Operation Lowroad
Excerpt from Raize's personal records:
Operation Lowroad was a success. The Shadow's Claw accomplished their objective, and those that died, died well.
I had placed the senior Claw member's just alongside the road. We had received intel from a reliable source that Yevon forces were about to transport supplies and man power to their allies combating the Al Bhed Restorative Movement. We have worked with the Movement before, but this was our first large scale battle since they had begun to challenge Yevon outright. Now, they had requested that we cut off Yevon supply lines. I was not present at the beginning of the ambush, so I will surmise what I can from the vid feeds of my men and their own reports.
The first Yevon supplies passed into the ambush site at 0800. First Claw Daniel was in charge of the first post. He radioed back in to the main command as the supply convoy moved past, reciting back numbers of troops and wagons. At his first count there were one hundred and thirty-seven foot soldiers, seventy three chocobo mounted knights, and twenty-seven wagons of supplies. He also reported that a squad of magic users had been deployed, thirteen in all. They passed through his zone and into the ambush site. The trap was ready to be sprung fourty-five minutes after 1C Daniel first radioed in.
First Claw Luca and Second Claw Richard headed the initial charge. They led thirty of the fifty soldiers we had deployed. Third Claw Kent was in charge of providing sniper support from the ridge above to make sure that no Yevon worshippers escaped. FC Luca met the first line of mounted knights and struck two down with a single swipe of his large blade. Another was cut down by SC Richard and a third was shot from the ridge by Fourth Claw Maximillion. The remainder of the First and Second Claws came in from all sides and cut into the Yevon troops. First Claw Tyler took a spear to the shoulder and SC Samuel was knocked from the cliff, tumbling down with four Yevon troops he had been grappling with. 1C Daniel led his squad up from behind the convoy and cut into their flanks, catching them by surprise and killing eight of the thirteen magic users. Soon less than thirty Yevon foot soldiers remained, commanded by twelve Chocobo knights and two magic users providing support. The Claw had taken few casualties, three deaths and two incapacitated.
Then, Yevon reinforcements arrived from behind. The Yevon commanders had anticipated an ambush and had a legion of Chocobo knights and magic users follow from behind. When the ambush was sprung, the reinforcements had swept up from behind and attacked the Shadow's Claw from the rear. The gun support from the ridge had already begun to leave, believing their part in the battle to be over. Several squads had already boarded the APCs we had transported to Spira to reinforce Restorative Movement forces. As such, only fourteen gunners were able to come back to provide support to the surprised strike squad. The beleagered soldiers quickly slew the remnants of the original convoy's escort and took up a circle formation. Seven of the strike squad had been slain in the Chocobo's first rush.
The battle lasted for almost an hour. Though the Shadow's Claw fought valiantly, they were soon overwhelmed. The snipers from the ridge aided in thinning the enemies forces, but in the end it wasn't enough. I arrived with reinforcements as the strike force's numbers dwindled to twelve. Though they had killed hundreds of Yevon soldiers, they were far outnumbered and couldn't last much longer. I gave orders to my number two, SC Bernard, to have thirty men assist the snipers on the ridge, thirty move to cut off any more Yevon reinforcements, and for the last forty to attack the remaining Yevon cavalry. I drew my pair of pistols and warped into the middle of the six remaining Shadow's Claw. Appearing in the middle of their circle, I spun and began firing into the knights. I rushed forward through a hole that my men made in their circle for me, assembling my guns into a pair of single hand SMGs.
Jumping over the closest knight, I fired three shots into his skull, then landed on the back of another, knocking him from his mount. I turned and fired six more shots. Six more knights fell from their mounts. I rolled as I hit and warped as a knight tried to stab me with his spear. Appearing in the air behind him, I kicked and snapped his neck, then turned in midair and emptyed both my clips into a crowd of yellow and silver bodies. I jumped, kicking off of armored bodies. I proppeled myself up onto a boulder and surveyed the scene. My men were advancing from behind and cutting down knights. I dodged a spear thrown at me from behind, and jumped back, reloading my guns in midair.
Landing behind my attackers, I shot one in the back three times. Grabbing another around the throat, I used him as a human shield as I shot each of his companions, twisting his neck as I finished. Then, turning, I was stabbed in the chest. A soldier stood before me, bleeding, the sword clutched in his outstretched hand. "Take that you son of a bitch." He sneered at me. I warped into a shadow and reapeared behind him, darmed him and stabbed his sword into his stomach. "Who are y-" His cliched question was cut off as I fired several more times into his back. He went limp and I let him fall to the ground. Around me, Yevon soldiers tried to flee, but were quickly terminated by the snipers on the cliff. I inspected the scene. Over a thousand Yevon knights and their slain Chocobos lay on the ground, along with all of the First and Second Claws that had been a part of the strike force.
In conclusion, the mission was a complete success. I had known of the Yevon reinforcements, and had delibrately only deployed the senior members of the Shadow's Claw. As all members of the Claw know, few operatives live past the age of 20. It is a part of the creed that all Shadow's Claw members are sent on a mission that invariably results in death at it's conclusion. Supressing the rebellious instincts is difficult, and once the person reaches the age of 20 it is extremely difficult to continue to keep the feelings inside.
