Assassin and Love II Chapter 2: Awaken, Sex, Mission, and Power
Yitzhak's POV
MorgothII: Sorry for the long, long, long, long, long wait, but while I have the basis of the plot planned out, writing out the individual lines are more challenging, so for now, I am moving updates for this to low priority which means that unless I finish early or have inspiration, once every month or two. I am not abandoning it, just putting off till I am ready.
I awake in the shuttle's med bay. As I collect my surroundings, I hear a voice laced with barely hidden sarcasm. "Took you long enough," Bo-Katan says. "Sorry," I say, slightly sheepishly. Her face is an unreadable mask. Of course, I sucked at reading people's face for how they are feeling in subtle ways. "Glad to see you too. How long have I been out?" I ask. "Two days." I shake my head as if getting rid of a migraine. "Two whole days?! Well, we're are we?" I ask, slightly panicked. "On Coruscant," Bo replies calmly. I sit up. Well, isn't this a day for surprises? "Okay, could you please fill me in on details?" I ask, a bit wearily. Bo nods and starts to explain what happened. "Well, when one of your gunners reported that you were hit, we got you to a med bay. Obi-Wan suggested Coruscant and so we went there. When we landed Obi-Wan arranged for a senate meeting for the situation of the Separatist occupation of Mandalore. The senate has decided that it will help if in exchange we assist their clone army in fighting. In fact, now that you're up, you might want to get ready. You have been assigned for a special covert mission. I don't know what it is only that you have to be ready by tonight. Also, it has been decided that we'll be 'attached' to Obi-Wan's group something called the 212th attack battalion," She informs me. "What type of mission?" I ask. "High risk near suicide mission, I'm told." Wow, I really do have shitty luck now. Does this 'Force' thing have it out for me now? "Well, since I'm going to be going back into a probable kill zone, I want to say something," I say before hesitating for a brief second. Bo's face shows that she is waiting.
I take a deep breath. "I love you." I turn my reddening face so she can't see it. "Took you long enough." I look up. Bo is smiling. I love you too." With that she kisses me then leads me to my room. (Warning! Time skip!)
Next Morning….
I am dressed in my armor heading to a shuttle that is to take me to a republic warship that is to take us to the area of our next mission. When I am aboard the shuttle, we immediately take off and in a short while land in the hanger of the warship. I make sure that I have grabbed all of my equipment and secured my replacement helmet. I had made my own modifications to it, from increasing the specs to the custom paint job. A blue snarling dragon is painted facing forward, giving the impression that a real dragon is looking where I'm looking. Once that is done, I head to the ramp and when it is lowered, I walk out. In the hanger there is much movement as mechanics prep fighters, gunships, bombers, and vehicles for combat. I briefly wonder what all this activity is for but shake it off when an officer tells me that I am to head to the bridge for a briefing for the mission.
When I enter the bridge, I look around. I see clone officers getting the ship ready to jump into hyperspace. Clustered around the main holotable are eight heavily armed and armored troops. The stand in two groups. The first has a mixture of individual colors, varying from traffic cone orange to green to yellow to blood-red crimson. The other four are clad in similar armor with one exception, the color for all four being matte black. These must be the clone commandos I had trained with. I remove my helmet as I silently enter. The commandos do not notice me at first, then one of the matte black commandos, with his helmet removed turns and notices me.
His eyes widen in shock, as do the others when they notice me. After watching them do nothing but stare at me like I'm some ghost, I start to silently chuckle. "What? You guys seem pale. Seen a ghost recently?" I said candidly. The one who notices me first finally regains his voice. "Only if who I think I see is dead. Yitzhak, is that you?" I grin widely. "Live and in living color! Good to see you Darman," I say as I walk over to my very old comrades. I recognize Darman's squad mates as Atin, Fi, and Niner. My face falls at the realization of this. "Jay and the others didn't make it?" I ask sadly. Niner can only nod. Damn. What a waste of good soldiers. And for that matter, great men too. "We're Omega squad now," Fi tells me. I nod and then quickly recognize the other four to be Boss, Scorch, Fixer, and Sev of Delta Squad. "So where the hell have you been Yitzhak? Kal was worried sick when we couldn't find you," Atin asks. I shrug. "I called in a favor and got a lift to somewhere that owed the owner of my ride. The story is quite interesting. I have to tell you when we finish the mission. So what's the mission?" I ask.
