Vullan was officially at war with their newly formed V.U.V.R. He did not want to think about the full name of their new nation just what he was going to do here. An invasion was starting on their behalf not the Vullanese. It had more do with what they did over some treaty the Vullanese leaders broke. Waiting for the orders to attack he kept his eye on the town on the other side of the border. Having a demon in his scopes Sergeant Flame made him a little uneasy about fighting the Vullanese now that war began. Pondering over these events he wondered if this war would last a while or be short. Not much was known to him about the true reasons behind the war other than what the newspapers said. There was no time for him to waste while sitting the grass while perched on a hillside. He was hidden from view by rocks, bushes, and tall grass from the ground troops. In front of him Flame had a few fallen tree branches and a naturally hollowed out fallen tree stump. As for the winged imp on the rooftop, he doubted he was well hidden. Perched on a spire to some cathedral built behind the town his target held binoculars in its clutches. Unsure if the demon could see him, Flame did his best not to move an inch. Putting his finger on the trigger he prepared to fire. Flame stopped realizing the gunshot would alert the Vullanese troops in the town. Just yesterday they arrived at the border with word that half the population left. That was good for them. Less collateral damage and less civilians in the way. Moving his scope to see the imp's exposed stomach he found it a little outlandish for Vullan to have winged creatures in their ranks.
Taking in a deep breath he prepared to start a fight with the Vullanese of these parts. Ever so slightly he put pressure on the trigger when some loud aircraft came overhead. Making a lot of noise the few aircraft drowned out everything else with their growling sound engines. Even a dog's barking could not be heard above the roaring. Flame could not hear his own thoughts, these engines were so loud in the air. Taking advantage of the noise, Flame fired a killing shot to the imp's lung. The brown skinned imp fell from the spire leaving the binoculars on the spire's jutting spikes. Breathing a sigh of relief, he allowed himself to relax. Sweat started to soak his undershirt under the brownish green uniform his unit was issued.
Charging enemy positions now would not be a smart move. Even if their comrades on other fronts did so. He was not the personnel in command, but he had combat experience. Just a single year of military experience in war was all he possessed under his belt. Evusia attacked Meze, Redrin, and Nahem. Right after the Nochannian-Zegrav conflict the Evusia Empire started invading its neighbors. That war gave Flame is first taste of modernized combat. Only two years of training, a full year of hunting wild Gnolls, killing Troglodytes, fighting Kuruks, removing Beastmen threats, and a seven-month war earned him Sergeant. To him that prepared him for this new war. Hailing from a small town called Axebing, Geverine, Rogert Eminabel Flame was now twenty-two years old.
Checking out the town of Orney on Mothgar Isle he spied on Vullanese soldiers. In their new khaki uniforms, the Vullanese appeared more modern rather than out of date. He saw photos of the old uniforms they once wore. Jerkins, trousers over red, white cotton tunic shirt in a color set of orange with light blue. Distinct yet out of date that Vullanese uniform became an easy target to shoot at. Now the khakis were their uniform it would be harder to find them. Through his scope Flame could see how different it was on the Vullanese side. Houses constructed in the appearance of pavilions with hexagonal roots of clay tiles. In the size of an actual house these pavilion shapes had walls covering the inside. Some were two stories tall. Other building shapes included small villas, brick cottages, terraced homes, chapel shaped homes, limestone round houses. Most of the cottage and brick houses were single stories painted orange. The rest were painted a lighter blue, yellow-gold, and red. Plenty of these houses had flat roofs, bonnet roofs one thought to find in the country or store on the road, hip roofs and hexagonal roofs. Every one of them had clay tiles, slate tiles, or concrete tiles. Among these buildings the Vullanese called homes he spotted a marketplace, blacksmith, carpenter shop, pottery shop with kilns, and studio with it. Orney's townhall could be seen in the center next to a merchant guild, a library of sorts, and a temple with exotic statues. Orney possessed no walls around her to defend the settlement. She still had feudal age structures among homes from different ages. A Bowyer, town guard, town watch, Mason's Guild, Leather Tanner near a villa complex, Blacksmith, an Inn and a Tavern could be spotted through his scope. Within Orney's confines Flame spotted seven other Taverns.
