Winter was just now setting in
Gontrella after a long autumn battle over Springs Eye Crossing. It was a town
located along the borders of the farthest Vestrisian advance in an ongoing war.
Vestrisian Soldiers sat inside the local inn resting after a tooth grinding
battle against the enemy. Their commanders insisted the locals put down their
arms after the Vestrisian Army invaded from the mountains. Some of them were
persistent and stubborn enough to aid the invading slavers, despite their
sovereignty stripped from Gontrella.
Sergeant
Georg Brooke sat with his squad mates and other members of his company. He
stared at his mug wondering if the war would go their way here. For five years
Georg and his comrades were stationed in this area. It had taken them four
years to push as far into Gontrella as possible until they meet heavy
resistance here. His company and dozens of more companies along the stretch
fended off wave after wave of enemies. Each week a battle was fought along the
front lines in Gontrella.
Casualties
began to mount slowly among the ranks of the Vestrisian army. These casualties
here had little impact on their morale on the battlefield. Just yesterday a
sniper killed one Vestrisian soldier and two of the locals. The soldier was a
battle buddy of one of Brooke’s squad mates and the locals were beloved
entertainers in some caravan. People in the surrounding communities either
blamed the soldiers or simply left them alone concerning the three deaths.
“Gontrella
such a poor land for a country.” Private Jharym Cutz said with a disgusted look
on his face. He eyed a local patron who gave him a hateful glare over a calling
Gontrella a poor country. It was in fact a beautiful country with rather small
rolling hills and wide fields of grass. There were various patches of woods
scattering the entire countryside. Among these patches of woods were one or two
settlements. Brooke’s mind went straight to the numerous rivers and streams
they came across during the fighting. This one particular river the town sat
next to was where they had stopped. It was here the Vestrisians stopped
advancing further into Gontrella. The enemy had managed to stop their advance
here at the river.
“You’re
just saying that because the Gontrellans don’t like us being here!” an older
veteran named Sergeant Matthias Iron-bolt barked at Private Cutz. Matthias was
a stout and stumpy looking fellow due to his heritage. His mother was a half
elf and his father was a dwarf. This made him appear more human than some of
the elfish looking soldiers among them.
“After
five weeks of us holding the line and defending the west you’d think they’d
appreciate us or at least fuck off.” Another soldier scoffed at the end of the
table. It was just a month ago in early 1845 they had just pushed through up to
this point. The war was now a stalemate in Gontrella.
“What
did you expect Gorvo? It took us three years to take the southern part of
Gontrella. Then it took another year and a half to push through their lines!”
Red-Brookes yelled at the soldier. “Besides they hold their allegiance to the
slavers and the Vullanese scum!”
The
whole table full of soldiers looked at him. He knew it was because of what he
had said. These people of Gontrella were most likely to resist their occupation
despite their attempts to ban slavery. None of the soldiers believed banning
slavery would be a bad thing. All the former slaves could be hired to work in
the fields and workshops. In the parts they occupied hardly any of the
aristocracy owned slaves, unless there was something, they didn’t know about
Gontrella’s culture and laws. In the back of his mind Sergeant Red-Brookes knew
the real reason the Gontrellans still hated them. These fools haven’t realized the true reasons these people hate us. He
said in his mind while taking another drink of his ale. Red-Brookes looked up
to see if any of the soldiers would speak again or let someone else have the
floor.
Now
the entire table was concentrated on something behind him. He assumed it was
some maid or local trying to get their attention. Most of the townsfolk here
were nosy about why there were here. Red-Brookes ignored this person and kept
on drinking. Cutz, Matthias and four other soldiers gave Sergeant Red-Brookes
gestures to get his attentions. None of their gestures got his attention until
the Corporal beside him nudged Red- Brookes. The Sergeant turned to see who it
was and immediately stood up.
It
was Major Ruith Erfolg just observing the soldiers he saw at the two tables.
There were more of them behind him who had already stood up acknowledging his
presence. They had more of their company waiting outside with members of other
companies. Erfolg had Captain Fia Clansplitter and Captain Beric Shadow-stone
with him. They urged all the sitting soldiers to stand up before their
superiors and commanding officer. The two Captains looked at them with fire in
their eyes especially Captain Clansplitter who would give all of them the
entire shaft end over this later.