Boss nods and takes over. "We're the leading group elements for the invasion of the Planet Europa. The leaders have aligned themselves with the Seppies and the people have asked for help. However, before we can begin the assault, there is a target that must be removed in order for it to begin." With that, Boss activates the holotable. A blue image shows up. It it quite impressive, a massive structure with many gun emplacements. Some of them are in casemates pointing directly out while others, of smaller calibers, are pointing out to the side, covering the massive battlements to fire on enemy troops if the walls are taken. In addition, there are a mixture of heavy and light cannons and guns arrayed in anti-aircraft positions. I give a low whistle, impressed by this mammoth construction. "This is our target, Fort Siegfried. The planned zone to setup operations and landings would be under fire from those guns if we don't take it out. Several groups, the Gallic and the Visigoth people, have already joined us and are to assist us in taking down this obstacle. We have found a weakness in this fort, though. There is a single reactor that if destroyed, will stop all systems in the fort, as well as probably take out a decent chunk of it as well. The problem of that is that the reactor is below ground just far enough to prevent us from taking it out with the ship," Boss says.
Niner now steps in. "The plan is that the troops that we have brought, along with the armies of the Gallic and Visigoth people, are to create a diversion along the north and west side of the fort, while a small group will infiltrate the fort from the south sector. Once inside, the group will move on to the reactor, plant delayed charges to blow it up, then get the hell out of there. That group will be Delta and Omega squads, as well as you, Yitzhak. Any questions?" Niner asks. I speak up, wanting to confirm my suspicions. "Who are the people in charge on Europa?" Scorch answers this question. "A family known as the Bourbons," He says. I have my suspicions confirmed. So my family is there. Now this is beyond business. It is now personal, as in revenge. "If there are no more questions, this meeting in over. Gather you equipment, check your weapons and ammo, and get ready to deploy. We land in 30 minutes. Dismissed," The sergeant says. With that, all the men head off, some to try to get some sleep, some to decide what munitions they would be taking, and the rest checking and double checking their gear.
I walk back to the hammer and decide what to take. Since there will be organics along with droids, I should take a mixture of laser magazines along with my recently made 30 round bullet magazines. I also take some of my shotgun rounds, mostly slugs though I would be also bringing some buckshot as well as a handful of my new experimental round that contains a slug in front of two buckshot rounds. For explosives, I would be bringing ten anti-infantry and fifteen rifled grenades. For close quarters I will have my bayonet and my pistol sidearm. I would bring a single rocket for my jetpack to deal with any anti-armor threats. Finally, I attach a chip to my right gauntlet to be used as a last resort weapon. If I have to use it, then this will be its first usage. Of course, it might explode or not even work. Once that is done, I see that I still have fifteen minutes left. I carefully begin to take my gun apart and clean it, lost in thought. "The Bourbons. My treacherous family of snakes. I wonder how they're doing? Can they feel the noose now begin to slowly tighten around their necks? The king and queen of Europa, my parents, left me to be made into a lab experiment. I wonder how Eric, duke of the Ostrogoths, and my other 'brothers' are doing? The dukes of the Gallic and Visigoths seem to have lost control, though they're undoubtedly still alive. They're like roaches. Can't kill them, can't join them, and always popping up.
Suddenly, the ship's PA system blares to life. "We are coming out of hyperspace. All landing force members report to your gunships. Deployment will begin in fifteen minutes." With that, there is large bustling as troopers rush to the gunships, pilots climb into the cockpits of their gunships, ARC-170s, and V-wing fighters, and ground crews prepare AT-TE's and AT-APs for landing. Darman walks up. "Yitzhak, we're going to be deployed in a few minutes." I nod and follow him to a gunship where the other commandos are standing nearby. Boss nods. "Alright, now that we're all here, we're going to be deployed first so as to determine if the landing zone is ready, as well as speak with the leaders of the Gallic and Visigoth armies. Now, let's get going," He finishes. With that, the right door on the gunship slides open. Inside I see that most of the space inside is filled with communication gear. Then we all board the gunship. Once we are all inside, the door closes and seals itself for the brief time we'll be in the upper layers of Europa's atmosphere. While on the way down, we are all quiet in nervous anticipation of this dangerous mission. After a bit, the pilot breaks the silence.
"Approaching LZ. ETA to landing sixty seconds." With that, we gather our gear and wait for the light to change from red to green to indicate when to get off. When that happens, we get off rather quickly. I do a quick 360 to see our surroundings. We are in a camp where many troops idle about. Their uniforms are way different from others I have seen. Most of them have mostly blue and red uniforms and are on foot while some are on what I believe are called horses. Then an officer walks up. He must be very important by the style of his hat, which is a hat that has a hill-like style to it. "Ah, you must be ze leading elements we were told to expect. I am General Charles of ze Gallic army. I was told to expect only eight soldiers. Who is this one?" He asks, pointing at me.