One Tavern in particular caught his attention. Taking a better look at it, he saw it was named The Black and Blue. Smiling with a thirst for a drink Sergeant Flame hoped their own bombers would miss it. He even cursed the artillery in his mind. Outside this Tavern he spied a woman waltzing about in a Baker's dress equipped with apron, and ascot. Donning a coif, she did not look the prettiest he'd seen yet still a little attractive. Flame did not believe in judging women by their beauty or appearances. However, he ran into plenty of women that stunned him. He followed her with his eyes for a while holding both eyes opened. To the left of Orney the town spa caught his gaze. Vullanese troops prepared defenses along the town's borders. Oblivious to Vestrisian presence the team of Vullanese troops stopped work and headed for wherever the imp perched itself.
Orney's spa thrived with male and female staff moving around. Loading and unloading boxes, and small crates these Vullanese seemed to rush the evacuation. He saw their military uniforms had changed since their last few conflicts. Never before had he seen the Vullanese traditional garments they wore. Long Tunics, which came in different styles along with colors, covered their persons. Some Tunics were light blue, orange, gold yellow, red, brown, green and white. Most of them were women at the spa's location performing different duties. Brown, Reds, and the whites performed laborious tasks, while the oranges did manual tasks. As for the rest, they performed skilled tasks. Some dismantled equipment, others boarded up the windows. Others prepared the vehicles used for transportation. Situated near a stream this spa was run by some beautiful, voluptuous, curvy, and petite women. One in particular caught his eye at the edge of a man-made pond with finely carved stoned encircling it. Standing at five feet eight inches, a tannish brown skinned female wore a loose light blue tunic dress. Her light brown hair rested on the back of her head in a messy bun twist. Her tunic dress covered her torso, chest, and upper legs covered by a green shawl. She had the shawl draped from her left shoulder to her right hip tied at the back.
"Hello there, Sergeant, are we spying on those lovely ladies? Or are you peeping at those voluptuous beauties. My, my I do want to meet those vixens I spy." He heard a very smug, cocky voice appear next to him. The all too familiar voice emerged from his right flank. Hearing it made him stiffen a little.
Turning his head to the right he found Private Eggard "Suave" Fusesky the perverted prude of the platoon. He stood up above the tall grass, and upright foliage Flame hid in. A photographer, sketcher, and spotter for the platoon, Private Fusesky held a more infamous reputation among the 408th battalion's 13th platoon. The self-proclaimed ladies' man had his three cameras around his neck. The cylinder shaped one, the container shaped one, and plate shaped camera that folded up. Out of seven combat artists, four photographers, and six cartographers, Private Fusesky ruined their image with his perverted taste for females. How he still managed to keep a smug smile after the number of times he was beaten to the earth in boot camp, and the fields of Castaria. Taking another glance at the Vullanese women Flame knew Fusesky would attempt sliming his way into their beds or clothes. Fusesky broke his train of thought.
"Ooo, that one would do me a favor and keep this rogue comfy! While I paddle that naughty looking behind to our delight!" Fusesky claimed, spotting another woman to target. He moved a few steps forward making kissing sounds as he watched through his binoculars.
Sergeant Flame's heart raced and pounded his rib cage like a drum. Was Fusesky about to blow the cover of the entire 408th? They were supposed to wait for the signal to attack while staying hidden in the foliage. This Private's personal fetish was getting in the way of their surprise attack. Flame's mind raced around picturing himself as some sentient rodent circling a closed off room in panic. He had to act fast or Fusesky would reveal their positions. Flame made a grab for the Private then pulled him to the ground with him.
"Could you pack it in already? We are in a future warzone! Our country may be the ones attacking, but history is about to be made! Yet you have a history of harassing women! Now do us a favor Private and keep your eel in your pants! Cut it off from your brain and focus on the frontlines!" He growled at him through his gritted teeth. Flame wanted nothing more than to drown him in the pond or the river just to be rid of Private "Suave" Fusesky. All he did was blink several times in confusion.
"Why Sergeant Flame. I thought the men loved it when I woo the ladies." Fusesky responded in a half sarcastic yet confused tone. Flame released him and sent him back to camp. He did not watch the Private move away from his position.
"Sverxing Pig, going to turn all the women of Mothgar on us." Flame cursed under his breath.
