Ash with a side of artillery
I’m back in the field and spot the pergola. I walk over and once again see a chair open for me. “You must learn when to rest here take a seat and have some coffee” I take my seat and sip the coffee. It’s absolutely Divine.
“So whenever I fall asleep or pass out I’ll be here” I ask Nyx nods “For the most part yes but that’s if you choose to” I stay silent for a minute and sip at the coffee. “While I’m here then mind if I ask some questions” he spreads his hands in a welcoming gesture “Be my guest this is a palace of knowledge after all”
I nod and smile to myself. “What exactly are the sentinels” he strokes his tentacles “Ah an excellent question” he seems to pause to think “I believe the best way to put it is they are a check against the pillars. Specifically Spero”
I nod and he continues “They were actually created by Spero long ago during the worst fighting humanity will ever see” I motion that I have a question “What do you mean the worst fighting? Do you mean so far”
He shakes his head negative “Ever… you see through Spero I can peer through time by way of memories and the fighting then will be by leaps and bounds surpass anything to come”
My eye widens “because of the sentinel’s second duty to keep us in check their main one being to protect humanity they were forbidden from directly receiving blessings from any being of divine power. This led to them delving deep into the realm of science at first to better equip themselves and then to extend their life’s eventuality culminating in true immortality”
I’ve had my suspicions about them but this confirms it “What you see now is actually a meat puppet as they gave up their original bodies millennia ago. Their consciousness is held somewhere nothing can reach”
I sip and then pop a question “In the universe Ori burned” he slowly nods “burned doesn't describe it at all particularly because she is still tearing it apart and pushing that energy into this universe. That’s why it’s still expanding and accelerating. It’s also where some of the more esoteric items of the sentinels are as nothing not even the pillars save Ori can reach”
He cocks his head for a moment “Speaking of it would seem they have a gift for you. Time to go back” In a flash I’m back in the tent and jerk awake right before someone walks in.
I look over and it’s Sherman. He’s holding a rifle unlike any I’ve seen especially on him. “A gift from the sentinels to you” he sets it on the table along with some device “To replace your visor just lock it in place” I inspect the rifle.
The weight is surprisingly light yet heavy enough to not cause additional issues. It has canted iron sights plus a really nice scope with only about a dozen electronics attached to it. The barrel length is a nice eighteen inches so it’ll be a great universal length. The magazine is strange, it’s a double drum but it has additional lights and heft. It can detach so there’s that. Behind the grip, there is some kind of plug. The stock can adjust in just about any way you can think of. Under the barrel, there is a bi-pod and a vertical grip.
All in all it’s an amazing rife. “What do you think” I set it down next to me “It’s amazing thank you but uh what’s with the scope and magazine” he smiles “Promise to keep it a secret?” I nod getting excited “They are sentinel specials. The magazine can print rounds, of many types I should add, so you’ll never need to reload. The scope syncs to the magazine to help select the ammo type as well as other things”’
I stare at the rifle wide-eyed. That’s one hell of a trick I wonder why it’s not used in other places. I force myself to refocus and inspect the visor replacement. I shrug and shove it in the gap in my helmet and it clicks into place and fuses itself.
I put it on and everything is pitch black for a second before the visor turns on and syncs with everything. Once it’s fully turned on I notice a second window showing the top of the tent. I have my suspicions so I move my new rifle and the second window shifts.
I set it down and remove my helmet setting it down. “Thank you Sherman I was racking my brain on my helmet I was about to go grab a gas mask so I’d have something” he chuckles “Don’t mention it”
I stretch and sigh “The wave will hit soon I should probably get the other guys you’ll be with gathered” I grab my tablet and send Griffin a message. He arrives shortly after and I inform him of my plan for him. They leave to get ready. I pull on my helmet and note it’s ready before it’s fully on this time. I sling my rifle and step outside.