"I am Yitzhak," I inform him. At that he gives me and odd look and all the soldiers within hearing range stop and give me the same look. "Yitzhak? As in Yitzhak Bourbon?" Charles asks me. I grit my teeth briefly in disgust at hearing me being associated with my family. "Yes," I reply frankly. At that Charles falls to one knee and bows to me, as well as all those in hearing range. All the other soldiers quickly follow their comrades example. I look around in confusion. "What's going on?" I ask the general. "Sire, we have long awaited your arrival to free us from all ze other Bourbons. ALL HAIL EMPEROR YITZHAK!" Charles shouts. A chant then begins. "Hail emperor Yitzhak! Hail Emperor Yitzhak! ALL HAIL THE EMPEROR! DOWN WITH THE BOURBONS! LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!" All the soldiers chant. I look around in wonder. "Rise soldiers. I am honored to be your emperor and will end the rule of the Bourbon dynasty and unite all of Europa into the Europa Empire. This I swear to the stars!" At my words all the soldiers that now pledge their undying loyalty to me now shout in joy.
Then Boss walks up. "This changes things, doesn't it?" I reluctantly nod. "Indeed. I cannot go with you and leave my men to be slaughtered. I will lead them. We will create a distraction for as long as we can while you take out the generator. Once that's done, my men will take the fort. Now, tell the warship the situation and to deploy the rest of the men." Delta and Omega all acknowledge this and get started getting the communication gear ready to begin communications with the assault ship orbiting the planet. Once the orders have been sent, we wait for the gunships to arrive to deploy the reinforcements. Then I hear the men singing.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men. It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart matches the beating of the drum…."
I can't help grinning. If the men are singing then they are of high moral. The Bourbons must have really screwed up if this is happening. My musings are stopped when Republic gunships start landing and deploying their cargo of clone troopers, AT-TEs, AT-APs, AT-RT's, and mobile artillery pieces. I brief my new army of Free Europa about what the plan is while the Republic forces get into their positions. "Today, we will begin the opening strikes for freedom. The Republic will be assisting us in this cause. Today we will be storming Fort Siegfried. Our job is to keep them preoccupied while a force of commandos infiltrate the fort and destroy it's reactor. Once the power is gone, we shall storm the fort. The main goal of this is twofold. The first is to enable the Republic to send even more troops. The second is to take the fort's armory and to gather more of Europa under our banner. Is that understood?" General Charles steps forward. "Sire, we all are with you, to ze very bitter end." I smile at his words. "Well then, men, get into your units. Get the cannons into position and prepare to move out!"
At this everyone follows my orders leaving me with only General Charles and a unit of Gallic troops. I notice this. "What are you doing here still?" I ask. General Charles speaks up. "Sire, this is ze Imperial Guard, your own bodyguard. You were suppose to be Baron of Gallica before you were sent away and so this unit was created to protect you and they have been training non-stop for your return. These are ze best soldiers in all Gallica and will fight to ze last man to protect you, Sire," He informs me. I nod. "Very well. When we storm the walls, you shall be right behind me." At that, all of the Guard salute me. A soldier then brings me a horse. "Your stead Sire," He says, holding the reins as I mount the powerful white horse. When I am seated the aid hands me the reins. I grip them. "Very well. Prepare to march!"
Half an Hour Later….
We have taken position for the diversion assault. General Charles, the Guard, and I have a perfect view of the battlefield. Earlier, in the opening stages of the siege of the fort, the Gallic and Visigothic soldiers had dug trenches to provide cover from the fort's cannons. Our own cannons have been covered with camouflaged nets to prevent them from being targeted by the fort as well as AT-RTs in dugouts. Spread amongst my men are the clone troopers to provide equal cover for all soldiers. Behind the hill are all the AT-TEs and the smaller AT-APs as well as my cavalry forces. Currently being positioned are the Republics AV-7 cannons. The liaison for all the Republic forces is a clone trooper on the hill with me. Suddenly a mounted soldier comes to me. I see that he is not one of my men because his uniform is bright red.
