Waking up just before dawn Brynn Rosefire prepared for the day. Putting on a fresh pair of clothing, one cotton tunic-shirt of gray went over her blue blouse top. The blue top was shortened and made into a bra. Over this tunic she put on the studded jerkin. It may have been out dated to wear such armor, but it actually helped in battle. She would have placed the red plaid fleece wrap that was worn like a poncho on. However it needed drying after cleaning it in the river. Getting on her boots she then prepared to face this insurgency for another day. The smell of cook fires followed by the smell of sausages just laid on the pan wafted in. Their cooks were awake. Maplebee flapped her wings holding her meal in her beak. Dropping it on the tent floor she hooted and squawked saying it was being saved for later. Brynn only rolled her eyes. Over her boots she slipped on the baggy trousers. Stepping outsider her tent with her weapons Brynn Rosefire appeared ready. Her own Country Guards woke up at the same time as the others. Even the Dragoons, paratroopers, Rangers, and reservists woke from their slumber. As for the Blights, they were relieved of their nightly watch duty. She grabbed the first brewed cup of coffee and slice of meat for breakfast. It went down easily enough. Just the taste of wormoid sausages in the morning seemed a little too sinewy for breakfast meal. Yet the added boar made up for it.
Once she was done she allowed her own to eat while she briefed them about the situation. For almost four and half years she performed her duty along the southern central borders of Castaria-Zegrav. Country-Guards, and Dragoons rode around cleansing the land of hostiles. This was mostly in parts of Zegrav, Castaria, and southern Geverine. Everywhere else either drafted, conscripted the adult citizens of fighting age, required enlistment, offered volunteering or put the youth to work. Now they had an open rebellion to suppress and an invasion to repel. While their country-men fought at the front lines, they kept the home front secure beside the militia and National Guard. All soldiers, Dragoons, Country-Guards went to their posts. Several teams crossed the bridges that lay 258 feet of each other. It became imperative to hold and secure both. Nearly three hours of the morning passed before anything happened.
Just around 8:59 a.m. a pair of Nighthail3 bombers flew overhead. Painted the color of black these bombers appeared 19.8 ft tall with a wingspan of 97 ft. A total of two large engines, and two smaller ones kept both 89 ft long bombers in the air. She blindly watched these two craft flies over the area. Behind her she could hear someone talking loudly about them.
"...Nighthail3, a bomber that can operate at night. One pair of 2500 horsepower Dayswift 17-cylinder engines, and a pair of 1900 horsepower Ravenkeeper 14-cylinder engines. A crew of eight or nine with a Machinegun turret on the top and the rear. One pair of anti-aircraft machineguns on both sides. Those nocturnal mechanic birds can drop a load of 2000 pounds of bombs at night. Just 540 are in action now while 749 sit in reserves." one of the Country-Guards under Olalyn shouted above the engines.
"How do you know that?" another asked them.
"I was a pilot who got shot down in '42 A.N. My aircraft an Arrowhawk500 was no match for a Zeykos over Vullanese Izvar. We possess 1,156 Arrowhawk fighters, and other types of aircraft. Took me two months to recover-" the Country-Guard's voice was cut off when three unknown aircraft in the shape of menacing insects emerged.
Before their very eyes the two Nighthail3s came under fire from hostile aircraft in their own home turf. Machinegun fire erupted from the bomber turrets, forcing one to steer clear of their line of fire. In the air the bombers did their best at keeping up with these strange aircraft. Most of them watched as these aircraft swerved around to take down one Nighthail. That attack resulted in one of their own to go down. Smoke came out of an engine or three as the Nighthail started to go down. Its pilots turned left making it clear it was headed north. Her wingman followed its path. Both insect aircraft maneuvered in the air similar to flies. One exposed its belly to the southwest. At a speed of 26 mph the whistling wind took the alien craft off balance. It spiraled out of control, spinning as it went down. The winds picked up again causing leaves to rustle, branches to wave and trees to sway back and forth.
