Platform Seas Early 1844: Cooperative Villainess, More Islands

 Observing the arrangement of the buildings their Captains and Majors planned to surround the whole settlement. Pressed against one another the cylinder shaped, square shaped, dome shaped buildings reminded him of his mother's pantry. Canned vegetables, tomatoes, meats, boxes of crackers, sugar, mixes, and other condiments would be shoved in there just the way these buildings were arranged. With a few cans or boxes isolated on the five shelves of the pantry installed at the end of the kitchen furthest away from the entrance. His parents would work against him and his siblings out of love so they would be forced to get through one of them or walk across the loud creaky floor boards of the kitchen. Having his thoughts on home made things here easier to cope with. Dimitri did not think about home very often while he was in the Marines. Serving this newly formed Vestrisian Republics was new to people. This VUVR was still a young nation even if it was formed by the unification of old kingdoms and empires. Only difference in this newly formed nations was no one tried seceding from other states. Two alien races just invaded their planet half a century ago. Each nation fighting these aliens would likely fall if they did not form an alliance. Despite being from another world or the stars, these aliens did not poses overwhelming advantages. Thanks to engineers, inventers, gunsmiths, and scientists they crafted weapons that held the invaders at bay. Now they had the means to face them head on, and the numbers. 

As they approached the close nit structures several doors opened up causing the marines to stop. Forced to stop in their tracks the Marines in the front rows knelt down while the rest raised their weapons above their heads. Those situated in the back or flanks covered the outer flanks. Keeping an eye on the sliding doors the Marines held their ground with their weapons ready to fire. Out of these structures a group of seventy-two aliens exited. Dressed in different uniforms, jumpsuits, lab coats, combat armor, fatigues, traditional clothing, modern styles, and a mixture of fashions. At the lead of this group stood a scantily clad female figure. Wearing a cut up silver gray suit vest decorated in chain links, and tight rubber trousers. Her head was completely shaven. For footwear she had on red laced knee high boots one would see a noble lady or aristocrat don during the day. Checking her out Greigorsson could tell she was thin and fit looking. She appeared flat up top, curvy at the hips, and strong in the legs. Whoever this figure was she was once a prisoner, held hostage by someone. 

"Thank you, Skogers for getting rid of those zombies and mutated monsters. Those um, twenty-four aircraft belong to me. If you don't mind we will be getting out of here." the female figure said with an upraised voice. She smiled at them with her hands up as a gesture not to shoot her. Others aliens and humanoids did the same thing after taking off strange looking handcuffs from their wrists. Without checking Greigorsson recalled the twenty-four parked craft now behind them. Some appeared like crescent moons, double edged axes, headless sparrows in a diving position, and a stingray with no tail. 

"Look lady we are just exploring these islands. We will pass through this 34 mile long island, clear it of hostiles, and be on our way! Now either get out of our way or help!" One of the Majors barked at her revealing some estimations on the island were off in Greigorsson's head. 

"Easy now. You can come and go if you please. We were held prisoner until you showed up. We can-" she was cut off by the same Major who barked at her. 

"Who are you?" She demanded from the alien female. 

"The name is Ataxeen Punchen, yet I also go by the name of The Wretched Mercenary. I am for sale and seeking employment. Aside from my crew of 40 mercenary fighter pilots we have 31 others with us. Let' see who do we have." She introduced herself to the Vestrisian Marines who sort of lowered their guard a little. 

"We are all ears, Ms. Punchen who do we have here?" one of the Majors offered the floor to her. 