"Hail Emperor Yitzhak. I carry a message for you from Sir Welsey. He wishes to meet you under a flag of peace," The messenger says, pointing at a large dust cloud coming towards us. I nod. "Very well. Inform him that I will ride out to meet him with a guard." The man nods and rushes back towards the dust cloud. I turn to General Charles. "General, do you know who he speaks of?" I ask him. He nods. "Oui Emperor. He is a general of ze army of ze Iceni, a strong isle of good soldiers and one of ze best navies of Europa, only rivaled by our own. If he wishes to speak, then we might wish to listen, Sire," He informs me.
I nod and wheel my stead towards the dust cloud, my mounted Guard following me. Five minutes later we arrive to be greeted by the sight of a large army. A small man rides out to greet us accompanied by a few of his own bodyguard. In addition to being of short stature, he is rather pudgy with graying black hair and a mustache. "Greetings Emperor. I am Sir Welsey of this army of the Iceni," He says. I nod. "What do you want?" I ask, wanting to get to the point. We need to start the assault soon. "Very well sir. I wish to inform you that the Iceni Parliament desire to throw in their people in with your lot. We have come to swear our allegiance and fealty to you, Sire," He says respectfully. I nod. "Very well. I will accept it if you prove that your words are truth if you help us take over Fort Siegfried. Is that understood?" I ask. He nods. "Quiet clearly Sire. In that case, my men will make all do haste to join you. I will send all my cavalry with you with the exception of my bodyguard will my elite Foot infantry will march double time to your position, though we might be there a bit late if you plan to attack soon," He informs me. "Very well. I shall see you on the battle field," I say as I wheel my stead around and gallop back to the hill outpost. Behind me is my bodyguard along with nearly several thousand Iceni horsemen.
Once I get back to my HQ, I see that the cannons are finally in place. I see that it is also nearly time to start the attack. I turn to the clone trooper liaison. "Tell your cannons to target the nearest cannon towers and take them out." The trooper stands at attention and nods. "And for heaven's sake, you don't need to stand all rigid for me. We're both soldiers, are we not?" The clone trooper hesitates, unsure of this and how to respond. "Yes sir," He finally says as he activates his commlink. "All cannon, aim at the towers and take them out." A minute later the huge Republic cannons fire large blue bolts, opening the first shots of the battle of Fort Siegfried. Some of the rounds either fall short or overshoot the towers. Most, however hit the targeted towers and destroy most of their cannon, as well as a few of the towers even having their roofs collapse. After several more volleys most of the cannons that would threaten us are destroyed. I turn to the clone trooper. "Tell the cannons to cease fire for now." He nods and the cannons fall silent. I turn to General Charles. "Well, I should think that we have their attention now. Signal the charge!" I say. One of the aides nods and blows a high note on a bugle. I then lightly tap the flanks of my horse to urge him forward in a galloping charge. With a yell, my Guard units with their large black bearskin hats and blue and white uniforms charge behind me.
When we have passed the last of the trenches, the rest of my army's infantry give war cries and runs out as well, including the clone troopers, to the wall. The few cannons facing us try to aim and fire. Sadly, about a hundred of my men and the clone troopers are killed by the blasts of the cannon. However, we still carry on to the wall. "Grappling hooks! Use the grappling hooks! Take those walls!" I order, referring to the metal hook attached to a very long string that my men plan on using to climb up the walls. I attach the accession cable that is standard for all DC-15 rifles to my modified one and aim at the high ramparts. Once it is lined up, I fire and my own line is attached. Other clone troopers do the same thing while my men toss more and more grappling hooks up. Some fall short, but most make it and hook on. I then start ascending the wall, closely followed by my elite Guard and the clone troopers. When I get to the top I see the surprised face of an enemy Euorpian wearing a gray uniform. Before he could shoot me with his musket I fire a blaster bolt into his chest and kill him. I jump over the rampart, shoulder my rifle as other soldiers climb up and begin close quarter fighting and draw the saber my men had just given me. I start swinging it and enemy soldiers start falling dead to my blade, which is soon covered in blood and gore. We start pushing them back and off the wall into the keep when one of my guards shouts. "Your Excellency, look out!"
