a piece of her cloth over on her entrenching tool and pitching it forward as best as she could. It put great strain on her, and she didn't know if she even managed to throw it as far as she needed to, but she was desperate. It was her only hope as she felt after the shovel the strength leave her legs. She crawled inside the room for shelter, leaving her pack outside the entrance with her carbine leaned on a wall outside the room, sat against a wall, and thought about her family, hoping that she would see them again and that Michael would find her.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Conscripts
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Conscripts An Atom Trying to Understand Itself

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"Those who seek death will live"


Every second passed since the dual explosion in the infirmary was every second filled with adrenaline as Michael rushed down the tunnel in the other direction from Reyna. He was committed now. There would be no secrecy from now on. He would be more than willing to empty a cartridge or bash an Imperial’s head in. As long as it pushed him closer to the goal he had in mind.

Rushing past the checkpoints where he memorized earlier, Michael knew it was one of the few signs he was on the right track. The other ones? The sound of screaming Imperials. Oh, they were pissed. For sure. When only two Federation soldiers just blasted hundreds of hours of work and endangered the very lifeline of Amone’s Imperial forces, they wanted a piece of them. For Michael, two of these men were running in his direction, on their way to investigate the explosion. He could hear their footsteps etching closer and closer. There were no hiding spots good enough. The corner he turned from was the direction they were probably heading down toward. Choices were scarce. He had to kill them.

Michael quickly had his carbine on his left shoulder, his legs creeping backward, reaching the tunnel T-section he just turned from. Just as he edged half his body behind the corner, sights of the two Imperials were in his vision. It wasn’t even a clear vision to be exact. Their only indication of location was their footsteps and the dim parts of their body, visibly disjointed but still moving objects. And here, every moving object is an Imperial.

Praying on those loose evidence alone, a deafening bang momentarily sliced through Michael’s eardrums. His comically short silhouette on normal days flashed by the shot as an eerie vision, his eyes deadly white by the luminescence.

The bullet lodged into one of the Imperial’s neck. His death came agonizing as he would squirm on the floor for minutes. And unbeknownst to the other soldier, he would die even faster. Michael quickly followed up with another shot, but unfortunately missed. The Imperial retaliated but was way too late as the snapper knew better than to poke his head in the open.

Between his friend and Michael, the choice was obvious. The Imperial surged forward, bayonet ready. He turned the corner and tried to swing for Michael’s direction. But unfortunately for him, Michael was a lot shorter than he imagined. The swing missed its intended target, and his error was paid with his life, as he felt a knife plunged in his stomach, and shortly after in his neck. After the second soldier fell to the ground, Michael instinctively ran back to his corner, but after a few seconds later he realized that there were no more enemies. For now. The first Imperial he shot was still alive, but Michael knew his life is now by the minutes. Perhaps Michael pitied his agony or worried over he’d draw too much attention with his last few moments. Whatever the answer was, the injured soldier was put down with another shot to the head.

His obstacles gone, Michael went deeper in. Moments later, he found himself at the end of the branch. The target room. Explosives were quickly laid out, and fuses sparked. The explosion of the successful destruction emboldened the Edinburghian. He was one step closer to a job done, and one helping hand given to the soldiers on the surface. Time to move to the next target.

But as always, someone was always there to stand in his way.

Either combatant was completely unaware of the other’s approach. The light in the sector had been snuffed out by the explosion. The only thing keeping him navigated was the creeping light rays barely and sporadically creeping into the narrow parallel space. This soldier was having his skills more stoved up his hand, as his movement was much more silent. His hands clutched tightly on the rifle, his iron sight lined exactly where his eyes were locked on. His strides slow and short. He could hear Michael’s approach getting fainter and fainter as the sapper slowly faded into the darkness, knowing the danger of ambushes when he walks into unknown territory like this.