This Punchen "Wretched Mercenary" introduced them to the 40 crew members whose names were lost in translation. Among the others was a mixture of different races with a variety of occupations. One Pyrotechnician from Nazdar held Estoras named Bannz went rogue on the invaders. Some Mutation scientist working with her named Dr. Veeze held a goblin-bull dog appearance with blue skin. An elf Emergency Responder named Luke Greenspears with a Life Support Engineer called Helper. Both were abducted from Damis much like a Vorcadam Doctor known as Okura Naoki. A DNA Surgeon of the CSO found their way among Punchen's group. Under false names two aliens from a planet called Nerdinn held occupations such as Inventor, and Programmer. One was a half Gnome half Goblin, and the other a Chromatic Dwarf. Next to them stood a Blue Skinned Audiologist raised by another race, and a Cyborg Triclops Cyberneticist held captive then freed. In torn up clothes a monkey humanoid Chemist folded his arms when they were mentioned. On the other side of the group to her left stood a voluptuous looking female Dhampir Hologram Designer in a yellow jumpsuit named Osanna Dawn. Next to her was a purple skinned Disaster Analyst workaholic called Xeff 97. Toward the center stood a Pigloid Machinist, an Elf Memory Surgeon, a half-elf Zoologist, a female triclops AI Developer, Triclops AI supervisor, and Tan skinned Translator. In the far back was an alien humanoid sniper who chose not to shoot them, a Draconic humanoid assassin who was stuck with them, and a Mutated Lion humanoid with a missing arm. At the front of the group stood a Gnome Astronomer, a female snake lamia acting as a bodyguard, a pair of Mahadi Catfolk warriors, some Jackal Warrior, and some Satyr armed with a long sword. The rest of them included a tattooed Oni Warrior, a Bulldog warrior acting as a captive, a hybrid troll showing above average intelligence, and a Rogue Demonologist of Nazdar-Elf descent. When she was finished introducing the group of aliens and native Calornese she blurted out a word in another language. 

All humanoids except the two Mahadi, the Jackal Warrior, and the armed Satyr, dropped down. All four of these humanoids attacked the Vestrisian Marines only to be gunned down by one of the Majors. Uncertain if these others could be trusted the Marines left fifty men to keep watch over them. The rest of the battalion moved past them to search the rest of the island for more hostiles. In between two of the towers on the island they discovered an old ship. Covered in overgrowth, and completely shut down, this ship sat between an old relay tower, and an observation tower. Investigating or exploring this abandoned ship would take some time, which Colonel Gleichers forbade over the radio. Their goal here was to clear any islands of hostiles until superiors ordered them to move north. Going to the very end of the 34 mile long island brought them to their mission limit. Five other structures rested at the end of this island. A metal wall half submerged in the sea flanked four other buildings. A cone shaped building, a cube shaped bunker, a sphere shaped home raised above the ground, and cylinder shaped tower standing at eight stories high. Quickly searching each building, and finding nothing of interest, the Marines prepared to move east. 

In full force eight hundred fifty two marines sped their way to another island, north east of the airbase island. Their path took them past Yvonne's claimed island. On the way to this other island they spotted a Gantronese craft speeding away from it. Greigorsson felt the urge to shoot at them. He would be shooting over the heads of his fellow Marines. That would not go over well with them as their craft bobbed up and down in the sea. Landing on this next island revealed five other islands close by. Finding this one abandoned except for treaded alien vehicles, site of a shoot out they discovered this island was connected by bridges. One to the north, one in the center and the last in the south. On this island they found a map to some "Shrine of the Old One".  Not interested in searching for religious shrines, or cults the Majors divided their forces into companies. Company one went for the north island, Company two went for the middle, Company three went to the southern one, and Company four stayed put. Greigorsson found himself in the middle Company, which went to a platform on this central island. Getting inside this platform wasn't easy as it was barricaded on the outside. It was not the only platform on this island, but it was marked for some reason. Managing to get inside the Marines found over a hundred zombies inside this one platform. Forced to waste ammunition on the undead they cleared one five story platform of 151 zombies that wore a variety of uniforms. Not bothering to clean up they returned to the landing site. Here the other two companies returned with reports and company. In the northern island, Company one took out 272 undead humanoids on the biggest platform. Company three found a smaller company of 78 IGA paratroopers whom seized the island and its platforms after a long fight. 