Was it autumn already? Summer and Spring of 1844 A.N. lasted quite a long time according to their 13-month calendars. They watched as both aircraft fought the wind to stay up. Nighthail3 that was going down flew with the wind letting itself drop altitude. Its attacker found itself spinning before it regained control. This engagement in the skies looked to be over as the attacker flew away. On its way something heavy was fired from their side on the ground. It exploded in the air. The sound of a large gun came from behind her. Everyone looked to see one of the paratroopers armed with a large rifle. Whatever this weapon was it had an elongated barrel that resembled a tank barrel. Its barrel was smaller than an actual tank barrel. The whole weapon was made from metal with no wooden stock. Instead it had rubber covering the shoulder, and parts of the barrel. Its magazine rested on top.
"The 11 mm round Voagine anti-tank rifle also called the Vatr. About 4,700 of these were made. One of nine types of anti-tank weapons were produced. It is a big surprise tis babe can take out an alien ship. Our gun and weapon engineers sh-" he was cut off before completing his speech.
"Shut it Corporal Alythson Highgrain got company!" the Lieutenant hollered aiming his E-7 rifle at the bridges.
Brynn took her eyes off the 11mm VAR and paratrooper to see the bridges under attack. She drew her revolver in preparation. Those around her and those closer to the scene either opened fire or waited for a good moment to fire. Whoever guarded the first bridge were overrun by a battalion of insurgents. From the other side of the river Megrove, Country Guards, soldiers, and Dragoons obliterated the attacking battalion. This insurgent battalion returned fire hitting some of the Vestrisians. Between the insurgents and the Vestrisian combatants a 12 minute skirmish took place. They fought over the bridged inflicting casualties on each other. How determined the insurgents proved to be they were still no match compared to the VUVR military. Towards the end of the skirmish these insurgents pulled a nasty surprise on the Vestrisians. To the skirmish these insurgents brought 3 homemade organ guns on wheels. As the skirmish went on, they lost manpower forcing them to fire all three simultaneously. It was around this time when the Vestrisians moved in Scores were hit in the volley. The skirmish was nearly over and the insurgents either dropped weapons or fled into the forest. To her right an old looking tank rolled up from the south. As it stopped its turret rotated to face the organs. Before another volley could be shot out the tank destroyed one organ gun. It sent metal, splinters, and flesh everywhere.
Under a hundred insurgents fled in retreat from this skirmish. Just like any lancers, Dragoons and Country Guards mounted up to chase them down. Giving chase after the retreating insurgents they were led by Jakab, Kriscyne, and Kriski. She felt a hand slap her on the left shoulder. When she turned to see it was Olalyn he was pointing at the bridges. Taking the signal as orders to check on the dead she rallied her unit.
"Grab your weapons, any cloth, and extra flasks there may be wounded among them. Also bring any medical kits you may have on you. Move It!" She ordered them. Two hundred fifty Country-Guards she commanded, raced to their camps. Brynn went to her own tent and grabbed her rifle before leading her Hallowed Rangers. As she made her way back Wyllum bumped into her. He stopped, stepped back, gave her a salute and apologized. She sent him on to join the others accepting his apology. Watching the youth, she could not help but smile wondering what he would do once his contract was up.
Her Hallowed Rangers formed a column. Brynn stood in front of them ignoring the tank as best she could. It was inching its way up to the bridge as its engines rumbled loudly, shacking parts of the tank. Leading her own Country-Guard company she noticed it was at about 250 strong. It was still larger than most Country-Guard companies. Pushing forward they could hear moans, cries, and groans of the wounded. Heading towards the wounded insurgents who still lived made it feel like they left their own wounded behind to die. As they approached the carnage of littered bodies 19 insurgents came out of the bushes to surrender. According to them this battalion was 533 strong. Under the leadership of 36 aliens called Tessari, 8 Hanus humans from Kaniima, and 13 alien cat-folk called Mahadi they were part of a larger group of insurgents. One insurgent prisoner named Tovir informed them about this and the loss of 139 dead, and mostly 214 wounded. As for the other 45 he presumed to be dead at the hands of the cavalry.