I turn around in time to see him fall dead to the ground by a man in armor similar to mine, except it is black and red. He isn't wearing a helmet, allowing me to see his brown hair and brownish-green eyes glare at me with pure hatred. The man is wielding a crescent sword. "Ah, the ex-duke of Gallica. Or should I say, Francis? At last, we see each other plain. Duke of Gallica, you'll leave this galaxy toady," I say, pulling off my helmet and clipping it to my belt while smirking at him. He only glares at me more. "Before you say another word, Yitzhak. Before I kill you, listen to me. You should surrender." I harshly laugh at it. "You must think me mad! I've planned this out across the years. Men like you can never change. A man, such as you." With that, Francis lunges at me with his sword. I block it. "Believe of me what you will! There is a duty I am sworn to do! You know nothing of my life! All I want is to help my people!" I shout, blocking his strikes. "My duty is to my family! You have no rights!" He retorts making another lunge. "You know nothing of the world! You would rather see me dead! But not before I see this justice done!" I reply, deflecting the strike. Francis snorts. "Prepare to die Project 24601. The wheel has turned around and you will be nothing now!" I growl in pure anger at that reference and lunge at him fiercely and begin pushing him towards the edge of the wall with my strikes. "I am warning you Francis! I'm the stronger man by far! There is power in me yet! My race has not yet run!" "Dare you talk to me of crime, and the price you have paid? Every man is born as they are! Everyman must choose his way Yitzhak!" I cross swords with him, who is now dangerously close the edge. "You know nothing of Yitzhak! I was born by a scum! I was born to scum like you! I am royalty too!" I virtually scream, lifting his sword with mine then pushing it down and holding my foot on it so he can't grab it, disarming him. I take a deep breath then thrust my sword, stabbing him in the chest all the way up to the hilt of the blade so that it sticks out of his back. His face contorts in a mixture of pain and shock. I let go of my sword as Francis stumbles backward and falls sixty feet to the ground. I turn around without even looking at him. "Good-bye to garbage. Waste of a perfectly good sword, though."
I grab my rifle, put back on my helmet, and attach my bayonet to my rifle and charge towards the last enemy soldiers who are blocking the stairs that exit wall and lead to the keep. Most of the enemy soldiers so far seem to be mainly militia of fusiliers, not really elite infantry. I fix a rifled grenade to my gun, aim at the center area of the soldiers, and fire. There is an explosion as enemy soldiers are thrown off the wall or killed instantly by the blast. I run to the stairs. "Guard, assemble on me.18th Regiment, you will take a company of clone troopers and open the gates for the rest of our men can get in. Everyone else, follow me!" With that, I run down the stairs, my men following me.
When I enter the keep, I see that the enemy soldiers are trying to rally at the center. Their morale has been weakened by the death of their commander, though. I see that there are some elite units. A regiment of men wearing green coats and a bronze colored helmet that makes them look rather silly. They are very dangerous though. I had been briefed by General Charles of the elite units of the armies that are either forced or are willingly serving the House of the Bourbons. These must be the Pavlovsk Grenadiers of the Czarians, ardent supports of the old regime. These men must be handled with all due caution. "Guards, form ranks of three! Hurry! All clone troopers and other soldiers get back up wall and fire at those men ASAP!" I order. My Guard unit quickly forms ranks in front of me. "First rank prepare to fire!" I shout as the Czarian grenadiers also form up. "Ready! Aim! First rank fire!" With a loud that crack that almost imitates thunder, a hundred muskets fire almost at once. Eighty enemy grenadiers fall dead as the first rank drops down to reload and the second rank fire, raking the enemy with more lead balls, causing more of the Czarians to fall dead. However, my men are not unscratched. The enemy finally fires a volley, wounding ten and killing forty. Then my third rank fires just as the gates open. "FOR ZE EMPEROR! CHARGE!" General Charles shouts as the three thousand cavalry men charge through screaming war cries as they smash into the enemies center. As the rest of the Iceni foot infantry marches through, there is a rumble as Delta and Omega blow up the fort's generator. The twenty remaining grenadiers surrender, along with about two hundred of the garrison who are alive out of five thousand men, which most are wounded. I turn to the clone trooper who was the liaison. He had been given a horse and had ridden with General Charles. "Contact the ship. Tell them the fort has fallen and they have clearance to land men now," I tell him.
He nods and quickly relays the information. The the first of the invasion force warships should be here within an hour or two. General Charles dismounts and salutes me. "Yes, General?" I ask him. "Sire, what should we do with ze prisoners?" He asks me. "Is there a brig here?" He nods. "Good, then throw the uninjured in the brig and treat the wounded before putting them in there as well," I instruct him. He bows and leaves to relay my orders to my men. I have my men then count our dead and separate them from the enemy dead except for one and put them outside for later. I then walk over to the body of my fallen brother. I first yank out my blood covered sword and wipe it clean on his clothes. "Oh, don't worry, 'brother'. I have something special for you," I say, spitting on his body. I unhook one of my thermal detonators and put it on him and walk away. When it explodes, all that is left is a bloody mess that I will have some of the prisoners clean up.