What I see is awe-inspiring in a way. A giant black cloud stretches from the ground all the way past the clouds blotting out everything. I turn on the all comm so everyone can hear me, 104th, and volunteers. “Everyone without protective equipment get inside the storm head is about to hit everybody else brace and check your filters… welcome to hell everyone let’s remind those NATO dogs we rule down here”
The sound of shattering glass is drowned out by the screaming wind. It almost sounds like the very earth is screaming in agony. Embers mixed with dust and ash follow the wind picking up more debris like road signs. It all whips past as my men and I hide behind anything solid we can find. We are having to prioritize the volunteers being behind the cover so they don’t get sandblasted. Our armor can take it but that doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant experience.
Only two hours later and two panicked volunteers running out from cover and being torn apart from the grit. It finally comes to an end.
I don’t waste time “Pop drones I want half to search the city and the rest to scout the outskirts in the direction of nato artillery and vehicle crews check your gear” Everyone hops too. I lament at the now zero visibility we have and thanks to the dust and debris our thermal overlays don’t work either.
“Take extra care with the poor visibility, we’ve trained in similar conditions so I want no excuses” I note my hud only occasionally flickers from the interference from the heavy metals in the air.
I walk over to where some drone operators are. They share the feeds with me. The signal is poor but they still have control and a video feed even if it is grainy. What I see surprises me. “I didn’t think they had the balls to advance in the storm” I say aloud. I switch to the artillery units “All guns load napalm fire on this grid on my order” I include the grids that the drones found the soldiers.
What comes next is nearly as surprising. Ivan is running over to me then stops to catch his breath for a second before speaking. “They are using federation radio frequencies. They sent a message it’s on repeat for now” he hands over the unit he was carrying and I listen in. “Any armed forces in the city of Moscow lay down your arms and surrender those who do not surrender will be fired upon once this message ceases”
I get a brilliant idea and look at Ivan “Is this two-way” he nods and I grin wide as I activate the speak button on the radio fob “This is Major General Rex of the 104th Army of the Elysium Republic. This is my city now and I don’t remember inviting any NATO members to visit it let alone poorly armed ones”
The repeating message stops and the voice says something else now “Cease all hostilities now and surrender and you’ll be treated in accordance with the treaties your people are a signatory thereof” I snort “Get this loyer off of this military frequency and get me a damn general so I can hear his surrender”
While I wait I try to think of any international law the republic signed and by the time an older man gets on the radio yelling I can’t think of one. “This will be your last chance to surrender if you don’t we’ll be forced to burn the city down with you inside it”
I lean forward and speak with dripping malice “Not if I burn it down first welcome to hell” I drop the fob and turn on my radio to the artillery units while I glance at the drone again. Same grids even more targets. Perfect. “All batteries load grids and go rapid fire I want to see the fire from here mix in some thermobaric”
Thunderous booms sound out of the courtyard and shells cut through the black clouds and drop on target. I watch through the drone as the shells explode throwing napalm everywhere coating buildings and vehicles alike. Several have people climbing out as the vehicle then explodes from the fuel or ammo or even both ignited.
I let it go on for ten minutes before I call a cease-fire and tell everyone to get in defense positions and ready for counter-battery fire.
Everyone gets into cover and I’m surprised that only a few shells hit in our area. They didn’t do anything other than make a crater. “Quick response scout the rubble drones are overhead don’t let anything jump you” I just get a double click in affirmative.
Ivan comes up to me as liaison but technically still a prisoner “Ahem general I have a question if you could enlighten me” I nod “I have a feeling it’s more than one but go ahead clear communication wins wars”
He nods a few times then continues “How will we be resupplied with no air support and how long do we need to hold… will our city survive”
I put away my tablet “We have other means to resupply, as for how long that depends and the city will survive in its people. We can rebuild cities we can’t rebuild people” This seems to put him at some ease “Then what is your grand plan” I smirk instead my helmet “For now? Let them break their teeth on us and let them show their cards while hiding mine. I’m willing to bet they aren’t well equipped for this amazing weather”
The clicking of his gas mask emphasizes my point. “I give it a week before they use something untested,” I say with certainty.