Checking the spa again he found Vullanese soldiers and militia appeared in the scene. Humans, Mehoge demon spawn, Kuruks with ram horns, Orc Jaws, tall Goblins, Orcs, half Orcs, half goblins, short Ogres, Beastmen spawn, Troll Spawn, Man bull spawn (Minoatuars), Zedirians, Half-Elves, Redcap spawn, Aos Si humanoids, and ugly Lideric spawn wore the uniforms of Vullanese Military. Being human, Sergeant Flame envied other races of their newly formed Vestrisian Union. Elves lived longer, which allowed them to learn more, fight better, and experience more than everyone else. Dwarves also lived longer yet showed off their mastery in smithing techniques. They also made better craftsmen, inventors, scientists, as well as artisans. Gnomes had a better taste for machines, tinkering, gardening, and alchemy. From what he heard, Gnomes were not as good with alchemy producing gunpowder or poisons as Goblins proved to the world. Well, the civil ones. His envy also went towards Zunia Pucks who know how to farm, cook, play music, excel at herbal alchemy, and singing came natural to them. Many Zunia Pucks became servants, maids, butlers, house keepers, care takers, and nurses. Flame felt like he would be complaining about that if he revealed his thoughts to anyone. Humans could master all those professions it only took time, patience, and a bit of free time.
Just past Orney he could see the city of Busry Isle. An island said to be filled inhabited by Harpies, Trolls, and Gargoyles. One would think neither of those races would be productive. He could certainly say the Vullanese were productive while an enemy watched them. From his position Sergeant Flame spotted Vullanese defenses. Protecting Orney stood eight fixed pill boxes out of wood, eight tower mounts for machineguns, eight pillbox walls. These defenses were spread out across the town limits. He also found the road to be blockaded at the border, and laden with over sixteen tank traps. Eight old broken pillars lay strewn about the road's shoulders. Flanking Orney by the north and the east sat sixteen pieces of cover the Vullanese constructed from logs. Between the constructed cover and pill boxes he spotted sixteen or more sections of walls. Flame presumed these houses either burned in a fire or destroyed by the Vullanese to make more defenses. Right as he was about to call it quits on reconnaissance a platoon of Vullanese troops forced a group of prisoners along. Gnoll prisoners, Human prisoners, Goblin prisoners, Half Elves from Boathrin carried sixteen crates, and sixteen barrels. Watching them carefully place the containers in other parts closer to the town. Another group of prisoners appeared from Orney's streets wielding shovels. Flame took note of this as the enemy's prisoners filled containers with dirt and rocks.
Out of curiosity Flame returned his gaze to the Spa area. Every spa employee found themselves in a line. Most of the Vullanese troops left them at the supervision of an ugly hunch back figure in uniform. This one wore neither of Vullan's military uniforms. Instead, this hunchback donned a brogg brown uniform with a Nymresian Flag under the Invader's Flag. He was not the only one in that particular uniform. A full platoon of the ugliest creatures for men buried their faces in the features of these spa staff. The hunchback pinched the leading spa owner who appeared powerless. Flame sort of felt offended for these women. Whose side were these scum on? His stomach grew sick, churning as the hunchback started to lick her in several places. He rubbed his face against her exposed areas for a few more moments. Out of the blue his head exploded. It blew up in a bloody, fleshy mess. Brains, torn tissue, blood, and muscle splattered her face. Sergeant Flame did not fire that shot. Looking around to see if anyone else joined his team Sergeant Flame called it a day. Slinking further back until he was out of view he got up and bolted for their camp.
Sprinting towards camp he found Fusesky sketching an abandoned cottage. Sverx you we have not time for that, get going! He wanted to shout the words at Fusesky. His focus was ripped from Suave when Flame found the rest of his team nearby in the clearing between two hills. Hearing more shots being fired from the Vullanese side caught their attention. His team was now alert as bullets flew above their heads.
"Get back to HQ! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" He shouted at them. In a mad hurry Flame's team grabbed all they could while scrambling back to base. Leaves rustled, twigs snapped off as bullet's flew above their heads. Vullanese troops opened fire in a frantic manner in retaliation. That would sap away at their ammunition if they kept doing that. Another shot rang out from a position closer to their location. Flame stopped for a moment realizing he left his position, disobeying orders. Sergeant Flame turned around to return to his position on the hill. Going back had to be cancelled out as an option. Over a hundred Harpies, and Imps flew from Orney. Resembling a bee swarm the flying humanoids went for trees and nearby hills. Flame crouched low in the foliage brush to conceal himself. Harpies, Imps pounced, and dove for a dozen places around them. Screams, and shouts emitted from thirteen different places in the region. Only nine of those places saw gunfire erupt in the faces of the attackers. Rifles, machineguns, pistols, submachine guns joined by screams, shouting, and screeching, filled the air.