Brynn flagged at the others signaling prisoners were secure. Using a Castarian flag cloth armband she waved to the others the coast was clear. On the other side of the rivers was a buildup of personnel. Over 90 medical personnel with volunteers rushed over to help the wounded. Behind them another team who arrived to retrieve the dead started with the Vestrisian dead first. Brynn had her Country-Guard keep the personnel safe while they collected the wounded. She split her Country-Guard up to head north and south while she checked for their own dead. Taking her time she found 3 Country-Guards dead at the middle land. A total of 6 were discovered dead at the start of the Zaldo Bridge. Another group of 8 Country-Guards lay dead. Brynn was surprised to see none of their dead here were troops. They may be Mounted Defenders; they were still considered a Civilian Soldier. Checking the other dead that were not collected she passed wounded combatants whose gaze transfixed on the sky while personnel patched them up. Each one appeared oblivious to her presence and the ones who collected them up. Their thoughts must have been on the failure here. Leaving them to the care of medical teams she checked the watch tower. There she discovered two dead paratroopers and three dead insurgents.
Both paratroopers' weapons were missing. It was likely among the weapons these insurgents took for their open rebellion. Although she managed to climb up the ladder she had to deal with it falling down. Placing a hand on it somehow caused it to collapse in on itself. She could not climb down that ladder now. This would not stop her from getting down. Going over to the right side of where the ladder was she lifted her leg over the wooden rail. Brynn climbed down using the support beams holding the watch tower together. It took her a few minutes to clamber down. He feet touched the ground with the tower between her and the bridge. On this side of the tower se had her back to the brush and wooded forest. Her new rifle the shorter version of the T.M. 13 bolt action rifle leaned against the support beam. To her misfortune it lay on the other side where the ladder lay in ruin. She also left her repeater back at camp. Closest to her stood a patch of tall bushes. She felt some of the leaves and branches brush against her backside. A sharp metal object pressed against her throat from behind her. She stopped and froze not out of fear, but knowing it could cut her throat.
"Don't scream or move muscle Vestrisian Bitch." a sneaky humanoid warned her revealing itself to be the owner of the sharp weapon. Its voice had a growl to it very similar to a feline voice. Whichever aliens she fought now were not the first ones to land on Calorn. This one was a Mahadi Cat humanoid. Looking over her shoulder she saw it was orange furred with black stripes. It did have clothes one like most humanoids did. Trying to get a better look out of the corner of her eye someone else appeared.
"Get on with it Ker Chaakzu. Our gold must be safe!" another voice urged this Ker Chaakzu to kill her. It was the other one that appeared.
A green skinned or scaled Troglodyte in a black robe appeared into her viewpoint. Behind them stood an ugly figure. It was one pinkish fellow with pig like nose, a big mouth and uneven eyes. His ear did sit on the right places for a humanoid. Zits, boils, moles, scars, and warts covered his face and hands. Their eyes rested on her and focused allover her body. Licking his lips the ugly one made grabbing motions with his hands.
"Oh no, no! You vile pig keep your hands off!" the Troglodyte screamed. They took the words right out of her head and mouth. Brynn looked over her her Countrymen who were almost oblivious to her situation. Where were the Dragoons and her Country-Guards? She blindly went for her Dirk. The mahadi holding her captive pressed the blade deeper into her chin stopping her. This ugly fuck before her saw this and grabbed her by the tits. She froze upon impact of hand on her chest.
"That's It! Harman get off her or die!" the Troglodyte demanded. Ker Chaakzu moved the blade from her chin and pointed it at Harman.
In full defiance to orders and disrespect to her this Harman did not let go. Harman squeezed her and fondled her a little. All that did was anger Brynn. Oh, you got a death wish you bastard! She thought as the Troglodyte flicked his wrists and shouted a spell that words such as Venius resurgemus adas vita nummum fortitido. Out of the bushes a large pile of coins sprang up to form golem figure. On its head rested a crown, and around its arms and knuckles were ingots. Once it came to life this Golem swung at Harman hitting him and the tower. Harman went flying through the nearest beam landing into the river. The watchtower fell on the Golem and bushes. From the other side of the river someone shot Ker Chaakzu.
Realeased from the brief captivity she stabbed the Troglodyte with the Dirk. Doing this kept the animated coin golem from rising again. Several personnel rushed up to check on her. Brynn barked at them to bug off and help her search the brush. With a group of 8 personnel Brynn discovered a cache of hidden treasure. Right underneath their noses they found a bag of 372 coins of pirate gold, 4 gold bottles, 35 silver coins, 35 gold coins, 35 bronze coins, 10 silver-bronze, ingots, and the crown of Old Vattoram. All these coins were part of the 100,000 coins used in forming the golem. Among this find were 5 Gold Dragon torch holders, a treasure urn, a crown sewn to a blue cushion, and 24 wooden chests used to store the coins. Among these bushes they also had to kill a Cobra Warrior, This one guarded a treasure chest from some strange dark world.