But when Michael’s carbine hit the light, a bullet tore through the air. A gasp escaped his lips as the bullet slammed into his shovel. An inch further left, and he’d be dead. Michael returned fire twice with his carbine. But apparently, his enemy was still alive, and he was thoroughly behind a crate as cover. So Michael ran back, found a small cover in the form of a small corner and hid there. For a relative minute, silence once again took over. Both soldiers knew the other was there, but the fear of an ambush kept them from approaching each other, hoping that the other man would make the mistake of charging into the other one.

But none made the call. The Imperial too experienced to be reckless. Michael too fretful for an attack. To him, the Empire wasn’t easy prey. They were experienced, knew their expertise, and they were on their chosen ground. But the longer he waits, the tighter the noose around his neck. More soldiers may already be at his very corner. There were no options; he had to attack.

As faithful and religiously devoted Michael was, sometimes the leap of faith was a stupid idea. It drove the idea of blindness. Of rashness and irrationality. But at the same time, he knew just as well the values of actually taking the step and the random nature of life, sometimes disgustingly so. But he wasn’t going to simply embrace a blind charge. No. If he was going to be brash, he would be calculatedly brash.

“Huh?”

All of a sudden, the Imperial soldier heard a stomp on the ground. Then, from the very corner of his eyes, something landed right beside him. A small rectangular metallic container full of explosives. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

Not even waiting for his rationale to kick in, the Imperial soldier immediately vacated his cover. He didn’t need to see it. Nobody throws something except for it being grenades. A second or two late and he’d be in pieces. He retreated as further down as possible waiting for the explosion.

...which never came.

What came instead was that five-foot-tall Fed that he was hunting down. And he was already on his face, closing the distance surprisingly quickly for a man of his height, his shovel firmly on his two hands, ready to strike.

It turned out the explosive was not lit. It was just a ruse to make the Imperial vacate his lofty and secure cover. The whole plan hung right on the instinctive reaction of a soldier, and it had worked. He was tricked.

Michael could dimly see the man trying to regain his posture through the creeping light, but he went through. He couldn’t doubt himself here. He charged his shovel he took the other day fully entrusted to take over his normally more powerful carbine. Right before the Imperial could shoot, the sharp edge of the shovel slammed into the gun, cracking where it landed. Then a hit to his stomach, also from the sharp edge. And then finally, a chest hit. It was fatal.

“Mother...”

That voice...

The soldier collapsed. If he wasn’t dead right away, he would be soon. The only solace for the latter case was that he would not be conscious enough to feel the pain. His only last word struck a recall. It sounded...familiar.

“Heinz?”

It was fresh in his mind. After reeling back from the adrenaline of the fight, Michael finally found the time, albeit very short, to identify the normally faceless enemy. It was the man he conversed with back in the inn. The man who Michael could find the respect he needed to have a civil discussion about politics and war without devolving into a shouting match. The man whose example could possibly be a powerful tool that could avoid so many unnecessary conflicts. And ironically, in one of those unnecessary conflicts, he had just been cut down brutally by the person he personally also respected.

Letting the light where they both stood shone on his face, it was just confirming his suspicion. It really was him. His stiff motionless face replaced the once stoic demeanor of Michael’s first impression. The tag Michael found inside his uniform was the final nail in his coffin: Corporal Heinz Noel, 45th Jaeger Unit. Along with a letter placed within the same pocket. To his mother, never delivered, soon replaced with a death certificate.

His eyes drenched.

But time was of the essence. It denied him the human moment of grief. So he quietly put the things into his own pocket, retrieved the explosives and headed for the demolition sites. He left in no more than two minutes.

His branch was done. He somehow managed to accomplish the difficult task. Funnily enough, there weren’t that many Imperials to move against him. Of course, he had to dodge or kill quite a number of them to get back to where he came from, but it didn’t diminish the fact that the attack on the infirmary was correct. Nevertheless, due to the time taken in the gunfight with Heinz adding onto the cat and mouse chase, Michael had lost more time than he anticipated.

Unbeknownst to him, that was an improbable string of chances rivaling the existence of life in the universe itself.

On his way out, he saw a set of backpack almost exactly like the one he was wearing. Upon closer inspection, he found a couple of tools lay right nearby, tied to pieces of cloths, soaked in crimson red. It took a few more seconds for his memory to kick in that this was that intersection where Reyna and he had agreed upon, and that she would take the task of destroying the room nearby.