“Soldiers
of the Black Fire Company we have been selected for some reconnaissance into
Priseon Estate territories. Despite our attempts at air reconnaissance some of
which were shot down the enemy has been able to change their positions and
increase their forces under our noses. Captain Clansplitter how many men does
my Company have?” Major Erfolg asked before he was about to send them straight
into enemy territory.
“Sir,
there are one hundred and fifteen men in Black Fire Company, Sir!” She answered
Major Erfolg.
The
Major nodded with approval of the number of men available for this mission.
Each soldier inside the local inn knew what was in store for them beyond the
Springs Eye River. Brookes hoped they could at least receive help from the
local populace.
“You
will move out at exactly one hour before dawn arrives. Gather your gear and
whatever necessities required for this mission, carry on soldiers.” Major
Erfolg and his two Captains left the soldiers to their drinking. Before the
Major left the inn, he and the two Captains filled their field mugs with the
locally brewed mead. The soldiers turned to see him with his own mug of mead
raised up to give a toast. They all stood up again to raise theirs for a toast.
“Here
is a toast to a swift and decisive victory tomorrow! Ura!” Major Erfolg roared
with great enthusiasm for tomorrow.
The
soldiers inside the inn yelled the same war cry in response to his toast. Every
Vestrisian jugged, took drink or sucked their drinks down. Erfolg went out of
the inn to his own quarters in the local Baron’s tower with one of his
Captains. He left Captain Clansplitter at the inn to watch over the soldiers.
Clansplitter was a woman of human and elfish qualities with the strength of a
troll. She was not the type of woman you’d want to piss off on any given day.
Her large breasts drew the gaze of almost everyone. She did not have a massive
chest, but there were enough to attract some attention aside from her beautiful
features. Red-Brookes and other soldiers would have loved to sleep with her if
she wasn’t the Captain, a lioness that could tear you apart, taken by some
Forsythan warrior. Their superiors would just throw them into the front lines
in Zekmar if they tried to have intercourse with any female officer.
Another
local entered the inn and spotted the Captain. He had a certain lustful
interest in her with a hunger that needed satisfaction. He looked at the other
women who had normal sized breasts or the same size as Clansplitter’s then
turned back to her. Red-Brookes saw the scoundrel approach the Captain with a
bag of coins in his hand. He did not know what this man said to her because it
did not please her one bit. Unfortunately for her she was under strict orders
from Mysdran Tidus Kyshar, Mysdran Jak Greystorm, and the Furd. She was not to
kill or harm any of the civilians in Gontrella in any way.
Before
she could even react two Goblins came out of a room. Each of them appeared to
be drunk out of their wits. Red-Brookes watched the two Goblins observe the
Captain when she lightly pushed the scoundrel away politely as possible with
her patience wearing thin. They saw Captain Clansplitter try reasoning with the
scoundrel and thought they could join in. Goblins were either civilized or
savage depending on which part of the world you lived in. These however
appeared civilized without any sense of respect for one’s privacy.
Red-Brookes
decided to jump in and help his Captain out. He stood up only see one of the
Goblins receive a broken limb. The other Goblin was punched in the gut. It fell
on the floor holding its stomach. Scoundrel number one in this town saw what
she did and pulled a dagger on her. He staggered back and forwards a couple of
times. It looked as though he was drunk or something. The whole inn watched the
brawl between her and the two goblins. Now they gave witness to a new one
between Clansplitter and the first scoundrel.
“I
will help you Captain.” Red-Brookes said as he drew his pistol on the dagger
wielding scoundrel. He came up behind the scoundrel who held a dagger in one
hand and a bag of money in the other. The Sergeant knocked the dagger out of
his hand. Captain Clansplitter then snatched the money bag from the scoundrel
as Red-Brookes forced him down on his knees. Without even hesitating or giving
it a second thought Sergeant Georg Red-Brookes shot the scoundrel execution
style.
“Good
work Sergeant Red-Brookes. You men go get some rest. I will see you all in the
morning!” Captain Clansplitter barked at them before she chucked the bag of
money at the innkeeper. She stormed out of inn leaving the soldiers to prepare
for the mission.
It was obvious to everyone that she
wasn’t happy about what just happened. Red-Brookes soon realized what he had
done and looked at a few local patrons who seemed to scowl at the soldiers.
