Erased Lines
"Damn it!" Shouted Sergeant Wilder as he slammed his armored fist onto tree stump that was being used as an improvised table. He looked up at the runner who delivered the new orders and updated map.
"Tell the Captain we will get it done."
"Yes sir."
"We have just received word that the Orcs have mounted a counter-offensive. We... have lost the choke hold in the mountains. We can not let them near Darrowshire. Our orders are to take a burnt farm to allow a spearhead to stop the tide."
Wilder looked out at the twenty men he was given for the task, a nasty feeling settled in his gut, most of them won't make it out of this.
"Forest, take a team as recon, I want the forest swept up to a day ahead of us and intel on the farm."
"Yes Sergeant!" Forest replied eagerly.
"The rest of you, prepare to move out."
The scouts made good time in the forest. They were a good day ahead of the main strike-force, and still two days from the farm.
"Hey Forest, if we find any Orcs what do we do?" one of the newer scouts, Private Jones, asked.
Forest, nicknamed because of his ability to move through wooded areas with ease, replied with, "we engage if logical and then report back to the main group."
"Think we will see any?"
"I hope not."
"And if-"
"Jones, shut up."
"Well would you look at that," Forest mumbled through the glove he was holding in his mouth. Adjusting his spy glass he focused on an Orc who was seemingly in charge.
"I count 15 of them at least, and 3 Headhunters, maybe Witch Doctors," Jones whispered back.
"And the leader looks like a Warlock. We are moving back, relay that to the others, we meet at the clearing two kilometers back."
"Sir."
"We are making good time without trouble," Wilder thought as he walked ahead of his unit. "Hopefully this spearhead stops the advance."
"Sir," he was interrupted from his thoughts. As he looked up he saw Forest.
"Tell me something good," he asked of his head scout.
As Forest recounted his report, Wilder made the estimations in his head. It would be tight, but they could do it.
"We attack at dawn."
Wilder's squad and three others met up at at the farm just as the sun was rising.
"Light damn them!" Sergeant Wilder shouted as he realized their current situation in full light. The Orcs had far more combat units than the scouts had reported and immediately gained the upper hand. Wilder the others were now fighting for their lives on the outskirts of the farm.
Wilder ducked a axe swung at his head and brought his sword up to skewer the wielder. Spinning to bring his shield up in time he blocked another blow, grimacing as the shock jolted his shoulder. After dispatching his attacker he looked around. The task force was decimated, Humans, Dwarves, and Elves running for their lives.
Wilder looked up as a screaming meteor flew over head crashing into the ground behind him. Waves of dirt flew up from the impact washing over Wilder, followed closely by a wall of fire. Knocked onto his back, Wilder could only stare at the sky in shock as more meteors rained down. The last image he saw was another explosion.