A week passed and there have been skirmishes but nothing too crazy. The quick response team has been all over the place at one point having to break off calling in artillery fire on themselves so they could swing around to the rear so nothing would get pulled out of place. Casualties have been light only a few deaths.
All in all it’s been going swimmingly. That is until the eleventh day. A patrol composed of two Elysium soldiers and six Russian Federation soldiers was ambushed leaving one survivor. It was a Russian who we had to sedate once we recovered the squad because he kept babbling.
That brings me to now. I’m standing in a tent we put up for some privacy and protection from the elements. Inside there are tables one for each deceased squad member. I’m looking over them with several medics as well as a few Russian veterinarians.
The wounds are obviously from huge claws but from what animal we can’t decern even the locals who have lots of experience with bears and other large predators are stumped. There was also no body of an animal so it’s nothing local because the combined fire would have killed several polar bears easily.
There is a team working on pulling the camera records from the two helmets but one looks to be a loss from a huge dent in the helmet cracking the storage chip.
One of the Russians is ripped in half. Combined with the damage to the helmet whatever did this is resilient beyond reason.
We pour over each injury several times using different theories and we look at each claw mark and scratch on equipment and armor dozens of times each time coming to one disturbing conclusion.
Whatever did this had to be grown in a lab. If anything this dangerous actually lived here it would have been hunted to extinction long before I arrived.
I walk out of the tent after half a day and head for the mess. On the way I radio Griffin “Have you seen anything strange out there” his response has static mixed in “Beyond the weather nothing yet though zombie Bate found something we’re all regrouping on them”
I frown and stop walking “Did they give you a description” his response takes a second “civilian torn apart by some kind of animal” I send him the photos of the soldiers “We suspect a lab-grown creature is on the loose. Keep your eyes peeled and if you can I want it alive”
He’s silent for a moment “head zombie says they look similar so I’m betting it’s the same creature. We’ll regroup and hunt it down” I breathe a sigh of relief “Good hunting” I have full faith in them plus they have a tank with them I doubt whatever it is can survive a tank shell to the face. Anyway, time to eat.
Ash with a side of artillery
I’m back in the field and spot the pergola. I walk over and once again see a chair open for me. “You must learn when to rest here take a seat and have some coffee” I take my seat and sip the coffee. It’s absolutely Divine.
“So whenever I fall asleep or pass out I’ll be here” I ask Nyx nods “For the most part yes but that’s if you choose to” I stay silent for a minute and sip at the coffee. “While I’m here then mind if I ask some questions” he spreads his hands in a welcoming gesture “Be my guest this is a palace of knowledge after all”
I nod and smile to myself. “What exactly are the sentinels” he strokes his tentacles “Ah an excellent question” he seems to pause to think “I believe the best way to put it is they are a check against the pillars. Specifically Spero”
I nod and he continues “They were actually created by Spero long ago during the worst fighting humanity will ever see” I motion that I have a question “What do you mean the worst fighting? Do you mean so far”
He shakes his head negative “Ever… you see through Spero I can peer through time by way of memories and the fighting then will be by leaps and bounds surpass anything to come”
My eye widens “because of the sentinel’s second duty to keep us in check their main one being to protect humanity they were forbidden from directly receiving blessings from any being of divine power. This led to them delving deep into the realm of science at first to better equip themselves and then to extend their life’s eventuality culminating in true immortality”
I’ve had my suspicions about them but this confirms it “What you see now is actually a meat puppet as they gave up their original bodies millennia ago. Their consciousness is held somewhere nothing can reach”
I sip and then pop a question “In the universe Ori burned” he slowly nods “burned doesn't describe it at all particularly because she is still tearing it apart and pushing that energy into this universe. That’s why it’s still expanding and accelerating. It’s also where some of the more esoteric items of the sentinels are as nothing not even the pillars save Ori can reach”
He cocks his head for a moment “Speaking of it would seem they have a gift for you. Time to go back” In a flash I’m back in the tent and jerk awake right before someone walks in.