I have the fresh Iceni infantry get on the walls and man the few remaining cannons while my own army's artillery is moved to near the walls, as well as the AT-TEs and the AV-7 cannons. I then order for the interrogation of the prisoners as well as issuing a condition yellow alarm. I wait for Delta and Omega to get over here. When they get here I take my helmet off and grin. "Good job with the generator. Want a drink?" I offer. They accept and we go to the mess hall. The only thing they have is some water, so I give them all a glass. "So Yitzhak, where have you been? What happened?" Niner asks me. I briefly let myself wander in memories of a white room with a raging rain storm outside….
Twenty Years Ago….
Yitzhak stands nervous in a sterile room on Kamino. A long necked Kaminoan looks at me along with the closest thing I have to true brothers, the six Nulls. In addition, there are two other men. One of them I recognize as Jango Fett. The other one is new. I stand in the back, tense. The other one in armor gets on of the nulls to return the blaster he had grabbed. I'm not listening as I am checking for any threats since we're supposed to be terminated. Suddenly, we are starting to follow the man. I believe Jango called him Kal. The seven of us follow him to what must be his room. Once we are inside, Kal gives us some tasty cake things. Once I finish, he asks me to come over to him. He takes me to another room. "Okay, I just have some questions for you. You do not look like the Ordo and the others. Who are you?" He asks gently. I stand at attention and reply quietly. "Sir, my name is Yitzhak Bourbon." Kal blinks. "You're not a clone? Then what are you doing here?" I again reply in my quiet tone. "Sir, I was born by Drake and Isabel Bourbon and I am, or was the youngest. One year after being born, they came to Kamino to see if there was some way to 'put me to good use'. They sold me and I was an experiment to see if they could advance the age of a biologically born specimen and try to train him to be the ultimate soldier. Apparently they weren't satisfied and tried to train me with my true brothers, Ordo and the five other's you saved. The rest you can guess," I finish telling the tale. Kal goes from pale in shock to red in pure anger. He mutters some sort of cursing in a different language. All I hear is sick twisted excuses for parents.
Then Kal calms down. "I'm sorry you have had to go through this. I do promise this though. You seven will be safe with me now. I promise, son," He says as we had back to the room with the others….
Present
I blink out of the memory as I realize that the commandos are waiting for me to answer. "Sorry, lost track there," I say as I pull out something. It is a long, wrapped paper, the inside being of calming herbs. I know that smoking is bad, but so is combat and I only smoke it after a long stressful day because the herbs calm me down but let me think clearly. I put it in my mouth and light the other end. I take several deep drags off it then take it out of my mouth to exhale a small cloud of smoke. "Well, Jango thought he should help me get out of that hellhole and he gave me a ride in Slave I. A village owed him for something and so they agreed to let me live there to repay him. I occasionally left to do some work as an assassin for several people but only on people who have done major bad things. Not much there," I tell them, taking some more drags. Darman looks at me. "Kal was worried sick about you until Jango told him you were okay, but that was all. He's still trying to find you," Darman informs me. I sadly nod. "Yeah. When this shit is all over, I plan on finding him myself. So, are you going to be staying here to help out here?" I ask.
Boss cuts in. "Delta isn't, but Omega will be," He tells me. I nod. "So who blew up the reactor?" Scorch pipes up. "I did. Was it a nice bang?" I sadly shake my head. "Nope, great earthquake you made though. Almost thought the ground was going to collapse. Good work, Delta. I look forward to working with you again," I say, taking yet another drag. General Charles then steps in with a troubled look. "Sire, there is a problem. One of ze prisoners has said that ze dead Bourbon had sent for a second army a week ago." I look at him. "And you're telling me this because?" I prompt him. Charles takes a deep breath. "Your Excellency, ze army is only a few miles away from ze fort." I stand up so fast I knock the chair backwards. "WHAT? Sound the alarm! We're at Condition Black! Have all men at the walls, get the outside cannons ready, pull the AT-TEs and AT-APs inside, and wheel those four wheel cannons onto the walls. Have the Guard assembled and the clone troopers at the gate! Go! Go! Go!" I flick my burning cigarette away into my cup of water and turn to the commandos. "I would like it if you wait by the Guard. I think I have a job for you," I tell them. When they nod, I walk in a fast pace to the brig. The Guardsmen I had left there to be the guard for the PoWs salute me. I nod and turn to the cells. "You have two options. The first is to fight for me and be pardoned if you do so, or face a court-martial for treason, and possibly be executed early. Wounded are temporarily exempted from this. Any takers?" I ask. Thirty of the fifty combat-capable garrison as well as twelve of the eighteen uninjured Pavlovsk Grenadiers assent to my offer. I nod to the guards to release those who have accepted. When they are out, I turn to them. "You are now of the lowest rank for your past action. You are to guard the armory except for the Grenadiers. You will be guarding the gatehouse. Get weapons and move out. Understood?" I say. The forty-two men salute me and rush to obey.