According to their commanding officer, a purple skinned elf, most of the islands to the south lay empty. Each of those islands were sites to heavy fighting between them, the CSO, Order of the Beast, Toceanids, Aquanne Hitto, and Mercenaries. Not too far to the east lay seven islands past another island inhabited by automaton sentries holding some platform. To the north of this island lay two other islands with automatons and droids. Giving their name as Captain Carrus they explained there was another unit of IGA soldiers on the other side of those islands. It was a unit of 146 Marines who seized a platform island from the Gantronese. Without authorization this company was launching an attack on another island platform taken from the Gantronese by mutant monsters. Carrus offered to help them fight the Gantronese if they could help them with the Order of the Beast and CSO. Having another alien faction help out would give them an edge against the invaders. Greigorsson was in no position to make decisions. That rested on the shoulders of their commanding officers. He looked around seeing it was getting dark. This would not really stop them from moving forward, however they did need to rest. 

Pushing the decisions and mission off for tomorrow they chose to rest. Splitting up their forces they slept in a different platform on the connected islands. Aside from the usual chatter of his fellow Marines, Greigorsson listened to the sounds of the ocean waves hitting the beach. That salty smell of the ocean wafted into his nose as the cold night air blew through the open parts of the structures. Laying his head down he thought he heard rain coming down lightly on the metal structures. Adjusting himself, Greigorsson ignored all the noise while closing his eyes. Expecting everyone else to shut up and sleep he went on to his dreams. A mish mash of events was all he received as a dream until he was jolted awake by a loud engine of some craft roaring past their location. Forced to wake up around morning they got up to see what woke them up. Running outside like curious schoolboys seeing an airplane for the first time doing stunts they witnessed an alien bomber doing circles in the air. Getting a good look at this bomber Greigorsson noticed its shape resembled an elongated aspis shield connected to a  legless scarab with its wings spread out. Its bomb bay doors rested in the center of the craft. With three engines powering it, this craft also possessed four turrets. A pair of rotating turrets on the bottom, and another pair on top of an aspis shield crab shell shape. Its pilot revealed all these aspects of the air craft while making circles around each island as though it was hunting for targets. 

This new unidentified flying craft stopped making circles and dove for the seven islands further away. Eager to catch a glimpse of what it was targeting they raced across the bridges. Sporadic fire emerged from two of the islands Captain Carrus mentioned. They could see the islands lay nine miles away from their location. From the tops of the highest points and the platform towers the marines, and new found allies spotted tracer rounds from whatever was shooting at this alien bomber. Whichever faction it belonged to it had instructions to bomb two of these seven islands. Above the cheering, jeering, heckling, carousal Greigorsson thought he heard one IGA paratrooper point out an island their 146 marines took, and another island they could spot. That island was where their fellow IGA personnel attacked these mutant invaders. According to one he happened to be next to, the Gantronese were at war with them, the IGA, these CSO monsters, and the Order of the Beast. When the bomber made another dive to bomb the targets a trio of Zeykos fighters were spotted in the sky to the north. All the cheers turned to jeers, boos, and cries of disappointment. 

Watching the three Gantronese air fighters go after the alien bomber made the air tense. Everyone's eyes stuck to the skies as the bomber engaged the three Zeykos fighters. Evasions, and angel strikes were performed in the air as the four air craft fought. Each rotating turret let loose a hail of fire on the attacking Zeykos. One of the Zeykos goes down. After a few more passes a second one gets hit and is forced to disengage. The third Zeykos evaded going down in the fourth pass. Prolonging the engagement in the air the Zeykos and alien bomber performed a dance in the air. Two more circles of evasion successfully kept the bomber in the air as its turrets gunned down the last Zeykos. Seeing the dogfight was over the Captains and Majors herded their Marines back in formation. Making another round through the islands the Marines, and IGA paratroopers prepared to move on to the seven islands east of their position. 

Platform Seas Early 1844: Greigorsson vs zombies and aliens

 Right after securing the castle like platform the marines patrolled the waters around the island holding this platform. They had at least twelve more platforms to clear out. Yet it seemed their newfound friend Yvonne brought them to the edge of the platform seas. In his mind he believe they might clear out another one. Looking around the whole settlement they found plenty of essentials, weapons, junk, trinkets, food, furniture, and some vehicles belonging to the Gantronese. On the northern coastal port they found three amphibian landing craft armed with anti-aircraft guns. Using these would enable them to reach other islands. Checking the ignition of each one they found them to be in working condition. Ammunition was limited showing some more use. One of the Majors contacted Colonel Gleicher who had orders to kill any aliens who did not flock to them except for any factions of the IGC. Gleicher informed them the Gantronese still had 1,320 troops holding 8 platforms, and another 2,240 troops on some close nit islands. All those islands and platforms were up north, and one was located to the south. According to maps some Rangers found there were at least thirteen or more platforms occupied, while the rest were either empty or inhabited up north. Some former CSO and Order of the Beast members warned their former comrades, IGC and Gantronese each held islands near their location. Every other islands to the south were unoccupied and overgrown. Yvonne may not have command over them, but she was their transport. 

