"1-2 Gamma, Overlord, what's happening down there? Over," Bell's voice crackled with concern as he monitored the drone footage from the command center. Wood and Aya, caught in the chaos, struggled to provide an explanation.
Arrows poured down from rooftops and windows, prompting Wood to cast shield spells to shield her group from the barrage. Despite her efforts, the onslaught persisted as she assisted Aya in navigating the perilous road.
"It's getting hairy down here, Overlord. The AO is too hot. Over," Wood reported.
"Do you require close air support? Over," Bell inquired.
"Negative, Overlord. We can't risk compromising the mission. We'll handle it. Over," Wood responded before terminating the communication.
"Good luck then. Overlord out."
Aya pushed Wood's hands aside and sprinted by herself with her musket strapped to her back. She wielded a revolver, distinct from the others which used breach-loading one. Seizing a black-powder revolver from her holster, she unleashed suppressing fire on the windows of the surrounding buildings.
Violence erupted in the streets as a horse-mounted runner broadcasted orders to eliminate any armed elves on sight. Soldiers scattered across the area hurled bombs into the buildings, igniting explosions within. Yet, the rain of arrows persisted unabated. Suddenly, a thunderous boom reverberated from the port direction, and the ground erupted before them. The group halted, their minds racing to determine their next move as more explosions erupted around them.
“The motherfucker in the town hall authorizes a shore bombardment?” Wood shouted.
Aya assisted Wood in maintaining the integrity of the magical energy shield enveloping the group, shielding them from fragments and other projectiles. "Well, what else did you expect, ma'am?" Aya retorted.
"I swear, these people," Wood muttered, a look of disapproval crossing her face.
The once-peaceful streets of Saven were rapidly descending into a war zone, each explosion heralding a new wave of chaos. Aya strained to ensure no fragments or arrows breached the shield, but she couldn't be certain if the massive gun on the ironclad had scored a direct hit on them.
The group sprinted toward the crossroads, veering off instead of heading straight east. However, their chosen path seemed to lead them astray, as a line of elves armed with bows took aim in their direction. Aya immediately focused her energy on reinforcing the magical shield as the elves' arrows shimmered with an array of colors.
Before the elves could release their arrows, rounds from the ironclads descended upon them, obliterating their ranks in a torrent of destruction. Aya could only watch in horror as the line of elves was annihilated within seconds, their bodies torn apart by the relentless bombardment.
"We need to keep moving," she urged, her voice calm despite the gruesome sight of elf mincemeat. "If we stay out in the open, we're sitting ducks."
"Let's keep moving then," Aya nodded, but suddenly, a sharp pain reminded her of her injury. The stabbing sensation flared up again.
"Joker, hold still," Wood said without hesitation, retrieving a blue injector pen from her pocket and administering it to Aya's deltoid. A sting shot through her arm, but soon the pain began to ebb away.
"Sorry to be a bother," Aya apologized.
"Hey, that's what teammates are for," Wood smiled, disposing of the needle and returning the injector pen to her pocket.
With the immediate pain alleviated thanks to Wood's quick thinking, Aya regained her composure and focus. They resumed their eastward sprint, prioritizing escape from the town as the bombardment showed no signs of abating. Debris littered the streets, adding to the challenge of their escape.
For the next ten minutes, the team pushed forward relentlessly, evading the bombardment while the magicians worked to maintain the integrity of their magical shield. They endured attacks from the elves, were buffeted by explosions, and choked on the smoke and fumes of burning buildings that surrounded them. Heck, even a building fell on top of their head and they kept moving.
However, their unwavering determination to escape the inferno without compromising their mission remained their utmost priority, rendering all their wounds worthwhile as they pressed on, fleeing from Saven. Aya continued to shout words of encouragement, reminding the team that they were almost at the edge of the town, bolstering their spirits.
As they neared the edge of Saven, the sounds of explosion began to fade. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached the relative safety of the city's outskirts. They didn't stop to catch their breath until they were well away from the immediate danger zone, where the likelihood of being targeted by the bombardment was significantly lower.
Eventually, they arrived at a snowfield situated on a hill overlooking the town—a vantage point from which they could only watch, powerless to halt the relentless bombardment, all in the name of their mission. The air hung heavy with smoke, and the night sky glowed orange from the fires consuming the city. Saven appeared as a distant silhouette against the fiery backdrop.
Aya's face bore scratches and wounds from the bombardment's fragments, her features smeared with dirt and smoke. The 'captain' had his leg bound with a tourniquet, stemming the flow of blood from a large wound inflicted by the bombardment that had hurled a building at them.