End of entry
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Back at DAP headquarters, Mirn sat in her lab. Plants and cages of exotic animals were all along the walls. She sat at her workbench, her right stump laying on the cold metal. She winced as sparks flew from the tool she was using to attach the skeletal metal hand to the stump. She raised it to her face and flexed the steel fingers before her face, watching the light reflect from the cybernetic appendage. She spun as the door whooshed open. "How's the hand?" Liam lit up a cigarette.
"Uh, Liam could you not..." She faltered as he stared at her, blowing a smoke ring into the air. Turning back to her arm, she connected the last few wires and stood. She turned and found herself face to face with Liam. He breathed smoke into her face and she choked back a cough. She stared into his eyes, and they stayed like that for a few seconds. Then, he began to move his mouth down towards hers. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. Liam continued past her face and put the cigarette back into his mouth, before turning and chuckling, leaving her standing with her eyes closed and lips puckered at air.
"Diovni wants you." He left the room and Mirn fell to her knees, tears running gently down her cheeks. After a few seconds she stood, wiping her dripping nose with the sleeve of her new hand. She opened the door with a gesture, tickling a small, furry animal under the chind as she left. She passed several guards on her way up to Diovni's waiting chamber. As she approached the tall, black metal door, she could hear muffled voices. At first, she ignored them, but then, looking to see if anyone was watching, she placed her ear to the cold metal.
"I don't care if that is your opinion Leek, mine is what matters. And I find Liam to be more than trustworthy. In fact, if there is anyone I am worried about, it's you." Diovni's voice sounded harsher than usual. He rarely lost his composure, but he seemed on the brink of it now.
"And what makes you think that, sir?" Mirn winced slightly at the arrogance in Leek's voice. Diovni did not tolerate insolence.
"What I mean is that I don't trust you Leek. I don't like your methods. I don't like the fact that you are so interested in Chaos energy. I don't like how you are spending so much time with Valentine. I don't like that you hold secret councils with Raize. And I don't like that you still allow your old Shadow Hunter friends to go about their business, especially when it involves our men!" Smoke began to to seep from under the door. Mirn stifled a cough. She didn't hear what Leek said next, but the venom in Diovni's voice made it apparent that it had not helped things. "Get out..." She stumbled back from the door as Leek burst through it. He raised an eyebrow, looking at her lying on the floor, then strode off.
"Mr. Diovni, sir?" Mirn called timidly as she picked herself up.
"Come in." She let out a sigh of relief. He had calmed down. She entered and the door closed behind her. Inside, the room was devoid of anything. It wasn't cold, nor was it warm. All the furniture was covered in an inky black fog. Diovni was no where to be seen, but she could hear his voice perfectly. "Mirn, I trust you have looked over the reports that Laurel and Duke submitted on the new Holder."
"Yes Master Diovni."
"Good." Some of the dark fog gathered up into a full body before her. "I want you to begin to study him. Leek has proven to nosy in this matter, so he will not be accompanying you. Instead, I have decided that Liam will go with you." The body defined itself into the tall, lean man with silver hair that was Diovni's favorite form. "The tracker on him says that he is on Earth 276, in a town in Texas. I want you to go and find out about him."
"But," Mirn stumbled over her words. "But why sir?"
Diovni sat on a chair that he made from darkness. "He is the new Holder. He may be critical to our plans. And," He waved a hand and the dark fog around him dissapated, revealing a large, decorated office. A desk formed in front of him. "I want to know why we had no way to predict him. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, and considering that something may have happened that through your predictions off." He leaned forward, the tips of his fingers touching and stared at her with dark eyes. "Don't fail me again."
She bowed and backed out of the room. Outside, Liam waited for her. "Shall we be going." He smiled mockingly at her as he motioned to the corridor leading to the docks. She nodded nerously and they proceeded down the hall. They passed Duke as he talked to a group of soldiers. Laurel was waiting for them at the dock with their pilot.
"Now Liam, try to be nice to Private Laurence." She smiled, tracing her finger down the pilots back. "He's doing me a personal favor, aren't you Pvt?"
His face reddened. "Yes Mistress Laurel." He coughed and motioned at the loading ramp. "This way Master Liam, Mistress Mirn." They proceeded up the ramp.
"Let me know the second you get back Pvt. I'll be waiting." Laurel smiled at him, biting her lower lip. He banged his shoulder on the side of the door as he boarded the ship and she let out a throaty laugh.
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Author's Note: *Trumpets sound* Hear ye, hear ye, the first "Create a Character" event is now open! The rules are simple. You submit a bio through PM to me, and I shall choose from among them a new general for Diovni's army. Roll up your sleeves, and give it your best shot.
Since this is the first event, the character created will be higher ranking than the later contests and will impact the story more. But, as with all future contests, you're bio must also meet certain points. Mainly, you're creation must use a spear as his or her primary weapon. Feel free to add other abilities, but remember, the spear is the key.
Name:
Age:
Appearance:
Weapons:
Abilities:
Personality:
Background:
Note: Your submission will be subject to change. If certain aspects don't meet standards, they will have to be changed. One submission per a person please.