Sixty-four
soldiers silently crossed the Springs Eye in the dark night. The other
fifty-one soldiers were left in the town to maintain control and order. On the
river it was pitch black like some devious god had covered the world with a box
or something. Most of the sounds in this quiet night were the sounds of the
soldiers paddling through the river. Sergeant Red-Brookes kept on paddling
through the river blind as a bat. They nearly bumped into other boats until one
of the moons emerged from behind a cloud.
It
shed some light on where they were on the river. Dozens of soldiers were
already on the shore. Each group hid their boats in the brush around the banks
of the river. Red Brooke’s boat made it ashore and he could now see the dense
forest that ran along the bank. For the reconnaissance group it was both good
and bad. The enemy would be unable to see them coming in the day light. They
would not be able to tell if any unfriendly eyes were watching them.
In
the dark someone held up a lantern near the riverbank. All the soldiers a shore
got down on the ground and stayed quiet. Nobody trusted the lantern wielding
figure standing next to the trees. Not even Captain Clansplitter wanted to
trust this person. In moments the figure started flashing signals to someone in
code form. It was unclear to whom the person was signaling until the lantern
approached their position.
“It
is all right Vestrisians. I am a friendly, a turncoat agent.” The figure said
to them in a happy loud voice. This made the whole group of soldiers tense up.
Red-Brookes wanted to drown him because he could have given their positions
away. He made out the Captain’s shadow as the moon light provided some light.
This turncoat and Captain Clansplitter exchanged words between each other.
Clansplitter took the lantern and waved it in the air several times. She
signaled for the soldiers to come over where she stood along the bank of the
river.
Red-Brookes
and a dozen others followed the rest of the company to the lantern. When they
got closer to Clansplitter he saw his comrades go down into a tunnel. Their
Captain urged them to go down the tunnel before dawn even approached. Once they
were in the tunnel the Captain and this turncoat plunged on ahead of them.
Every soldier followed them down this long tunnel to a well dug system of
tunnels. To Red-Brookes these seemed unfinished and a suitable place for the
enemy to launch their attacks on them. There was no stopping or turning back
here for any of them. It had been some time since the last assault on the
crossing. Their reconnaissance mission involved searching for enemy positions
and estimating how large a force they would be facing.
In
minutes the company under Captain Clansplitter exited the tunnels and found
themselves in the denser parts of the woods. To the eyes of a fool it seemed
safe enough to move down this path that went through the woods. No one trusted
their eyes or the silence around them. Their eyes looked around and their ears
kept listening for any signs of an attack. This trail they were using was dug
into the ground about a foot deep all the way to the end of the trail. Red
Brookes looked up at the trees expecting a sniper to shoot them down or an
ambush to be sprung on them. Corporal Goran Lightningwell and Matthias noticed
he was worried about these particular woods.
“You
looked troubled Sergeant Red-Brookes. Is there something wrong?” Lightning well
asked in a peevish voice. He ignored the Corporal and kept up with the others.
The Sergeant knew he was only joking, but to him it was the worst time to mess
around. That only encouraged their joking. Matthias’ footsteps could be heard
as they caught up with Red Brookes. The peevish Matthias’ breath could be felt
on his ear as they walked down the pathway.
“You
know Red-Brookes this forest reminds me of the quiet valley back in the
mountains. Only those towns and that one walled city showed us a little more
respect. Why is that?” he asked the Sergeant in his ear. Red-Brookes glared at
him in the face.
“That’s
because we cleared out the war bands and gangs of bandits.” Red-Brookes spat in
Matthias’ face that then chose to leave him alone for now.
Captain
Clansplitter had made her way to the back of the line. She confronted
Red-Brookes, Matthias, and Lightning Well. Each of them stopped and stood stiff
as statues knowing they were screwed. Other soldiers in the back went around
them. Red-Brookes could tell she did not look happy at all. Her face was red
with anger over the fact that some soldiers did not shut up.
“I
hope your little conversation is over. All three of you keep your traps shut!
The enemy could have eyes in these woods. Our turncoat friend has spotted an
old fort we could use as a base to fall back to.” She barked at the three
soldiers. Captain Clansplitter left the soldiers to beat the last several
soldiers to the end of the trail. All three of them looked at one another then
proceeded to the end of the trail.