“Reyna?”

Alarms kicked in the instant he pieced things together. That possibility crossed his mind, to which he desperately tried throwing it out. It couldn’t be that quickly.

“Reyna!”

She was there by the corner close by, sitting against the wall. Her signs of life weren’t visible. Oh no. Please. Please. Don’t let this be. Don’t let there be another one. She’s not meant for this. Please.

“Oh God thank you.”

She still lives. Her breathe still felt. Her pulse still pumped. But she needs to get out of here.

It wasn’t even the least of the danger

Reyna was completely out of her body right now. Her eyes barely opened and her weak muscle resistance barely counted against Michael. Still, with all the extra equipment he was carrying, the weight was excess. Emptying all the strength he had remained, and even further beyond, Michael dragged Reyna from the wall she rested on. One arm below her waist and one arm behind her knee, the sapper lifted Reyna like he lifted Lucia the other day. Step by step, he found the unusual strength he thought he didn’t have, gradually speeding up to a jog as he carried the Vinlander back to where his comrades ought to be waiting. Then...

BOOM!!!!


A mist rolled right into him, engulfing them both. A powerful shockwave shoved him into the wall, his left elbow crashed into the hard rock, sending a needle cut shot of pain straight all the way up. His head spun like he was being spaghettified. Life felt like a fleeting dream now. A touch of a finger and it could lift off the ground. Forever.

The light was visible from the corner of his eyes. He needed to move. His collapse right here at the brink of safety was there, but his steps were firm. Each stomp carried an unseen, unheard, hidden willpower of a man fighting for something other than survival. He didn’t care he may die. Not anymore. Thoughts of his mother’s pain did not cross his mind. Thoughts of his departure did not cross his mind. He was willing to die. He was willing to give away his life at this one moment. For Reyna. For someone who may or may not worth more than him.

“You’ll be safe.”

He whispered. Another step forward.
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Jeep Wrangler
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Jeep Wrangler VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

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The Siege of Amone, September 28th - Hath chosen Death once more?






When the distant cloud of ash and fire formed in the rearward sky, Jean could only think of his allies left behind in its dust. How many were killed and how many more were injured? Though it was unclear where exactly the shell had landed, judging by its relative angle Jean could at least predict it had hit near the rear lines, spewing chaos upon the soldiers who waited their turns to be sent into the firing pit. Jean looked at the devastation and speculated only its true extent, before returning his gaze back to the car they'd disabled. Seeing some of the soldiers flee backwards, heading towards the Cathedral to put up a grand defence made him shudder in his boots, before he watched the advancing Federation infantrymen increase their foothold on the colossal building. Jean fumbled with the strap of his helmet, tightening it once more. A secure layer now slathered his scalp, adding only a faded tissue of steel against the ongoing rage of the battle. Unlike the Garnian Salient, there wasn't room for mass charges or the standard attack-defend procedures both the Empire and Federation had been using for the last three to four years. Fighting had boiled down into personal skirmishes. Smothered cornershops were laced in fire, riddled with bullets and skewered by explosives. Bodies dotted most of the streets and old homes became strongholds for the crews of machine guns. This was a mobile engagement. Static loitering left squads in perilous situations. Every street was a potential ambush, or a dead-ended alleyway that would only get them encircled. To think that the sudden change from the usual stalemate had offered such a stressful counter-option...the world had become madness incarnate once more. Jean rose from his seated position and began to approach the nearest group of soldiers awaiting the next order.

In their building, two of their own lay dead on the floor, blood soaked and drenched in a rainy residue from all the weeks before. No one met their cold eyes, refusing to even acknowledge the bodies they knew. It was wrong to turn off their reputable respect for the fallen comrades they lurked between, but no one had the guts to say anything dare they threaten their violent confidence in battle. Their savage momentum was all they had left to get through the remainder of the Amone Frontline. Once they broke these streets, a hopeful progression through the lost lands of Assen would prove triumphant in victory, granting the limited success that had been experienced many years before. On top of that, people like Lucia would be granted passage onto her own home soil. Whether or not she still had a home to call in her home country was something to tackle another day, but the peace of mind knowing her birthplace would be slowly handed back to her was comforting in its own right.