I look over and it’s Sherman. He’s holding a rifle unlike any I’ve seen especially on him. “A gift from the sentinels to you” he sets it on the table along with some device “To replace your visor just lock it in place” I inspect the rifle.
The weight is surprisingly light yet heavy enough to not cause additional issues. It has canted iron sights plus a really nice scope with only about a dozen electronics attached to it. The barrel length is a nice eighteen inches so it’ll be a great universal length. The magazine is strange, it’s a double drum but it has additional lights and heft. It can detach so there’s that. Behind the grip, there is some kind of plug. The stock can adjust in just about any way you can think of. Under the barrel, there is a bi-pod and a vertical grip.
All in all it’s an amazing rife. “What do you think” I set it down next to me “It’s amazing thank you but uh what’s with the scope and magazine” he smiles “Promise to keep it a secret?” I nod getting excited “They are sentinel specials. The magazine can print rounds, of many types I should add, so you’ll never need to reload. The scope syncs to the magazine to help select the ammo type as well as other things”’
I stare at the rifle wide-eyed. That’s one hell of a trick I wonder why it’s not used in other places. I force myself to refocus and inspect the visor replacement. I shrug and shove it in the gap in my helmet and it clicks into place and fuses itself.
I put it on and everything is pitch black for a second before the visor turns on and syncs with everything. Once it’s fully turned on I notice a second window showing the top of the tent. I have my suspicions so I move my new rifle and the second window shifts.
I set it down and remove my helmet setting it down. “Thank you Sherman I was racking my brain on my helmet I was about to go grab a gas mask so I’d have something” he chuckles “Don’t mention it”
I stretch and sigh “The wave will hit soon I should probably get the other guys you’ll be with gathered” I grab my tablet and send Griffin a message. He arrives shortly after and I inform him of my plan for him. They leave to get ready. I pull on my helmet and note it’s ready before it’s fully on this time. I sling my rifle and step outside.
What I see is awe-inspiring in a way. A giant black cloud stretches from the ground all the way past the clouds blotting out everything. I turn on the all comm so everyone can hear me, 104th, and volunteers. “Everyone without protective equipment get inside the storm head is about to hit everybody else brace and check your filters… welcome to hell everyone let’s remind those NATO dogs we rule down here”
The sound of shattering glass is drowned out by the screaming wind. It almost sounds like the very earth is screaming in agony. Embers mixed with dust and ash follow the wind picking up more debris like road signs. It all whips past as my men and I hide behind anything solid we can find. We are having to prioritize the volunteers being behind the cover so they don’t get sandblasted. Our armor can take it but that doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant experience.
Only two hours later and two panicked volunteers running out from cover and being torn apart from the grit. It finally comes to an end.
I don’t waste time “Pop drones I want half to search the city and the rest to scout the outskirts in the direction of nato artillery and vehicle crews check your gear” Everyone hops too. I lament at the now zero visibility we have and thanks to the dust and debris our thermal overlays don’t work either.
“Take extra care with the poor visibility, we’ve trained in similar conditions so I want no excuses” I note my hud only occasionally flickers from the interference from the heavy metals in the air.
I walk over to where some drone operators are. They share the feeds with me. The signal is poor but they still have control and a video feed even if it is grainy. What I see surprises me. “I didn’t think they had the balls to advance in the storm” I say aloud. I switch to the artillery units “All guns load napalm fire on this grid on my order” I include the grids that the drones found the soldiers.