All three Groups returned to the bridges. Her Country-Guards, and Major Jakab's Dragoons. Behind his unit came a group of 26 Dragoons on foot who marched from the south. One of these Dragoons was a Gnoll who was raised civil. This surprised her since she was used to fighting tribal Gnolls from the Blackmell slopes. Reasons behind the Gnoll's service would have to wait and be accepted among them. Reports on what was found appeared more important. Up north her own Country-Guards took out a band of 33 insurgents holding a female elf medic hostage. She rode on the back of a female Country-Guard. One squad of troops in training were wiped out by 24 insurgents. The same ones had 9 Rohenps serving a house known as Mezmutt.
Rohenps were like retainers, warrior servants, whose loyalties lay to their lord or house. This was common in the Ottante continent, particularly in areas of Zegrav, Badraan, and Morgadra. The other half of her Country Guards found three rebels and a wagon full of weapons. One unit of 73 soldiers held another bridge not too far from here. Those soldiers happened to be armed with 3 machine guns, 15 submachineguns, 13 Assault Rifles, 3 artillery pieces, 2 sniper rifles, and the rest wielded E-7 rifles. From the south this unit received one motorcyclist, Zedelet armored personnel carrier, and a scribe-journalist named Suruhx Ostazoc. This journalist was half Goblin, half gnome. One that would be labeled as Zedirian or hybrid. Reporter Ostazoc tagged along after getting what bits she needed from the large platoon in the south.
Jakab shut the hybrid reporter up saying she would ride with Rosefire's Hallowed Rangers. The Major lost eight compared to her 4 losses. His Dragoons discovered more aliens including information about 22 bases being set up. He found one of them in a clearing just two miles from here. These bases apparently had 15 or more troopers per base according to some log he found on an alien Captain. All of these were set up in central Zegrav-Castaria. Zegrav borders were just 59 miles from their current location. They were still in Castaria. His Dragoons found seven more of the starfighters that attacked their Nighthail bombers. Two alien Guards and eight insectoid warrior pilots camped out with the 7 other ships. Among them were 16 others such as some Orcs, Pirates, Gnolls, and a Troglodyte. After he was finished they rounded up weapons, loot, ammunition, wood, and the dead insurgents. From the forest seven those alien craft he mentioned rose up and flew away. It showed that the insurgents' alien allies lost interest and chose to steal another faction's vessels.
"Captain Rosefire, Olalyn, and Kriski, you ride ahead. Our tanks will return. More of our forces should rally. There should be one of those alien bases 3 miles from here, directly east. Take it out and eliminate any insurgents or hostiles. Got that or am I not clear enough?" Jakab ordered the three Country Guard Captains.
"Crystal Clear Major Jakab sir." all three said in unison.
"It will be Colonel Jakab after this suppression. Some of you may even reach Major. Get to it!" Jakab put in. He left them to rally their Country Guards, leaving one unit of Country Guard behind to help hold the bridge. Looking at the Dragoons Brynn could not help but search for Kriscyne. When she could not spot him, she gave up the search.
Brynn Rosefire, Olalyn, and Kriski gathered their men. More Country Guards, recruits, rode in from behind the Medics, and ambulance staff. This was home turf for them. Brynn had just 243 Country Guards, Olalyn commanded 102, and Kriski only had 102 Country Guards. For recruits they received 55 new raw Country Guard recruits. Brynn refused the recruits and so did Kriski. Olalyn, and Captain Dobovoi split the recruits between themselves. Olalyn took in 28, and Dobovoi took in 27 recruits. Olalyn now commanded 130 whereas Dobovoi had 159 Country Guards. One battalion of 478 Country Guards mounted up. Under the leadership of Captain Olalyn the forged battalion rode forward in an eastward direction.
