Authors note: I gave Laevateinn some talking to do but it was suggested I do its lines in German. So I did, along with the translation. I tried to arrange it in what seemed to be a logical way, to me at least. Let me know if you have any thoughts. Also, as always feel free to poke at my story and tell me what you think could use improvement or what just doesn't seem right.
Enfield followed Garand as he outlined the new weapons system, but before they could reach his truck the air was rocked by a powerful explosion. The sound of the blast caused both men to instinctively duck.
"What in the holly hell?" Enfield barked, "An explosion? We'll discuss this later Mr. Garand, I need to get back to my troops," Enfield quickly left running back towards his recruits.
Left to his own devices, Garand decided to investigate the source of the blast. He ran towards the column of smoke rising into the sky. Following it he was led to the nearby gate house. The first thing he saw was a smoking, over turned car. The second was Signum lying on the pavement.
"Sig!" He shouted braking into a mad sprint, "Sig, can you hear me?" He called as he skidded to a halt and crouched down next to her. Quickly he confirmed her vitals, respiration and pulse. Continuing his check, the PMC examined her for injuries. The only significant external wound he found was a steadily bleeding head wound on the upper part of her forehead. Glancing to her hip he saw her sword, "Laevateinn how's is she?"
"Keine innere Blutungen festgestellt. Schwere Schädeltrauma gefunden, empfehlen die sofortige Medi-vac." [No internal bleeding detected. Severe cranial trauma found, recommend immediate medic-vac]
"Can I move her?"
"Ja wohl." [Yes sir]
Garand carefully picked up Signum and moved her away from the car behind a large raised flower bed made of stone, "Any others in the car?"
"Ja, Vita und ein Zivilist," [Yes, Vita and one civilian] Garand was about to run back over to the ruined car when Leviateen stopped him, "Warning; identifizierte Areal Mage ist im Anflug. Kein IFF Antwort." [Warning; unidentified areal Mage's on approach. No IFF response]
"Fuck, Leviateen I need you to come with me, I don't have my rifle," he told the sword taking it from Signum's belt along with a fist full of cartridges, "Keep Sig's Barrier Jacket online,"
"Ja wohl." [Yes sir]
Garand ran back towards the over turned vehicle clipping Laevateinn to the back of his waist with a carabineer, "Vita!" He shouted, "Vita! Can you hear me?" He continued to shout as he went around to the passenger side of the vehicle. Crouching down he looked through the car window and saw Vita unconscious, hanging from her seat belt. Her Barrier Jacket had activated automatically just as Signum's had, to ensure her life signs stayed stable. Her weapon however was still in pendent form hanging from her neck, "Eisen is it safe to move Vita?"
"Ja."
With the devices okay, Garand reached into the cab and cradled the back of Vita's neck with his forearm. Then taking out a pocket knife, he cut her free letting her body flop down under careful control. With her now released from the restraint, he began to slide her out of the vehicle. All at once there was a violent series of explosions and the ground rumbled as the small installation's headquarters was struck by powerful ranged attack spells. Moments later a squadron of areal Mage's streaked overhead. Garand was out if time. Moving as quickly as possible, he took Vita and placed her next to Signum, before rushing back to the car to retrieve the last passenger. At the same time air raid sirens blared out across the installation, heralding the arrival of enemy combatants. Garand found the man who had been riding in the back of the car lying on the ceiling of the sedan unrestrained, making it easy to grab him and drag the man out. As Garand pulled him free, one of the Arial Mage's swung around and aimed his staff at the PMC. The mage fired just as he got clear of the car.
The blast of energy struck the car, forcing it to erupt into a sphere of fire and smoke, throwing debris in all directions and knocking Garand to the ground. Scrambling to his feet he rushed to cover continuing to drag the man behind him. As he pulled his last casualty to safety, Garand saw six large transport trucks scream through the bases front gate, loaded with armed troops. The moment those truck pass, his instincts told him this was not a simple terrorist attack. These troops were here with a real mission and a strategic objective. The Areal Mage above Garand examined the area below for his target having lost sight of the PMC in the smoke. As soon as the attacker spotted his intended target he brought his staff to bear on him and fired.
Garand quickly drew his pistol and fired a round creating a magic shield to his front. When the blast hit the shield it detonated dispersing the attacks energy outward and away from himself, like reactive armor. Garand was stuck in a bad situation. He had little to no cover and he had to protect three people. It was going to be necessary to take a risk and make a gamble. If he was right his idea would work. If he was wrong he would be dead. Then again, he loved situations such as this. So what could he possibly complain about? Returning his weapon to its holster he took hold of Laevateinn's hilt.
"Laevateinn three carts!" He requested.
"Ja wohl," The sword fired off all three cartridges in its magazine.
The mage smirked at the PMC's attempt at taking on the use of a swordsman's weapon. He could tell that Garand had only the vaguest of understandings when it came to the proper use a sword. He pointed his staff at the PMC but did not fire a raged attack spell; instead he dove towards Garand planning to run him though the center of his chest with his spear tipped staff.
Mimicking Signum's stance as best he could, Garand gripped the swords hilt, "Schlangebeiben!" He barked as he ripped the blade from its scabbard.