"Vestrisians, I bid you good luck with the rest of your mission. My Iperantosi and I are claiming this island. We need to pick up some members of a Knightly Order that landed on an islet to the southeast. They are called the Order of the Invincible Plume. Take any boats you can find there should be plenty. I bid you farewell." the tall Yvonne left them with eight extra motorboats, pointed out three heavy AA transporters on the southern part of the island. Not sure if this Yvonne could be trusted to leave men behind the Majors ordered for them to check for more vessels to use. For an hour Greigorsson patrolled one part of the island outside the castle like settlement. Ratledge and his team joined Greigorsson's platoon in the search for more vessels. This island stretched a little farther than they thought. On the southern and western sides of the island's structures lay a sizeable jungle. Appearing like the jungles of Borvados, and southern Ottante this jungle hosted flocks of creatures. Wingless furry birds roamed the area chasing each other. About three sail spine lizards crawled on the sand hissing as they prowled for prey. 

Some of the Marines shot in the air scaring the creatures away for laughs and fun. One of the Marines, Private Banappel kept shooting at the strange creatures while chuckling. Sergeant Ratledge barked for him to stop, yelling as loud as he could at the Private. Other Marines of the eleven-man group were about to tackle or snatch him away from the jungle. Greigorsson stepped over to pull him away. Two large creatures burst from the jungle in the middle of a fight. A green dire tiger and large hairless were rat creature appeared before the marines. Locked in a fight between each other the Wererat, and Dire Tiger were oblivious to the eleven marines. Banappel stopped firing at once. Everyone froze at the sight of both creatures swinging, and clawing at each other. One hissed, and screeched while the other growled. The Tiger bumped into Banappel who was frozen stiff. Backing away in a blink of an eye the Tiger pounced on him. With one claw it ripped his stomach open. Private Banappel fell backward letting his ten fellow Marines open fire on the two creatures in response to the attack.  It took a few rounds of ammunition to take down the Green Tiger and Wererat. As silence fell the group of Marines backed away in case something else jumped out. Greigorsson kept his eyes on the trees, and bushes. Just looking at these trees reminded him of the ones on Ruhonthra. Palm trees, coconut trees, fern trees, exotic oaks, a few banana trees along with the Eel trees. Greigorsson wondered if his banana would please a woman again. He hoped it would be an Uxane, or a tan Evusian. Most of the fat hogs in his town did not appear happy, but arrogantly stubborn to even maintain a good wait. He did not mind, just pondered over why they didn't push to exercise more. Sometime before the war he remembered some girl from Vorcadam whose family moved in a decade prior. He offered to meet this one at a library, but a pandemic was going on. Some large whale hog suggested they stay for 30 minutes. She was there an hour before him. With that date ruined he had no other choice than to wait patiently to see her again. 