I walk out of the brig and to the center of the fort to find my elite Guard and Omega and Delta all ready for me. I quickly inform my Guard what is going on. Once I finish, I turn to the two commando squads. "Okay, I want you to take up sniper and anti-armor positions and harass that army for as much as possible to buy us some more time. Can you do that, men?" The eight men nod at me. I have known them for a long time and we trust each other. "As much time as we can buy Yitzhak," Atin answers for all of them. I nod as they run out of the fort to begin their job. I turn to my clone trooper liaison. "What is your name?" I ask him. His body language shows he is startled by this question. "Jay, sir," He tells me. I nod in thought. "Jay. Nice name. Okay Jay, I want you to stick to me for this battle. Do you understand?" Jay nods. "Sir yes sir!" I grin underneath my helmet. "Good. Keep that comm. channel open. I want you to send an urgent message to the fleet. Tell them that position might be lost if unaided. Arrive ASAP. Once you send it, let me know when they respond," I order him. He nods and quickly does it.
A man wearing a blue and yellow uniform that identifies him as a member of the Polish Legion. "Your Excellency, the enemy is sending a rider with the white flag and wishes to speak," He reports with a salute. I nod and go to the wall over the gate following the soldier, while Jay and my Guard following me. When we get up to the wall, I see a man in red and white armor like mine but with no helmet. He is unarmed and is sitting on a black horse carrying a white flag. I nod to General Charles. "Open the gate," I say to him quietly. He nods and shouts. "Open ze gates!" The grenadiers open the gate as I mount my horse and put my helmet on. The lone rider urges his horse to trot forward into the keep. "State your business," I say, skipping formalities. I recognize my eldest brother Isen is the rider. "Greetings, 'Emperor'. I have come to offer you two choices. Resist, and all shall die. Surrender, and you shall live. Is that not worth having peace?" He says with a smug look. I look at him and speak so that all my Guard, my generals, and as many of my troops can hear me.
"We shall have peace. We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Gallic, Visogothic, and Iceni villages, and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace, when life of the soldiers, who where hewed even as they lay dead against the ground defending their women and children, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet, for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace! I say this. I am Yitzhak, Emperor of the free people of Europa. I choose war! Get out! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your family! Leave before I forget the flag of peace and ask for forgiveness later," I tell him. His nostrils flair in rage as he wheels his horse and gallops out. "Shut ze gate!" General Charles shouts. He then turns to me. "Isen is ze lord of ze Czarians. He will make ready to attack. We are with you however, Sire." I nod. "Good. Have a squad of the Polish Legion to watch the grenadiers in the gate house," I order him. He salutes me. "Oui, mon Capitan," He says as he turns to give out my orders. I then turn to Jay. "Tell Delta and Omega to fall back closer to the fort and focus on officers and skirmishers first as well as on their artillery," I tell him. He nods and relays this to Boss and Niner. "Sir, reinforcements should be here within an hour," He informs me. I nod and release a silent curse. "Understood. Tell them to have their fighters and gunships ready to be launched as soon as they are in range," I tell him as I rush back up the wall to rejoin my Guard. As I rejoin them, I hear a trumpet and see a horseman leading the army forward. Behind him is the soldier blowing the trumpet. And behind him are three men carrying Isen's standards. Three ram skulls mounted on poles. One with both horns intact, the second with one horn still intact, and the last without the horns. Just before them are ten men beating war drums. I then hear the horde, as there is no better description, begin chanting.
Isengard descends. All honor him, our lord of ruin. King Bourbon sits in Kremlin. Isengard descends, all honor him our lord of ruin. King Bourbon sits in Kremlin. ISENGARD DESCENDS! ALL HONOR HIM, OUR LORD OF RUIN! KING BOURBON SITS IN KREMLIN!
