Chapter 1
From the high vantage point men and machines in red armor and regalia could be seen across a large courtyard and into the alleyways beyond. The soldiers were moving ruins of buildings from the surrounding area to build earthworks in preparation for inevitable battle. The materials were not unlike what Sergeant Lumous was leaning against now; compacted dirt and stone materials.
The area Lumous had been sent to scout has been a less contested area until the red faction decided to visit so far from their homeland in the far north. The surrounding buildings so far have only been damaged by stray shells or an occasional fire spread in this direction. The regular inhabitants mostly had already fled this area from the two local titan countries already fighting over the city. One the invading force, Cygnar; the faction Lumous belonged to. The other the Protectorate; the bitter enemies not magnanimous over religious differences. Surely by now the locals have fled when the forces of Khador arrived.
Lumous took a glance to the commanding officer leading the mission. He didn’t know his name but knew that he was also a ranger and also had high rank in the Cygnaran Reconnaissance Service. Not that Lumous saw his credentials personally but orders are orders. The man returned the stare and nodded, adding, “We’re about to start, are you ready?”
“Of course, but are you sure? The enemy is firmly entrenched and…” The Swift Sergeant didn’t want to question the CO’s orders and was hesitant to consult with him about them. The man had a mysterious aura surrounding him and hadn’t talked much about the plan at all. Lumous withered from the piercing gaze and turned again to look outside. The enemy’s earthworks still weren’t complete but they were still an entrenched opponent and had a superior force than their small dispatch.
The enemy had several units milling about completing different tasks. Of course they were moving around ammo, coal for the warjacks and other supplies around but weren’t setting up anything that would resemble a formal camp. Meanwhile in the front several warjacks were moving larger pieces of the stone and mortar buildings for defenses along with the various troops. From this vantage point and the confined space of the enemy, Lumous couldn’t even determine if they faced a warcaster or if they just had ‘jack marshals.
“Fine, then get ready. Don’t shoot until I give the signal. Now have your team move up to that forward cover.”
Lumous looked to both sides to his squad set up against a few large windows and doors and gave some quick hand signals and they began to move. This wasn’t usually ranger procedure which offset the Sergeant further. Rangers usually scouted the enemy and when it came to battle they supported or escorted other units rather than enter battle themselves. But here they were, revealing them selves to the enemy with out any of their friendly units in sight.
Outside the building was the buildings ruined outer walls lay in rumble which Lumous, his team, and their CO now took cover. Before them the building continued in a great cascading ramp down into the large courtyard and lined up almost perfectly with the enemy force. Their enemy chose a strange position for their staging area as it provided no similar terrain features of which the great city had many. Maybe because across the courtyard was a large building which seemed to be a kind of gathering place of the Menites and perhaps too important to connect itself to nearby buildings.
Already Lumous heard the enemy’s excited cries and gathering of weapons as he and his team had been discovered. After making sure the other members of his unit were all accounted for and in cover again Lumous looked back over to his CO. To his horror the man was pulling out his flare gun and aiming it over the improvised battlement and into the courtyard. No enemy troops were in range to properly mark and no siege weapons were close by to see what he marked any way. To shoot it now would only further reveal their position to the enemy and incur their wrath.
As the CO started to pull the trigger Lumous looked over the ruined wall to survey the enemy. As Lumous started to pick a target already a unit of Ironfang Pike men, a warjack and a man in steam armor were sprinting in their direction. The loud bang of the flare gun heralded the impending danger and Lumous kept an eye both on the charging enemies and the seeming insane CO.
Looking past his CO, something caught his eye. Down in one of the streets leading into the courtyard soldiers in blue and gold in the distance were charging toward the courtyard to meet the enemy camp. Lumous’ started to feel better as maybe his CO did have a plan but plummeted again as the sound of shell fire filled his ears. Not enemy shell fire but friendly Cygnaran shell fire. Knowing the nearest Cygnaran forces with that capability were several blocks behind them and where the flare landed Lumous couldn’t help but look over the battlement.
Before him as the Storm Knights were charging into battle shellfire fell down around them and almost followed them toward their enemy where Winter Guard were gathering to intercept. Lumous looked to the CO trying to glean any meaning of this act from him but caught another strange sight. In reaction to the charging enemies the CO was reaching for his firearm but the enemy was still far out of range due to the size of the grand courtyard but instead of pulling out his standard issue military rifle his hand came back as if it were grasping something but was empty. The CO proceeded to raise his hands as if he were holding a real rifle and took aim.
The CO’s finger tightened and there was a reflex of energy surging from the CO’s right hand outward behind and in front of him following the usual outline of a rifle. There was no sound but Lumous saw for an instant a rifle in the CO’s hands but vanished again. Looking out onto the battlefield Lumous’ keen eye saw the Winter Guard lieutenant fall in the middle of giving an order. In wonder and amazement Lumous looked back to the CO to see him taking aim with his invisible rifle once more and squeeze the trigger. Trying to follow the CO’s aim, Lumous looked out again and saw the charging Iron Fang Lieutenant fall in mid stride and get trampled under his fellow compatriots.