Eager eyes suddenly laid upon Jean. Downstairs, a few more quick exchanges of gunfire could be heard resonating throughout the hallways. All of them were distinctively Federation cartridges being let off. The housing was now clear, as many would call up the stairs, before proceeding onward further down the street. The roadworks were beginning to fall apart and the final Armoured Car was now under the siege of Isaac's flank. Jean took a deep breath and thought over their options. Either way, there wasn't much time to give. The Imperials were going to use every second to their advantage in this battle, taking their time to load every single artillery piece, machine gun nest, sandbag wall and street corner with barbed wire. Assaulting relied purely on strategy and pacing, ones that weren't always favourable to their own odds. Jean looked out the window once more, Lucia following his gaze to see a second cloud of smoke appear in the distance, this time from the Imperial frontline. Again, Jean had no idea what had blown up, but a small part of him hoped that it was the tunnelling system they'd sparingly been assigned to destroy. Ever since they'd arrived in Amone it had been the little thorn in their side, and now they could finally get rid of its opportunistic tunnelways.


"Okay, okay..." Jean thought aloud, returning to the group of riflemen. "I can assure ourselves that going through the main door on its own would be devastating. We need to try and enter from as many sides as possible. Lucia, I need you to run back to the troops moving up and grab several sappers, see if any of them have any satchel charges on them. We'd be in luck if we can get a few."

Lucia quickly scurried off through the hallways, as obedient as the day she'd fallen into Middleton's decline. Jean sighed, standing up and beginning to move, the soldiers behind him following closely. The gunfire in the adjacent street was quietening down, but the safety of those inside and out wasn't any less than before. Wherever they stepped, soldiers watched for tripwires, mines, makeshift traps and hunting gear that would catch them off guard. Every step was one held in fear or the anxiety that they may return home without a leg...that is if they were returning home at all. Jean's forwarding lead had them scurry close, listening to him in a way that Jean hadn't been listened to in a long time, if ever. If the pressure wasn't enough, people depended on his words. Without a proper commander by their side, only the occasional Lieutenant seen laid dead in the watery streets, it was up to the meat and flesh of the 15th Atlantic Rifles to call the shots. The Cathedral was unlike a target they'd ever come across. In the past, most groups would shower the objective in artillery before walking in to mop up its contents. Other strongholds were loosely underground, allowing them to siege them out through bewildering supply cuts. The Cathedral of Light was another story, however. Doing too much damage to it could render tremendous anger in the Cruxian Sect, plastering the fighters of the war as inconsiderate and against the rights of preaching. To Jean, none of that mattered in the moment, but he at least accepted the condition of low-artillery support.

Moving into the street in full, the shots ran quiet for a few more seconds before rising up in another street far off. The soldiers all began to move towards the Cathedral's main doorway, some beginning to circle around its perimeter. Several soldiers moved up to Jean once more, asking what he needed the charges for.


"Well, I was going to try and blow a hole in the wall. Like I said, the more entrances we have the better." Several eyes looked upon him in horrific fashion over the suggestion. Once again, damaging the Cathedral was considered a frowning experience. Though to Jean's defence, it wasn't exactly collateral damage, more so a light tickle to its enormous structure. However, his suggestion was soon shot down as Lucia came sprinting back, shaking her head silently upon her return.

"Sorry Jean. We don't...have any. They were taken to the Market Square instead apparently." Jean sighed as he moved between where he stood and Lucia, thinking desperately as the ideas for a safe entrance were beginning to fade slowly. Before he had a proper chance to analyse the situation at hand, he heard a succession of shouts for any sort of non-commissioned officer come towards him in a wave-style barrier. To his left, a group of shocktroopers were stood in a circle, looking down at the street floor from what it seemed. When the call came, Jean stood up and raised his hand, signalling his presence. After a quick jog, he was soon by the circle's edge.