No more than three Boathrian militiamen of the Queen's Sharpshooters were dropped. Those Imps, and Harpies plucked them up and tore them apart before dropping them back down. Other armed troops fared better than the three sharpshooters found in the trees. Entire groups of Imps and Harpies flew away. A larger group of Harpies discovered Flame and his team. Sergeant Flame and five of his Privates became surrounded by one hundred seventeen Harpies. Some appeared hideous with black red lips, red hair like spikes, pale skin with red spots thin bodies. Others resembled scaly humanoids born with tails, wings and grew horns dotting the scalp. A handful of them almost mimicked female bodies covered in feathers or fur. Several had wings for arms with talons. Whereas the rest of them possessed a woman's face, body, arms with talons, claws, and wings. One wielded a mace preparing to smash a skull open. Private Fusesky, Private Browners, Private Monn, Private Riovas formed a tight circle. Not that it would doo much other than allow all members to spray fire in a circle killing multiple foes before getting torn to pieces.
Sergeant Flame found himself in the middle of the tight circle. Expecting nothing short of being torn apart he went for his pistol. The world slowed down with adrenaline taking over. Sweat poured from his skin, soaking his undershirt, and underwear. All sounds became blocked out except for his heartbeat. How could they escape tis swarm of Harpies? None of them would be able to move an inch with ten pouncing on each of them. Flame returned to the present as all sounds returned to his hearing. In his mind he wondered if the town hero of Queens Church Jeff Blair the Sheriff-Warden, would head this way. As a Veteran in the Geverine infantry, Colonel Blair enlisted to fight in this war. He saved the town from some corrupt thug boss who attempted to take over during the Castarian Conflict.
More than a thousand guns went off from their eastern flanks. Scores of leaves, sticks, small branches, and Harpies dropped to the ground. Just the noise itself would scare off the Imps. According to the Boathrians who fought the creatures before. Yet the Harpies needed to be killed or wounded in order to drive them away. Most of the Harpies go hit while the rest scattered in the air. Dozens of Vestrisian Soldiers and Boathrian militia emerged from the foliage. Using T.M. 13's, Lever Action Rifles, Repeaters, Boathrian Vowed Rifle4s, and the early E-7 prototypes, the riflemen gunned down as many Harpies before the winged creatures disappeared behind the hills. Colonel Jeff Blair appeared with Major Gorgenne, Major Ol-Gribb, and Captains Castern, Nennetz, Greymir. Sergeant Flame saluted them and handed over his report. Blair checked the notes Flame wrote when a squat bug monster with rustic red lumpy hide, armored tail that ended in a bony paddled projection, emerged from the tall weeds along the hill's base. Its two prehensile antennae were about to grab a gun when an Uxane in VUVR Ranger's uniform burst out of the woods armed with a wooden stake. The red-brownish warrior drove the spear into its skull ending its life.
"Ranger. Name and Rank." Captain Nennetz demanded calling for his attention. Nennetz wore the officer's uniform depicting blue chevrons over a pair of silver bars. The uniform appeared similar to the standard grunt's greenish brown that had a vest in similar colors only with a khaki brown tint to it. As ugly as it looked it saved their lives from enemy eyes. His pinkish beige skin and clean-shaven face would be an easy target especially the eagle like nose. As for the Uxane, he wore the Ranger's dark green uniform that allowed them to blend in the environment.
"Sorry Captain." He straightened up. "Corporal Otterspaw Red-Cat, 10th Rangers Battalion."
"Are you specialized in slaying monsters such as this, Corporal?" Colonel Blair asked folding his arms in his Commanding Officer's field uniform of Bluish Green decorated in small patches representing his rank. He had a flap every officer came with to cover the patches making it look like they wore a short cape poncho. Every personnel including the Officers wore a helmet, the standard Vestrisian military caps, beanies, garrison caps, or a Fassool hat of Vestrisia.
"Yes Captain, I used to hunt-" Otterspaw was cut off before he could finish his explanation by Major Ol-Gribb the Zedarkhand with brown-grey hair, triangle face, a few war scars dotted his neck and right cheek.
"That will be all Corporal, carry on." Blair dismissed the Corporal back to his monster hunting job. He ordered for the rest of the unit to return to HQ while sending the captains off to find other teams. Flame and his own team followed the Colonel back to a castle on V.U.V.R territory. Flame prayed their own unit's Captain; Captain Haley De Vill Skald was back at this castle. Currently garrisoned with 290 troops this Castle called Farfell could house a brigade. Around its grounds and base sat 64 tanks, five artillery platoons with twenty pieces, and twelve troop carriers. Each vehicle looked read for the war that would start tomorrow.
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