Dragoons under Major Jakab rode with them. The 26 Foot Dragoons stayed behind with Dobovoi's White Snakes, the Rangers, and 100 Reservists. Behind them rolled all 7 tanks who returned, the paratroopers, and 163 reservist troops. At a full gallop they raced through Zaldo Ill region. In mid gallop she saw they were heading towards another camp of enemies. Like a stampede they burst through the woods. Rushing in they entered the site of another battle 4 miles away from the rivers. On horseback they took out 859 Troglodytes, Uxane, half goblins, samurai, Rohenps, Kuruks, angry Orcs, Zegrav rebels, Ghouls, aliens, rebels, Gnolls, mutants plus large Gubig aliens, large giants with brain bodies and four arms. This force was one over 1125 strong before engaging some 5050 Goblins. Apparently called the Green Claws these Goblins held some turf here and some town in the south. Their leader, a female half goblin sent here very curvy and luscious daughter to lead them into battle.
Its result only brought her to a sticky situation. Even though her force cleared another base she was tied to a stump with an upright branch root between her boobs after losing the battle. She was being used as a sex doll until the Country Guards charged in. Ms. leader had quite a rude mouth on her. Brynn saw a female Dragoon stuff her mouth with a sweat soaked cloth. Brynn got to use her sledge mallet when she spotted more hostiles. Nearly alone she charged a group of 10 rebels. Making her own charge with seven of her own Country Guards she smashed a rebel leader's face in with the mallet. Her seven Country Guards took out 2 rebels manning an artillery piece, and 8 others back them. from the south another force of enemies attempted an ambush on them. As one mounted force they rode down what appeared to be a battalion of Goblins, Gnolls, and Troglodytes. Brynn pressed ahead through the woods.
Riding through the trees she spotted a fort up ahead. At full gallop she somehow dodged and missed large webs hanging from branches. They passed them until one of her Country Guards and one of four Dragoons got entangled. Brynn would have pressed on, leaving them to cut themselves free. It could have been the work of hundreds of small spiders no smaller than a button, or pea. Instead she was greeted with something much larger. Eighteen large horse sized gray hair spiders dropped down. Her horse panicked as a few of the spiders circled around them.
"We can feast my Sperogs Arachnids. Juicy Meat, Crunchy Bones, juices, blood and oils." One of these arachnids said with clicking sounds following its sentence.
Brynn had no time for this. She drew her revolver and unleased every bullet in the chamber into one. Those that did not get caught in the webs opened fire on the spiders. Her shots hit the spider in the face and leg, taking it out. Around her the others took out nine more spiders. All she heard were broken words mixed with the clicking sounds. Scared of superior fire power the sentient spiders collected two victims. One Country-Guard and a Dragoon. Acting fast both captives took their own lives. Angered by this, Brynn and her countrymen lit up the upper branches with gunfire. Bones, drained corpses, weapons, belts, torn articles of clothing, and various valuables fell from the trees and webs. One of the Arachni fell from the trees littered in holes. None of the spiders came down again showing they disappeared to other parts of the trees. Satisfied and warry of ammunition she pressed on with nine mounted troops following her to the fort she spotted up ahead.
Resting on a hill top in an open field of grass, bushes, weeds, clovers, flowers, scattered trees the fort held a triangular shape. Called fort Tricorne it had a tower nearby, a small castle system to its south. Within the same area fort Tricorne stood two other forts. Approaching the fort Tricone boundaries Brynn's group found 5 Rohenps in the area. They were prowling around in the fort's blind spots. Taking advantage of this, Brynn led her party to take out these five Rohenps. In their traditional garb these Rohenps from Zegrav found a nice axe to the face. Through her rage and patriotic zeal she took out all five of them. On horseback she red the region of five more rebels, those prowling Rohenps.
With her in the lead the mounted troops came up the entrance of the fort. Using raised voices they learned that just 18 troops and 16 volunteers manned Fort Tricorne. One of the towers had 21 of their own pilots holding up. Their fort commander was still held up by insurgents in the area. Yesterday a force of 1000 or more launched an attack on all settlements and the forts. Just the empty forts and the loss of 28 big National Guards, 20 Orc troops, and 28 militia said everything about the outcome as well as hundreds of dead insurgents littering the field. Both sides appeared spent out of energy. Tricornes defenders did not trust the silence that consumed the area. Checking with the ones she led Brynn spotted Jakab and her fellow Country Guards headed this way. Jakab chose to join them rather than hide in a tent.