"We did what we could," Wood said quietly, her gaze fixed on Saven.
Aya, her confusion evident, asked, "I don’t understand. Just... why?"
"Just our luck, I suppose?" Wood added, with a hint of resignation.
"No, I mean, why would they destroy the town? We have our reasons, but what about them? I don’t know," Aya lamented, her eyes drawn to the indiscriminate bombardment. The ruthless destruction of the town, with no regard for civilian lives, left her searching for answers.
Aya removed her coat and shirt, revealing the plate carrier beneath, and examined her wound. A bullet had pierced through the gap in the armor, likely fracturing a rib on its trajectory. It was a wonder she had been able to keep running, though Wood already knew the reason behind her resilience.
Meanwhile, the thirty ironclads continued their relentless assault on Saven, raining down incendiary shells that transformed the town into a sea of flames. Aya couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility, despite knowing she was not to blame. The fact that someone had targeted her, leading to the devastating bombardment authorized by headquarters, weighed heavily on her mind.
How many people were there? Three thousand? They were likely all dead now.
"Overlord, Section team here, we're clear of the town," Aya radioed Bell.
"Section 1-2 Gamma, yeah, I can see it clearly from the drone here. What's your assessment, over?" Bell responded.
"The enemy has decimated the town, sir, there's no doubt about it. Over," Aya reported.
"Copy that. Can you walk another 10 clicks to the east, or do you need a blackhawk to pick you up?" Bell offered.
"Overlord, please stand by," Aya requested before turning to the rest of the team. "Overlord has offered us extraction via helicopter ten kilometers east of here. What do you think?"
The 'captain' interjected, "Let's refuse it. We still have the ability to fly."
Wood nodded in agreement. "I'm with you."
"Overlord, the team has declined the blackhawk. We'll make our own way there. A blackhawk would attract too much attention. Over," Aya informed Bell.
"Copy that, Overlord out."
Shifting her gaze from the devastated town, Aya looked eastward, toward New Glacier. The team rose from their brief respite and began to levitate above the ground. With a unified chant, they propelled themselves forward, flying low to the ground to avoid detection by any coalition soldiers they might encounter. Though fatigued, they felt a sense of pride in completing and documenting their mission. Aya also looked forward to returning to Frostwood, to her apartment, after a brief stop at New Glacier hospital.
"1-2 Gamma, Overlord, what's happening down there? Over," Bell's voice crackled with concern as he monitored the drone footage from the command center. Wood and Aya, caught in the chaos, struggled to provide an explanation.
Arrows poured down from rooftops and windows, prompting Wood to cast shield spells to shield her group from the barrage. Despite her efforts, the onslaught persisted as she assisted Aya in navigating the perilous road.
"It's getting hairy down here, Overlord. The AO is too hot. Over," Wood reported.
"Do you require close air support? Over," Bell inquired.
"Negative, Overlord. We can't risk compromising the mission. We'll handle it. Over," Wood responded before terminating the communication.
"Good luck then. Overlord out."
Aya pushed Wood's hands aside and sprinted by herself with her musket strapped to her back. She wielded a revolver, distinct from the others which used breach-loading one. Seizing a black-powder revolver from her holster, she unleashed suppressing fire on the windows of the surrounding buildings.
Violence erupted in the streets as a horse-mounted runner broadcasted orders to eliminate any armed elves on sight. Soldiers scattered across the area hurled bombs into the buildings, igniting explosions within. Yet, the rain of arrows persisted unabated. Suddenly, a thunderous boom reverberated from the port direction, and the ground erupted before them. The group halted, their minds racing to determine their next move as more explosions erupted around them.
“The motherfucker in the town hall authorizes a shore bombardment?” Wood shouted.
Aya assisted Wood in maintaining the integrity of the magical energy shield enveloping the group, shielding them from fragments and other projectiles. "Well, what else did you expect, ma'am?" Aya retorted.
"I swear, these people," Wood muttered, a look of disapproval crossing her face.
The once-peaceful streets of Saven were rapidly descending into a war zone, each explosion heralding a new wave of chaos. Aya strained to ensure no fragments or arrows breached the shield, but she couldn't be certain if the massive gun on the ironclad had scored a direct hit on them.
The group sprinted toward the crossroads, veering off instead of heading straight east. However, their chosen path seemed to lead them astray, as a line of elves armed with bows took aim in their direction. Aya immediately focused her energy on reinforcing the magical shield as the elves' arrows shimmered with an array of colors.
Before the elves could release their arrows, rounds from the ironclads descended upon them, obliterating their ranks in a torrent of destruction. Aya could only watch in horror as the line of elves was annihilated within seconds, their bodies torn apart by the relentless bombardment.