The blade quickly broke into segments. Linked by metallic wire it snaked towards the areal Mage at a blinding speed. The man did not expect Garand to be able to use such an attack but maintained enough sense to try and dog. His immediate response was to pull up and over shoot the PMC. However, Laevateinn easily compensated for the Mage's movements. The deadly steel serpent wrapped around the man's neck, clamping down on him as he streaked past Garand. Grabbing a section of the exposed wire with his free hand, the PMC snapped the sword downwards and across his body with all his strength. The blade segments instantly went taught. The mages forward momentum combined with the opposing force from Laevateinn being pulled on worked in conjunction, creating a force strong enough to snap off the man's head with ease. With the attack complete and Laevateinn having expended all the magic provided by the cartridges, it returned to its original form.
"Nice," Garand snickered with approval, "Didn't think I was this good."
"Sie tat es nicht. Ich habe die notwendigen Arbeiten," [You are not. I did all the necessary work.] the device informed him, "Alles, was Sie taten, war swing mich wie eine Keule." [All you did was swing me like a club]
"Well pardon me for not being a professional swordsman."
Garand now had a few moments to take in all that was going on around him. The mages were assaulting the headquarters building while being supported by the troops that had just been trucked in. Seeing the ground troops and their equipment it was clear they were connected to the missing Project Sierra equipment. Each one was carrying the same M16 style weapon and wore prototype body armor that made them look like knights with rifles. These ground troops quickly began routing the TSAB forces and raising hell all across the base. From what he could gather the Mage's and the Riflemen had separate objectives. The Mage's were infiltrating the Base HQ while the Riflemen seemed to be trying to occupy the remaining areas.
His time to take in the situation was abruptly cut short when two more Mage's came at him. Both were close combat types, both carried swords and wore the same blue and black Barrier Jackets as the first. One of them immediately rushed him. But instead of assaulting Garand, the man darted past him targeting Vita. Snapping his pistol out of his holster Garand fired a round over the Mages shoulder. A green magic shield deployed directly in front of the Mage. Unable to alter direction in time the man slammed into it stunning himself. The second Mage streaked forward pushing the tip of his sword towards Garand's throat. The PMC barely managed to block the attack by using Laevateinn to redirect the blow to his left side. Garand's successful block made an opening on the Mage's left side. Quickly, he swung his pistol into the side of the man's head knocking him off balance. Garand advanced on the mage intending to deliver a killing blow but someone grabbed him from behind and flung the big man backwards like a rag doll. The PMC scrambled back to his feet. Both Mage's were again in front of him weapons at the ready.
"Sie können sie nicht schlagen," [You cannot beat them] Laevateinn cautioned.
"I wouldn't bet on that, besides you got a better idea?" Grand asked reloading the devices internal magazine.
"Rückzug," [Retreat] the device advised.
"No retreat, they'd just kill us from behind," pistol in one hand sword in the other Garand considered his options. It was obvious he could not retreat, not if it meant Signum, Vita and the civilian would be killed. He had to hold his ground until TSAB alert Mage's could arrive. Only one choice was open, hold position and protect his charges. It would have been easy if he had his rifle but he had to make do with what he had. Then again what fun would it be if things were easy?
Together the two Mage's charged towards Garand one attacking his left side the other going after his right. The Mage on his left side reached him first swinging his sword in a horizontal slash he aimed for Garand's center of mass. Garand pointed the tip of Laevateinn downwards and blocked the attack but the mage had the advantage of a two handed grip. He pushed his blade forward into the PMC's block trying to overpower him. The second Mage quickly advanced on Garand's opposite side. As the second Mage readied his weapon to attack the PMC's unprotected right side Garand snapped his pistol up and fired a round at the second man's face. A magic circle slammed in to his face breaking his nose and knocking him on his back. With his right side now clear Garand used his pistol hand to push against the back side of Laevateinn's blade. With his superior leverage and strength he pushed his attacker's blade away. The attack now broken, Garand followed up with a strong kick to the Mage's abdomen forcing him back.
The PMC took a few steps back. Moving away from his attackers, He growled like an angry dog as the two men prepared to renew their assault. Together they charged him from the front. He raised his pistol and fired a round at them placing a magic shield in front of him. However the Mage's easily by passed it. Then without explanation Garand dawned shark toothed grin and tossed Laevateinn over his shoulder as if he was giving up. Standing up strait he placed his hands on his hips and leered at the two mages. Just as they were about to strike he swayed to the left, a single blur streaked past him. In what seemed like a single flash of steal both men dropped to the ground, their Barrier Jackets ripped open at the chest, Signum standing over them.
"Thank you for looking after us," the sword knight said with relief.
"It's not a problem. How's the head injury?" Garand inquired.
"It is nothing significant, one of the advantages of being a Wolkenritter."
"Really? Makes me kind'a jealous," he admitted with a chuckle even though he did not believe her assurance. He considered telling her to sit down and stay out of the fight, but he knew she was far to stubborn for such advice.
Signum let a small snicker slip pass her lips as she rolled her eyes in response.