I turn to Jay. "Tell Delta and Omega to open fire, but tell them Isen is mine to kill," I order him. He nods and relays this latest command. Almost immediately I see blue lasers fire. The man blowing the horn stops as his head is blown off. Several more soldiers fall dead behind the drummers but are callously walked over by their comrades, some even stepping on them without a second glance. Suddenly, a battery of the AV-7 cannons explode from cannon fire. "Where the hell is that coming from?!" I part ask, part demand. In a few minutes virtually all of the Republic's cannons are destroyed, as well as several of my own cannons. I turn to my general. "Have the cannons be moved back into the fort ASAP!" I order. He nods and the cannons are moved inside as well as surviving clone gunners, most of them wounded. I have them sent to the makeshift hospital immediately. I turn to Jay.
"Have Delta and Omega find those cannons and take them out now!" I order. He nods and then confirms me that the two squads are moving out. Five minutes later a massive explosion signals to me that the enemy's battery has been destroyed. I have Jay tell the commandos to get the hell out of dodge. Suddenly, the leading rank of the horde stops and aims their muskets at the wall. I quickly realize what is about to happen. "GET DOWN!" I shout loudly as I dive down to avoid what is about to happen. My men are starting to do this when a sound like a huge thunder booms or a bomb exploding as the Czarians fire their muskets almost as one, unleashing a withering hail of fast-moving lead balls speed at the ramparts. Most of my men are safely hugging the ground, though the screams of the men either unlucky enough to have something exposed to the lead storm or were slow in getting down. Some of them either tumble over the ramparts over stumble backward and falling down to the inside of the fort. Most, however, lies ominously still, thought some moan pitifully while trying to drag themselves to safety or to get their wounds treated.
While still under cover, I hear a massive shout as the Czarian soldiers charge forward to the wall. I stand up immediately. "GET THOSE WOUNDED CLEAR! EVERYONE ELSE, RETURN FIRE!" I shout, grabbing my Deecee and start firing. Several of the charging soldiers tumble dead to the ground. Their comrades barely even notice and trample their fallen comrades bodies, even on their own wounded. I shake my head in disgust as my men get back up and ready their muskets. "READY! AIM! VOLLEY!" I shout. "WALL MOUNTED CANNONS, LET IT RIP! FIRE CANISTER ROUNDS!" With that, a large crack is heard as my men fire their muskets, unleashing their own screaming lead storm in retribution for their fallen comrades. More and more of the Czarians soldiers fall lifelessly to the ground. However, it seems that for every one Czarian soldier killed, between five to ten take their place as the massive horde gets closer and closer to the large stone walls. Now my own cannons fire as well, releasing one of the most devastating type of ammunition that they have for this kind of situation: Canister round. This is a special made round, a container of sorts, holding a large number of small metal balls. When fired, the rounds fall out, creating a hail of small cannon balls that can scythe down large numbers of enemy soldiers. This is shown to be true as the cannons boom, belching their deadly load of death. More and more enemy soldiers are killed, some of them having their whole bodies be mutilated to the point of becoming unrecognizable. But after all, war is hell. This only proves this as a fact.
Soon the enemy is close enough to the wall to get out their own equipment for the attack: Massive siege ladders. I give another order. "GET OFF THE WALL! FALL BACK TO KEEP! LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!" I order reluctantly. When the first Czarian soldiers step onto the wall, they find it deserted except for the bodies of my fallen men, the wounded being treated at the hospital. My men have formed a square around the center of the keep, spaced only for the cannons. I had this made so to enable my men to have a formation able to deal with attacks from any direction. I have placed my men around the brig, hospital, and armory. The clone troopers have taken up position in these buildings while my cavalry is dismounted and at the center along with my elite Guard. At first my men fire their muskets and cut down the enemy soldiers like a scythe through wheat. But then the Czarians overwhelming numbers begin to tell as my men start screaming and falling, including members of my Guard. If this keeps up, it won't matter if reinforcements show up because we might be dead. I sigh in resignation as I raise my right arm and tap on a device on my right gauntlet. I activate my chip and speak a command. "Activate program Grimlock," I tell it. Then I activate my jetpack and launch myself over my men, firing my rocket and blasting a fairly decent sized hole in the advancing ranks. My men cry out, fearing that I am about to die, when they fall silent as a white light envelopes me.
I grunt in pain as I feel my very body being changed, my atoms being altered. My body expands. When the white light fades, I stand up. I am different now though. My body has changed to a 30-foot tall robot with a faintly glowing red sword. I slam my sword into the ground, which is followed with me slamming my metal fists into the ground as well. My men continue to watch in awe as I, their leader, have my body change itself yet again. When I stand back up, I have changed into a giant dinosaur that resembles T-Rex made of metal. I roar and stomp towards the stunned Czarians.
Read and review! I will not post a new chapter till I get twenty more reviews unless I get more writers block!