Sporadic gunfire broke his concentration. Everyone in his squad turned to face the direction of the sound. When they heard it again they rushed over to the source of the shooting. Racing through the island they passed several metal buildings that held some overgrowth on the walls, and through the windows. Running through the enclaves or camp sized settlements they came across smaller patches of jungle to race through. Greigorsson burst out of a small patch of jungle. On the southeastern part of the island they find another squad of Vestrisian Marines engaging a group of strange humanoids wrapped up like mummies. Over the linen strips of cloth they wore tunics, collars, circlets, headdresses, green broad collars, oblong crowns, and headdresses draped over their head and shoulders. Each of these humanoids wielded a gold green staff weapon. Some appeared like green pens with gold snakes wrapping around them, and bronze trim. Others held the design of spears with thick poles. Whoever these weirdos were, they must have come from a different planet or got brainwashed. Greigorsson could only think these guys were part of some cult or ancient civilizations fanbase who got their hands on alien weapons. These new invaders surrounded a fire team of five Marines who were part of a squad of 12 marines. No more than seven of their own countrymen lay dead, and just two of the weirdos lay dead. Did these weirdos come out of the sand, scaring them or something? Greigorsson aimed his rifle at the closest one and spotted something else he should have expected. Guarding their flank lay a seaworm like centipede monster with red, dark brown-, and sand-colored scales. It's length must have stretched at least 16.7 feet in length, and a body height of 4.5 ft.  Standing on 22 legs with sharp points. Seeing this for the first time freaked the other Marine's out who started firing at the beast first. Ratledge and a few others shot up its eyes and pincers. It screeched and writhed violently, knocking down some of the mummies. As wriggled on the sand in pain the new invaders fired on their squad. 

Shooting out miniature purple, and green bullets that appeared like tracer rounds. Three more Marines fell in Greigorsson's handpicked unit. In reaction to the invader's they filled them up with lead. All thirty-three fake mummies lay dead around their captives. With not time to waste they rushed over to the group of fellow marines who were sent to patrol the island as well. Ratledge cut them off before they could even speak. No one wanted to hear any excuses or an explanation about what happened. Forced to carry their fallen countrymen they raced back to the port area where the other Marines regrouped. Major Unnose, a completely bald 5'10 figure with a strong physique who donned sunglasses took command over the whole lot through Gleichersson's permission. Looking at the twelve fallen Marines they knew it would take time to transport or bury them. Praying to the three main deities, Zuexis, Ipsul, and Gaivos to guide the souls of the dead, they buried them inside body bags. Marking the grave with their helmets the Marines prepared to move out in force. The process of digging a grave wasn't too difficult, but the very ideas of never seeing these comrades again ripped them apart inside. With Unnose in charge the 874 Marines decided to move out in force. Taking whatever floating craft they found around the island they moved south to another island 47 miles away. 

Leaving the island city abandoned gave Greigorsson a wheezing feeling in his lungs. Their new ally did not return yet. Regardless of being so far from HQ they pressed on to another island along the end of the platform seas. Looking to the right Greigorsson had to look over the heads of other Marines to see another wall of rock formations that stretched for miles. Recalling some of his schooling days Greigorsson tried spotting possible volcanos jutting out of the ocean. Castaria's southeast was flanked by island volcanos. For most of their journey to the next island he could not stop searching for a volcano among the rock formations. As the current rocked the craft up and down Greigorsson couldn't find a single volcano among the rock formations. Returning his attention to the path ahead Greigorsson spotted twenty-five islands. 

Seated on the ocean's surface in front of the Marine battalion a 32 mile long island that appeared roughly two miles wide. Much like the island Yvonne claimed behind them this one had metal alien structures among a long dense jungle. Covering most of the island the foliage and structures allowed very little vision of what lay on the island. Towering over the rest of the island stood nine Expecting to be shot at upon their approach the marines crouched down as they disembarked. Aiming their weapons and the foliage the marines split up to flank the island while checking it out. Finding nothing in the northern part of the island they pressed further. Towards the middle part of the island they found some sot of runway for aircraft, and an airport. Lined up in two rows facing each other on opposite sides of the aircraft lots sat twenty-four aircraft. Past the runway rested a small city with landing platforms. None of them could tell how many buildings there were because of the close nit construction. Their gaze went to a few other humanoids roaming around the aircraft. Seven obscure looking aliens patrolled the are. One beige skinned potato humanoid with arms, and legs, a mollusk mutant creature with a large shell, one four armed Dire Ape, one pink-yellow skinned lizard-mantis-monkey with three pincers, and six limbs formed one group. The other three were a light blue Ogre, some Shark looking humanoid called a Sharkmo, and a bronze skinned figure with ten arms. 