From
the end of the trail Red-Brookes saw an old fort that looked abandoned on top
of a hill. It had three towers surrounding it in decent condition. Red-Brookes
was worried that this turncoat was leading them all into a trap. He went two
yards forward and froze again when he saw their own flag flying over the
towers. Such a sight was better to see than an enemy outpost they needed to
take over. As they made their way towards this friendly owned fort dozens of
soldiers looked around them. He noticed the hill with the fort was flanked by a
long range of hills that appeared too rocky for vehicles to drive over.
His
relief took over him when sixty-five members of the Black Fire Company entered
the fort. Inside they were greeted by thirty-seven armed and happy rebellious
citizens who had turned against Gontrella and their slavers. Captain
Clansplitter was welcomed with a handshake from the leader. Their lantern
wielding friend had introduced the Captain to the leader and left them.
Soldiers and rebels got acquainted with each other before they began their
mission.
“Gather
around me this will be brief. These rebels are known as the Invincible Lions
and have over six other rebel groups working on sabotaging the enemy
communications and movements. Their leader Vibius Adonnis possesses a radio and
a codebreaker for us to use. Matthias you run down to the radio room Morgan
will show you the way. Private Pithros and Corporal Annoffis go assist the codebreakers.
Okay men Vibius will take us to a hill behind this old fort, which should give
us a clear view of some enemy positions.” She said to them before following the
rebel leader Vibius down a stone hallway and through a long corridor. They
rushed through the dungeons coming across more rebels, refugees, fugitives and
escaped slaves.
As
they exited another tunnel they ran out into the open. Red-Brookes decided this
would be a good time to get out his sketch books and code-book wrapped up
together. He held on to them tightly as they climbed up the hill. Each of them
looked over some rocks and parts of the hilltop. Red-Brookes expected to see
just a few camps here and there, maybe a makeshift fort, or a few outposts. He
took out whatever equipment he need and looked over the hill and nearly soiled
his pants. What every one of them had thought were just a few camps or bases
turned out to be an entire invasion force. Somewhere in his mind Red-Brookes
calculated at least a few million troops and more marching towards them.
“Lieutenant
Sermonne take twenty of our men back to-.“ she was cut off when shooting and
artillery rounds came towards them. Bullets hit the stones and the hills as the
invasion force pressed towards them. Everyone fired as many rounds as possible
until artillery shells hit the ground closer than they anticipated. One shell
hit the fortress as they tried to retreat back inside. They became showered in
debris from every shell fired while scrambling back to the tunnels.
Vibius
stayed behind and manned a machine gun to hold off the enemy. Red Brookes ran
as fast as he could up the tunnels. He passed many fighters setting up
defensive positions after feeling the shells shake the ground. Black Fire
Company could not stay here since their mission was already completed, but
their Intel would come too late. As artillery barrages struck the fort
Clansplitter screamed for someone to inform the commanding officers and the
high command. Sergeant Red-Brookes volunteered and sprinted out of the fort and
made it to the woods.
He
could not stop now the war would be lost here if he did. His mission was now to
reach Springs Eye Crossing in time to deliver their reports. His only hopes
were his comrades would make out alive, and that the radio signals got through.
Every second he ran was a second crucial to holding the line. Once they had
held the line here perhaps, they could force their way to Vodwonia and Ossus.
When he found his way through the woods, he spotted someone at the entrance to
the manmade tunnels. At first, he thought it was their contact asleep until he
saw the pistol and the blood. Poor
bastard he shot himself. Oh well I guess I need to keep going now.
Red-Brookes ran past the body
and jolted through the underground tunnels. He had to get to Major Erfolg and
inform him of the oncoming attack before the enemy could reach them. Red
Brookes thought of all the soldiers he fought with as he stumbled a bit through
the tunnel. Once he saw the end he saw a figure standing at the end of the
path. Regardless of who this person was he approached them. It was Captain
Shadow-stone with twenty of the Black Fire company who seemed exhausted from
fighting. Shadow-stone stopped Red Brookes and pulled him to the side of the
entrance.
“Those
Gontrellan bastards allowed the enemy to slip past our lines. Get your weapon
ready we are holding the crossing here.” The Captain told him and went towards
the crossing with some soldiers. Red-Brookes took position next to some trees
when a large group of soldiers emerged out of the woods. They each wielded sub
machine guns and fired on what remained of the Black Fire Company.