What comes next is nearly as surprising. Ivan is running over to me then stops to catch his breath for a second before speaking. “They are using federation radio frequencies. They sent a message it’s on repeat for now” he hands over the unit he was carrying and I listen in. “Any armed forces in the city of Moscow lay down your arms and surrender those who do not surrender will be fired upon once this message ceases”
I get a brilliant idea and look at Ivan “Is this two-way” he nods and I grin wide as I activate the speak button on the radio fob “This is Major General Rex of the 104th Army of the Elysium Republic. This is my city now and I don’t remember inviting any NATO members to visit it let alone poorly armed ones”
The repeating message stops and the voice says something else now “Cease all hostilities now and surrender and you’ll be treated in accordance with the treaties your people are a signatory thereof” I snort “Get this loyer off of this military frequency and get me a damn general so I can hear his surrender”
While I wait I try to think of any international law the republic signed and by the time an older man gets on the radio yelling I can’t think of one. “This will be your last chance to surrender if you don’t we’ll be forced to burn the city down with you inside it”
I lean forward and speak with dripping malice “Not if I burn it down first welcome to hell” I drop the fob and turn on my radio to the artillery units while I glance at the drone again. Same grids even more targets. Perfect. “All batteries load grids and go rapid fire I want to see the fire from here mix in some thermobaric”
Thunderous booms sound out of the courtyard and shells cut through the black clouds and drop on target. I watch through the drone as the shells explode throwing napalm everywhere coating buildings and vehicles alike. Several have people climbing out as the vehicle then explodes from the fuel or ammo or even both ignited.
I let it go on for ten minutes before I call a cease-fire and tell everyone to get in defense positions and ready for counter-battery fire.
Everyone gets into cover and I’m surprised that only a few shells hit in our area. They didn’t do anything other than make a crater. “Quick response scout the rubble drones are overhead don’t let anything jump you” I just get a double click in affirmative.
Ivan comes up to me as liaison but technically still a prisoner “Ahem general I have a question if you could enlighten me” I nod “I have a feeling it’s more than one but go ahead clear communication wins wars”
He nods a few times then continues “How will we be resupplied with no air support and how long do we need to hold… will our city survive”
I put away my tablet “We have other means to resupply, as for how long that depends and the city will survive in its people. We can rebuild cities we can’t rebuild people” This seems to put him at some ease “Then what is your grand plan” I smirk instead my helmet “For now? Let them break their teeth on us and let them show their cards while hiding mine. I’m willing to bet they aren’t well equipped for this amazing weather”
The clicking of his gas mask emphasizes my point. “I give it a week before they use something untested,” I say with certainty.
A week passed and there have been skirmishes but nothing too crazy. The quick response team has been all over the place at one point having to break off calling in artillery fire on themselves so they could swing around to the rear so nothing would get pulled out of place. Casualties have been light only a few deaths.
All in all it’s been going swimmingly. That is until the eleventh day. A patrol composed of two Elysium soldiers and six Russian Federation soldiers was ambushed leaving one survivor. It was a Russian who we had to sedate once we recovered the squad because he kept babbling.
That brings me to now. I’m standing in a tent we put up for some privacy and protection from the elements. Inside there are tables one for each deceased squad member. I’m looking over them with several medics as well as a few Russian veterinarians.
The wounds are obviously from huge claws but from what animal we can’t decern even the locals who have lots of experience with bears and other large predators are stumped. There was also no body of an animal so it’s nothing local because the combined fire would have killed several polar bears easily.
There is a team working on pulling the camera records from the two helmets but one looks to be a loss from a huge dent in the helmet cracking the storage chip.
One of the Russians is ripped in half. Combined with the damage to the helmet whatever did this is resilient beyond reason.
We pour over each injury several times using different theories and we look at each claw mark and scratch on equipment and armor dozens of times each time coming to one disturbing conclusion.
Whatever did this had to be grown in a lab. If anything this dangerous actually lived here it would have been hunted to extinction long before I arrived.
I walk out of the tent after half a day and head for the mess. On the way I radio Griffin “Have you seen anything strange out there” his response has static mixed in “Beyond the weather nothing yet though zombie Bate found something we’re all regrouping on them”
I frown and stop walking “Did they give you a description” his response takes a second “civilian torn apart by some kind of animal” I send him the photos of the soldiers “We suspect a lab-grown creature is on the loose. Keep your eyes peeled and if you can I want it alive”
He’s silent for a moment “head zombie says they look similar so I’m betting it’s the same creature. We’ll regroup and hunt it down” I breathe a sigh of relief “Good hunting” I have full faith in them plus they have a tank with them I doubt whatever it is can survive a tank shell to the face. Anyway, time to eat.