Taking positions the VUVR marines flanked the seven strange monsters using bayonets. Doing that wasn't easy, despite their larger numbers. Using bayonets as spears proved effective, but it cost lives against the other two, the multi-limbed alien, and the large mollusk. About six of their own were lost to the multi-limbed alien, two to the Mollusk, one to the potato creature that laid on top of the Marine, and 5 men died while taking down the Ape monster. As for the Mantis-Monkey they lost six more men. To the Blue Ogre, and Sharkmo the Marines lost two men. Each monster either crushed or tore their countrymen to pieces. Even Sgt. Jake Ratledge died at the hands of the Mollusk. It wrapped an extra eye around his throat as he stabbed it with his dagger. Losing twenty-three Marines on this island wasn't enough to break them. Experiencing war changed people. If they add the elements of monsters along with men getting torn or crushed then the experience is terrifying. Greigorsson and the rest of the unit had to shake it off as best they could. Despite some better judgements each one took a rolled up Wanda's herbs. A type of plant whose leaves can be smoked for relief. All someone had to do was roll it up, bind it with thin bark, and lit it up. From the main port of the airport settlement a horde of figures shambled their way to them. Unsure if these people were drunk, exhausted, oblivious, or drugged up they hold their fire. One of the commanding officers orders for them to halt. 

"Stop right there! That is far enough! I SAID STOP!" Major Blue shouted at the crowd of shambling figures. 

When they did not respond or show any signs of stopping their Majors barked out to discharge weapons. Pulling the triggers, the Marines obliterated the oncoming horde of shambling figures. It did not become clear what they were until they approached the fallen. At first glance these slain figures appeared human or humanoid. Upon closer inspection these figures had something off about them. Looking down at the faces Greigorsson saw no life could be seen in their eyes. Most had pale faces or or rotted faces and signs of decomposing. Estimating the number to be 527, other Marines surmised these to be zombies. Greigorsson remembered encountering one or two of these types of living dead in the streets. On a cool night, Dimitri and his pals roamed around the edges of the city limits. Along the borders of Bloodstone they came across an abandoned shed once part of private property. Most of the property burned in a fire two decades prior to his birth. Regardless of warnings they checked it out. At the back of the abandoned shed they found a figure, which they believed to be a homeless person. Realizing it wasn't a homeless person they darted out of the area screaming in the streets. Greigorsson did his best controlling a smile that tried appearing on his face. Turning his gaze up, Greigorsson kept his eyes straight ahead of them. Passing the alien aircraft the Marines reached the grouping of buildings encircling a tower. 

Mockshah in the Black Coats

 As the fifes and drums entered her ears she knew right away who was marching from the other side of the moor full of ruins. In formation and wearing black and red the Black Coats under a new Field Marshall advanced on the bloodied field of Karon Al-Addin. Some called him the Black Fox, others called him Mockshah the Pirate. Why a pirate like him was allowed to live she would never know. Her own enemies set her up and framed her. That alone forced her to pull off a Heist at Oakmont, Nahbooe. She did not trust him, because of his former pirating days. At age sixteen he first became a pirate after his sword Master died or disappeared. No one knew what happened to the great sword fighter in the galaxy. Whoever it was they must have been more important. 

Marching in formation the Black Coats went straight for the Black Dominion on the planet Gesu. On the planet Gesu was a lone Dark Sorceress harboring some old members of the MOR that escaped with some forces. On the abandoned world of platforms, the IGC captured some warlords, and mass murderers on ships trying to escape the spreading war on the CSO, Order of the Beast, and the MOR. Amassing their forces the IGC's Black Coats who really served the Kingdom of Deovina, launched their invasion. With however many troops they acquired from the many prisons of the galaxy. Most were former pirates like Mockshah himself, who was instated as a General. He was said to have been a Colonel before going AWOL on the whole galactic alliance. 

Listening to the fifes and drums, she looked out at the field before them. On the largest island on Gesu the Black Coats met the Black Dominion who outnumbered them. Her gaze went to the Mockshah figure himself who rode on a horse in his black uniform. Showing no fear in the face of this Black Dominion, Mockshah pressed his own unit of ten thousand against the various spawn, and skeletal warriors that made up the Dark Dominion. Using what rifles, and melee weapons they could grab a hold off, his own Black Coats attacked. It was as though he fought them before.