"What is it?" Jean questioned the group, pulling two of them aside to create a gap for himself. His rush forward was ground to a halt as he saw the cold street's abyss below him. The group had come across one of the few manholes for the underlying tunnels and artificial bricked caverns beneath very feet. Jean stared at it for several seconds, seeing nothing but darkness as he failed to adjust to the blackened depth below. "What is that...a sewer?"

"Russel over 'ere don't think so. He thinks its some kinda passage, like a cat'combe or whatever. Cathedral apparently has an underside that leads upwards. Might be worth 'aving a gander down there." The taller Edinburgh Private spoke for the group, his loosened dialect showcasing a city-like understanding. Jean truly didn't know what it was, or what was below them. It could lead to nowhere in particular, or everywhere they needed to be. For now, they were restricted on their access to the Cathedral of Light. These soldiers weren't going to move unless someone forced them out of their hole. And with the current state of the frontal assault force, the Regiment were spread too thin to successfully encircle the entire complex as one. With so many objectives in their eyeline, it was only up to those who would make it that far to break its interior. "While you got boys givin' the perimeter, should we have a quick look down there?"

For a few moments, Jean looked into the darkness and felt a strange worry come from within. Regardless of the venture, it would prove vital if such an opening into the Cathedral could be located. Ten minutes passed achingly and the absence of any real formulated plan had started to wear down the patience of the arriving soldiers. More infantrymen made it to the Cathedral's exterior, wondering what sort of plan was going to go down. With them, several Lieutenants and Sergeants joined the waiting, giving less pressure to Jean's personal situation. Another two minutes were spent with Lieutenants gathering an understanding on the situation. Everyone was left in the open, already vulnerable to any marksmen who may have had an eye for the Cathedral's perimeter. Nothing came through however, and so the free-reigned soldiers continued to organise themselves on the exterior for their eventual entrance into the engaged beast of the Imperial Defence. Jean moved ahead, finding himself the commanding Lieutenant at the time. Upon seeing one another, he pointed to Jean and ordered for him to stand by him, hoping to feed him necessary information to sort out their endeavour.

"You there, Corporal!" With a lavishly thick accent, one deriving from Northern Edinburgh, he pointed a cold and fractured hand at the Francian. He'd noticed him looking and inspecting the hole they'd come across, as well as haivng been given the pointer that Jean was amongst the first to reach the Cathedral of Light's walls. He didn't carry a rifle, only an old fashioned revolver, chambered with six hard-hitting rounds. Jean couldn't have asked for an anymore obvious caricature of the leadership if he could. "I want updates, and fast! Tell me whatcha found."

Jean took a second to compose himself, unsure of how to react to the straightforwardness of the Lieutenant. Well, dilly-dallying over hesitation wasn't going to satisfy his work ethic, so Jean made it his top priority to quickly sell every piece of useful knowledge he could offer. So after a quick inhale, he opened his mind and mouth to the Lieutenant, giving him the information he needed to know.

"Sir, we've successfully taken ourselves the outside but we're short on ways to get inside. Heard some of the men talking about an alternative route around the sides, but they aren't enough to give us a fully stable entryway. However, about five or so minutes ago, one of the Privates found a tunnel supposedly, said it will be worth having a look inside to see if it reaches the Cathedral basement. I think it'll be a good chance!" Jean saluted to the Officer, giving a stern look of both exhaustion and discipline to at least warrant a good response. And a good response was what he got: the Officer smiled to himself before clearing his throat, patting Jean on the shoulder quickly. It forced a small smile out of Jean as well, making him feel at least the tiniest bit warm from the short engagement.

