JasonPaul
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Joined: 22 Apr 2009
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:26 pm Post subject: 039 - Advancing the Pawns |
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[p:2acufiab]"Everyone, move!" Aerjin shouted as the red beams of destruction carved their way through the outskirts of New Belexes. It did not take long for panic to set in, as the destruction caused was considerable. Thankfully, the citizens of New Belexes were huddled in a shelter underneath the palace in the center of the city. The cannons outside, however, were wide open and vulnerable. Already one of the cannons had been decimated by the Q'orren beams, and it would only be a matter of time before the rest followed suit. Aerjin gazed at the mothership, specifically at the three guns firing the beams, and issued orders to his men. "Aim for those guns before they destroy us all!"[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Anwyn had arrived on the scene, asking Aerjin for the damage done. Aerjin explained the loss of one of the cannons, and although none of the airships had gone down yet, some had taken heavy damage, and it would only be a matter of time. He would have explained further, but another beam of death was heading straight for them![/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Move, Ganymede!" Aerjin shouted, but Anwyn had other ideas.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"I'm gonna get a closer look at that thing!" he replied as he charged directly into the path of the beam.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Fool!" Aerjin shouted, but it was too late. He had to move out of the way himself, or be caught by the destructive beam. He watched as Anwyn defiantly charged for the point of impact, his axe drawn defiantly.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"You want to play chicken, huh?" Anwyn asked as he continued to charge. As he did so, he cast a spell on himself to speed up his movements. This was stupid even for him, but he had to know what that beam was made of. If his hunch was correct, the Mystics could defend themselves against it. The beam was only one hundred yards away. "I have to get closer," Anwyn thought to himself. This was dangerous, but he couldn't scan the beam from here.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Ninety yards now. Anwyn's axe Bane began to resonate, but could tell him nothing.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Eighty yards. Still nothing.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]At seventy yards, the axe resonated even more strongly. When he saw the jewel on the hilt glow a dark purple, he knew everything. "That's it!" Anwyn said as he quickly rushed to the side, strafing away from the beam. It was close. Almost too close, but Anwyn was able to evade the attack without harm. When he knew he was safe, he took out his cellphone and called Aerjin.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"By the bloated, festering teat of Maram himself!" Aerjin cursed as he picked up the phone. "Do you have a death wish or something?"[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Anwyn ignored the general. "They're arcane," he explained. "We can use Stosstrupen to protect critical targets."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Consider it done," Aerjin said as he hung up his phone. He then gave an order to several Mystics dressed in blue and white, who all teleported to various locations, specifically the artillery canons, the supply depots, and the palace itself.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]A few minutes later, Anwyn himself returned to Aerjin, out of breath. "I hope I never have to do that again," Anwyn said hurriedly.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Aerjin did not respond. He only noted another red beam heading straight for one of the artillery cannons. "Now we will see if our defense works."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"It had better," Anwyn replied, "or this is going to be a very short battle."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]*****[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]The gunner, a young Mystic who had not even lived to see his thirties yet, braced himself. He had one of the guns firing the red beams in his sights--the one that had just fired a shot aimed directly at him. He turned to the team of three Stosstrupen, two women and one man, who prepared their protective magic, and nodded quietly before turning back to the gun above him. He wouldn't be able to get a clear shot until the beam had passed by. He only hoped that he wouldn't be vaporized when it did. As the beam rapidly approached his hands gripped the handles of the cannon and he clenched his teeth, waiting for the end. It didn't happen. The beam managed to tear right through the area right in front of and behind him, but the Stosstrupen were successful. The cannon, and all those nearby it, were untouched. Without any further hesitation, he fired at the enemy. Seconds later, a large explosion erupted on the underside of the Mother Ship. A direct hit.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Bullseye!" he shouted, proud of himself.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]*****[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Damage report!" Shaidorol ordered.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Plasma beam #4 is non-functional!" the engineer replied. "We won't be able to repair it until this battle ends."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Shaidorol nodded. "No matter. We have more where that came from."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Report," one of the officers shouted. "The Mystics are using counterspells to protect themselves from the plasma beams!"[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Is that so?" Shaidorol asked, raising an eyebrow. "It matters not. Valiant as they may be, they are still Mystics, and they cannot defend their homes forever. Continue the attack."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Yes sir," the officer replied.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]Shaidorol leaned back in his chair and collected his thoughts. The airships were sturdier than they appeared to be, and while Shaidorol had no doubt he could destroy them, he didn't want to waste too many of his fighters in the process. Likewise, the cannons on the ground were doing an excellent job of halting the Q'orren's advances, and the Mystics proved ingenious in using counter magic to stop their attacks. New Belexes would fall. Shaidorol had no doubts in his mind about that. But at what cost?[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Perhaps this battle can be won on the ground," Shaidorol muttered to himself. As he said those words, Urdr's face twisted into a wicked grin.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Does that mean it's my turn, husband?" she asked eagerly.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Patience, Urdr," Shaidorol replied. "I want to see what their ground forces are capable of. But don't worry, you'll get your chance."[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"As you say, husband," Urdr replied. Although she didn't show it, she was impatient, and Shaidorol could tell. Too bad for her, he thought. The Mystics had been full of surprises and even though Urdr had a reputation as a Q'orren hero, he wasn't going to risk throwing her into the fray until he knew what the Mystics had in terms of ground forces.[/p:2acufiab]
[p:2acufiab]"Have the fifth and seventh infantry prepare themselves," Shaidorol ordered. "I want them on drop-ships within the next millicycle."[/p:2acufiab] |
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