The charging enemies were almost in range and Lumous raised his rifle and got ready to give the signal. “Mark your own targets, on three.” Lumous signaled with his hand and began counting down. On three a round of shot rang out and felled only a few of the heavily armored Ironfang which was to be expected. There wouldn’t be time to reload and fire again before being over run and Lumous looked over to his CO whose mystery apparently had now bounds. From under his cloak he pulled a long sword which would have been impossible to conceal even if it were invisible. As he looked around, the other members of his squad were doing the same. “But… What…” Lumous stuttered as the CO looked around at the other members of his squad.
“Ok… Now!” The CO yelled as the members of his squad leapt over the battlements to engage the spear-wielding soldiers. Even if somehow these other rangers were proficient enough in swordplay they were unarmored and there was a Juggernaut and Man-O-War Kovnik charging at them as well. Lumous looked over the battlement to try to at least give his compatriots covering fire but saw something else he’d never seen before.
From around some rubble to the right charged a large man in black garb and armor. The man didn’t seem to be holding any weapon but was making a b-line to cut off the Juggernaut’s charge. How the man could stop a twelve foot tall nine ton warjack Lumous didn’t know. The warjack continued on it’s charge, content to run the man over instead just as it had intended the rangers. When the man finally contacted with the Juggernaut he held him like a great bear hug and shifted his momentum to the right. Maintaining his grip on the warjack the man lifted and dragged the nine ton monstrosity like a rag doll and made a 360’ spin and threw it the direction of his charge. With how heavy the ‘jack is it couldn’t stay in the air long and flew only a few feet but landed, rolled a few times and finally skid off the side of the ramp down several tens of yards on what Lumous could only assume would be major damage.
Lumous was sure if given more direction it could of tried to keep from skidding too far but it’s marshal was engaged with what Lumous could only assume was still a high ranking member Ranger and his CO. In front of his eyes his CO deflected and braced blows he has personally seen knock their enemy’s blades away and cut them in twain. But his CO made swordplay with the Man-O-War as if the Kovnik wasn’t wearing a strength altering suit of steam powered mechanika. It wasn’t long before the Kovnik was felled by a deathblow after weakening him by making precision strikes against key points in his armor.
Finally the initial carnage was over. Lumous wasn’t old but he was sure he was lucky he hadn’t had a heart attack regardless of the events recently occurred. His longstanding band of fellow Rangers he’s led now stood before him cleaning off bloodied swords and looking about making sure no other enemies approached. The Sergeant approached the middle of the carnage to receive further orders and got a better look at the newcomer. What he thought was just a large man was really just a heavily muscled man wearing an armor set with an intricate arrangement of pneumatic pumps to alter his strength. The newcomer was also standing facing his CO as if deferring for further orders as well.
In the distance sounds of combat still filled the air. Lightning claps of Storm Knights and gun fire and shells Lumous recognized as from both factions made deafening sounds. Lumous was glad he still heard the sounds of his own faction fighting as meant not all fell to his CO’s reprehensible error in judgment “Ok, listen up. We’re going to have to cross that battlefield so we’re going to have to hug the outer buildings to avoid being engaged. I want you to watch out for enemies and for each other, we have to get to the other side so no drawing attention from the opposing forces. Now move!”
The other members of his unit started to mobilize and move over to the nearest way down the building without going down the ramp strait into the conflict. Hearing the CO’s voice again brought back the feeling of dread the CO wrought on their advancing force. It was hard to speak let alone move his body. Almost sensing Lumous’ hesitation the CO looked his way and fixed Lumous with that deadeye stare he gave when he was looking into the scope of his rifle earlier. Lumous looked away and sputtered. “But… But… Our forces! How could you!” Lumous flailed his arm clumsily and looked back at the CO who was still staring calmly back at him.
“How could I what, that?” Without looking away from Lumous, the CO pointed back into the courtyard in the direction their forces advanced from. Lumous followed his aim and was overwhelmed. Before he was afraid to look for fear of seeing all of his fallen comrades but instead saw theirs was now the superior fighting force. Most of the shells managed to fall where the Winter Guard had gathered and the stout Storm Knights fell on them to clean up.
“But… How is that possible? There’s no way the artillery could have fired that accurately without a lane of fire.”
The CO sheathed his sword over his back and it seemed to disappear again. The CO started to turn to his other troops and said, “Now I need you for something important, Lumous… You need to be on the top of your game for this one.”
wow that was a better read than I thought it would be! I kept thinking this should be a comic book. =)
It is such a great prelude, isn't it? A comic book version would be awesome now that you mention it. I seem to of written that already with a very step by step style. I can't wait to write the next chapter but I keep holding myself back because I'm not sure I can do it as well as the first time.