"Fantastic work, son. Get a few men and send them down, if they find something they'll shout for it. We've got a small stockpile of these little torches. Might be of use." As he was prepared to turn away, something clicked in Jean's mind. The sweetened sentence of a particularly feminine voice rang through his thoughts, whispering into his ear with youthful bliss: 'We can prevent it from happening again.'. And with Kalisa's soothing voice still fresh within his mind, he stood tall and thought about his need to act. He looked forward towards the retreating Lieutenant and announced within his bonudaries:

"I'll go with them, Sir. They'll need a Corporal to help direct them if things go wrong." The Lieutenant stood still, before turning around with a sly grin. As he did, he moved back over to Jean and held out a hand, clasping both of his own around Jean's to congratulate him on the sudden volunteer. As he did so, he turned around, calling for his inferiors to gather the handheld torches and bring them over to Jean's randomised batch of soldiers. A few female soldiers and a majority of male, around twelve, all to delve into the tunnels. As he did so, Jean saluted him once more when his hand was freed, turning and returning to the manhole with a slightly fresh coated confidence around him. Immediately, Jean began to gather his pacing and those quickly assigned to his side sluggishly wandered by. Only six of the torches were available for handouts, and Jean took the priority. He was going to lead them into that darkened depth whether they were up for it or not. Surely, Jean wasn't internally, but he held an aura of silent confidence to gather his spirits high enough. And so, when the time was right, Jean was the first to slowly lower himself into the pit.
Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Landaus Five-One
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Landaus Five-One The Sadist Insaneous One

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Diana’s Brutal Reality – Dividing and Conquering – September 28th, 1914 (Siege of Amone)




Diana had a small smile on her face, only because it was a definite challenge coming up. It’s only because the Cathedral was approaching her view, which will be one step closer in freeing it from the Imperials. However, she kept on the heels of Jean whom was running towards the Cathedral with Lucia right next to him. It was a bit of a pain in the ass, however, its better this way something must’ve been going though Jean’s head. There’s not that many strategies that she knows of since she’s basically a private in the first Europa war. Even though her mother always said something along the lines of divide and conquer. ”I have to get out of this alive so I can see my parents. And be grateful of learning all these things… even though somethings will be not that easy to… deal with.” Diana thought to herself, with a slight annoyed look on her face. However, it took her a bit to notice that Jean turned to Isaac and her.

She heard Jean’s order about splitting up by joining the right flank with Isaac, since it was better than staying together at this point. ”I’ll do my best with Isaac, Jean. I’m coming with you Isaac, let’s give the Imperials hell on the right flank.” Diana said, responding to Jean. She followed Isaac to the right flank of the Cathedral. However, she wanted to help out the other side by firing upon any imperials that were wandering around. It was a bit terrifying but she kept up the firing but made sure she wasn’t going to be hit in return by ducking after firing. The one thing that made sure that annoyed her was that there is Armored Cars as well. ”...That’s not good, these things are a pain in the ass. Victoria said that these cars decimated her entire platoon...” Diana thought to herself, she didn’t want that happen to her nor her friends.

Diana stopped for a second when she heard Isaac basically talk about how to disable the Armored Car, by blocking it up with objects by the Grill. It was a great idea to say the least, because its a pain in the ass nonetheless. She wasn’t really paying attention to how many people she killed at this moment anyways. It’s always better to help with the goal but not getting killed by enemy reinforcements wouldn’t be a great idea anyways. She decided to keep an eye out on enemies wondering around and firing at them so they don’t decide to flank Isaac and her. ”Better to do this than trying to knocking off that Grill… since I don’t think my rifle can damage that structure without help. I want to have everyone return home.” Diana thought to herself, with a definite fierce determination on her face. It was up to her anyways, better to do her best than the otherwise. This is war and dividing and conquering is definitely a thing, with making sure that everyone makes it.

She had to stop firing for a bit since she was out and had to reload. But she kept an eye out for the flanks, it only took her a few seconds to reload. It was a bit of a pain, but she went back on firing on Imperials that were basically trying to flank them. This would probably take awhile to deal with all the objectives anyways. ”These imperials are definitely… annoying with all their preparations...” Diana thought to herself. She hoped that the ones that were blowing up the tunnels were alright, wouldn’t be good to see any of them injured. It would be a bit annoying to deal with to be honest since she wouldn’t want to see Reyna injured most of all.

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