"Are you ready to press on?" she asked them. Only a few were not hers to command, and several were her Hallowed Country Guards.
"Ready when you are ma'am." a human Dragoon replied for everyone else. This one was a female blonde with a thin lean appearance, Oblong face, small dimples and a hole were a nose ring would be on the left nostril. The Dragoon uniform appeared dirty and dusty from riding. Plus some blood stained it from previous fighting. Circling around the fort they found 6 rebels with small hand cannons and 48 rifles they scavenged. Not too far from those rebels they found 7 more rebels in a stand off with 8 VUVR troops. Only four of the rebels stayed put while three raced northward to escape. In the distance, over 1000 ft away 14 tanks rolled up from the north.
All the rebels could do now was surrender. When all seven of them stopped and dropped their weapons another force sprang up. Emerging out of hiding spots some 347 Ghouls attacked the fleeing rebels. Armed with melee weapons and projectile weapons they launched their own assault. One portion went after the exposed troops and cavalry. The other raced towards the northwest. Sixteen Vestrisians unleashed rapid fire on the charging Ghouls. Many Ghouls had gray skin, others had light blue skin, some pinkish pale, and a few had light greenish color. Some had hair while the rest were bald. The vast majority wore nothing but loin cloths, others wore torn trousers, and the rest had dirty Zegrav tunics. Her unit held their ground whereas the 14 tanks wiped 98 or so. As for the rest they engaged a company of 181 Country Guards on foot. For a couple of quick minutes, she held her ground against armed and unarmed Ghouls. Clubs, rusty blades, spades, wrenches, sickles, pitchforks, axes, scimitars, and crude maces were all they had save for javelins, rocks, and cross bow bolts. None of this proved any used against firearms. Moments later her unit was not alone. Dragoons and Country Guards rushed to their side eliminating the attacking, Ghouls. As one body the 14 tanks halted in their tracks. Turning her gaze on the Dragoons, Brynn searched for Jakab. Rearing her steed she went up to him.
"Where are the tanks that joined use at Dinotzi?" she asked him. "Major Jakab sir."
"South of us taking out another base." he replied to her. He tried looking past her." Captain Rosefire you are about to miss it."
Brynn could not move quick enough to see what he was referring to. Rapid fire came from the northwest. It ended the moment she turned around. Over 100ft from the foot Country Guards lay 88 collaborators of the enemy. This was one unit that tried slipping past their eyes. She took one look at this area the three forts protected. One beautiful landscape of green, yellow, pink, some brown, magenta, blue, purple, and bits of red. Like a painting this region holding some fort and structures opened her eyes. Their fellow Country Guards racing around looked like animated figurines added to the painting. A sight that reminded her of home in Bymere.
"Dismount! Let the horses rest." Jakab barked out to them. Brynn and Olalyn repeated them same orders to their own troops.
On foot both Country Guards and Dragoons scoured the area. Their horses rested and grazed. In the center of the forts' defensive borders sat a sheriff's and a few other structures. Among these other structures was an old castle tower in ruin and 64 trucks. Just 64 Mistchewers, Axeriders, and Redwolves sat idle in the grass and dirt. Sensing excitement grow inside these Country Guards and Dragoons raced for them.
Taking a closer look, Brynn looked to her left. Running through the landscape was a train track. Train cars sat on the tracks. Loaded on them was an ambulance, 2 Dragon MK I tanks, 2 fire trucks, 3 jeeps an armed Zedelet with a mounted machine gun, and an abandoned cargo crate. Far behind along the track near a castle system sat abandoned Caboose, 4 more trucks, and a tractor. As a commanding officer she had to join Jakab in talking to the mayor of the castle system. It was being used as a town with 528 townsfolk, 8 herbalists, and their 29 acolytes/apprentices. Called the Silver Dog this system was connected to a tower wall in between hills via road and track. A noble owned this one with 6 Syrianos bodyguards. Not too far to the south was another castle system and a tower. An alchemist Master resided there and taught 13 students. As for the tower, nine demon hunters own it with 2 students. Thanks to their arrival a stray student was saved from 3 slaves the insurgents brought. From the lips of the Mayor and Emissary, Collgard the aliens and insurgents now had 18 bases left. She was keeping tabs with the border via telegrams. Her entrepreneur and Chamberlain entertained them for dinner.