"We need to keep moving," she urged, her voice calm despite the gruesome sight of elf mincemeat. "If we stay out in the open, we're sitting ducks."
"Let's keep moving then," Aya nodded, but suddenly, a sharp pain reminded her of her injury. The stabbing sensation flared up again.
"Joker, hold still," Wood said without hesitation, retrieving a blue injector pen from her pocket and administering it to Aya's deltoid. A sting shot through her arm, but soon the pain began to ebb away.
"Sorry to be a bother," Aya apologized.
"Hey, that's what teammates are for," Wood smiled, disposing of the needle and returning the injector pen to her pocket.
With the immediate pain alleviated thanks to Wood's quick thinking, Aya regained her composure and focus. They resumed their eastward sprint, prioritizing escape from the town as the bombardment showed no signs of abating. Debris littered the streets, adding to the challenge of their escape.
For the next ten minutes, the team pushed forward relentlessly, evading the bombardment while the magicians worked to maintain the integrity of their magical shield. They endured attacks from the elves, were buffeted by explosions, and choked on the smoke and fumes of burning buildings that surrounded them. Heck, even a building fell on top of their head and they kept moving.
However, their unwavering determination to escape the inferno without compromising their mission remained their utmost priority, rendering all their wounds worthwhile as they pressed on, fleeing from Saven. Aya continued to shout words of encouragement, reminding the team that they were almost at the edge of the town, bolstering their spirits.
As they neared the edge of Saven, the sounds of explosion began to fade. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached the relative safety of the city's outskirts. They didn't stop to catch their breath until they were well away from the immediate danger zone, where the likelihood of being targeted by the bombardment was significantly lower.
Eventually, they arrived at a snowfield situated on a hill overlooking the town—a vantage point from which they could only watch, powerless to halt the relentless bombardment, all in the name of their mission. The air hung heavy with smoke, and the night sky glowed orange from the fires consuming the city. Saven appeared as a distant silhouette against the fiery backdrop.
Aya's face bore scratches and wounds from the bombardment's fragments, her features smeared with dirt and smoke. The 'captain' had his leg bound with a tourniquet, stemming the flow of blood from a large wound inflicted by the bombardment that had hurled a building at them.
"We did what we could," Wood said quietly, her gaze fixed on Saven.
Aya, her confusion evident, asked, "I don’t understand. Just... why?"
"Just our luck, I suppose?" Wood added, with a hint of resignation.
"No, I mean, why would they destroy the town? We have our reasons, but what about them? I don’t know," Aya lamented, her eyes drawn to the indiscriminate bombardment. The ruthless destruction of the town, with no regard for civilian lives, left her searching for answers.
Aya removed her coat and shirt, revealing the plate carrier beneath, and examined her wound. A bullet had pierced through the gap in the armor, likely fracturing a rib on its trajectory. It was a wonder she had been able to keep running, though Wood already knew the reason behind her resilience.
Meanwhile, the thirty ironclads continued their relentless assault on Saven, raining down incendiary shells that transformed the town into a sea of flames. Aya couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility, despite knowing she was not to blame. The fact that someone had targeted her, leading to the devastating bombardment authorized by headquarters, weighed heavily on her mind.
How many people were there? Three thousand? They were likely all dead now.
"Overlord, Section team here, we're clear of the town," Aya radioed Bell.
"Section 1-2 Gamma, yeah, I can see it clearly from the drone here. What's your assessment, over?" Bell responded.
"The enemy has decimated the town, sir, there's no doubt about it. Over," Aya reported.
"Copy that. Can you walk another 10 clicks to the east, or do you need a blackhawk to pick you up?" Bell offered.
"Overlord, please stand by," Aya requested before turning to the rest of the team. "Overlord has offered us extraction via helicopter ten kilometers east of here. What do you think?"
The 'captain' interjected, "Let's refuse it. We still have the ability to fly."
Wood nodded in agreement. "I'm with you."
"Overlord, the team has declined the blackhawk. We'll make our own way there. A blackhawk would attract too much attention. Over," Aya informed Bell.
"Copy that, Overlord out."
Shifting her gaze from the devastated town, Aya looked eastward, toward New Glacier. The team rose from their brief respite and began to levitate above the ground. With a unified chant, they propelled themselves forward, flying low to the ground to avoid detection by any coalition soldiers they might encounter. Though fatigued, they felt a sense of pride in completing and documenting their mission. Aya also looked forward to returning to Frostwood, to her apartment, after a brief stop at New Glacier hospital.
