The Next Generation 31
Magicman: Ah gentle readers. I offer you my sincerest apologies for the abysmal amount of time it has taken to update. I have been swamped with schoolwork and other such things. But the show must go on, and without further ado I bring you chapter 31.
***
The chilly air drifted slowly about the school track. The streetlights gleamed, bathing the area in a soft light. Hitomi had finished her tale and awaited her friends' response.
"Gods Hitomi" Amano whispered. "I had no idea. I wondered what had happened to you but...I really had no idea."
Hitomi shrugged. "Neither did I, to be honest. It all happened so quickly that I was off balance for a while."
Amano only nodded.
"Why didn't you come back Hitomi?"
Yukari was watching Hitomi, unhappiness standing out like a giant zit. "You stayed on this weird other world instead of coming back to your friends. Why would you do that?"
Hitomi shook her head. "I know what you're thinking, and trust me. It was not an easy thing to do. I couldn't go back to Earth right away; I had to help fight that war. And after it was done... Well after it was done I-"
"And after it was done you what?" Yukari stared hard into Hitomi's eyes. "I'll tell you what. You left us."
"Oh come on-"
"You left your friends for some world and you didn't give another thought to anyone else. I never thought that you were that selfish Hitomi."
Hitomi's head snapped back. "Yukari!" she protested. "That's not true!"
"Oh yeah?" Yukari challenged. "Then how come you never once came back to check on us?"
Hitomi started to answer then closed her mouth. Yukari nodded.
"Did you know that your family was screwed up totally when you left? Your mother is a pill-popping drunk. Your brother is a bouncer at a whorehouse so he can support her. Only the Gods know where your father is. He left when things started to go bad."
Hitomi didn't say anything and Yukari continued, her voice getting shriller with each passing second. "The entire school was pissed off at you. You were their chance to go to the nationals and, when you disappeared, they all thought that you ran out on them. You became one of the most hated people in school. And then Amano and I became the next most hated!"
"You're not serious-"
"Yes I am! We were your friends and so they gave us the cold shoulder. I swear, I barely managed to graduate, the teachers were so vindictive!"
"Yukari" Amano reached out for Yukari but she shoved him aside. She wasn't about to stop now.
"And what do you think screwed up your mom? I remember the exact time it started and it was the day you left us all. Why do you hate us Hitomi? Why do you treat your friends like shit and your family like a-"
Hitomi slapped Yukari right across the face. The redhead whirled back, furious enough to spit nails. It was not to last. The anger and helplessness of twenty years drained from her at the sight.
Tears had begun to trickle down Hitomi's cheeks. Her green eyes glistened with them as she took Yukari's accusations to heart. She was frustrated and upset at her friend's words, even as she felt the grain of truth within them.
"You have no idea what you're talking about Yukari" Hitomi spoke in a quiet voice. "I agonised over whether I should stay on Gaea or come back to Earth. Even while I fought, I couldn't get it out of my head. I remember lying awake at night for days at a time, just trying to come up with something, anything that would help. After the war ended, I finally got an answer. If I couldn't leave Gaea in times of war, then how could I leave in times of peace? I had a family on Gaea. It wasn't the same as the one I left here, but it's my family nonetheless. I have a husband and two children. They are my life and I will never abandon them for anybody. So tell me Yukari. What would you have done?"
Hitomi sighed. "Don't answer that. I should never have come back."
Amano caught her hand. "Don't say that! If you hadn't then we would never have found out what happened to you."
"Maybe that would have been for the best."
"No it wouldn't have." Yukari sighed. "I didn't mean it. I know you would never abandon us. I was just upset that I hadn't seen you for so long. I'm sorry."
Hitomi smiled. "Well don't be. I think that I understand." She placed an arm around her friend's shoulder. "I've had moments like that. Trust me. I know."
Yukari laughed and Amano smiled. "Now that that bit of unpleasantness is over and done with, why don't we all get something to drink? I know a coffee shop that's open at this time of night, and the owner doesn't ask questions about people's getup." His eyes sparkled with amusement at Hitomi's sudden self-conscious glance at her green and black armour.
"That'd be great."
Happily, the old friends united went off to catch up on old times. Hitomi figured that things would be fine on Gaea for a while. One woman, more or less, wasn't going to make a difference in the battle. Besides, Van and Dilandau were there. If they couldn't win then no one could.
***
"Bear thirty degrees starboard!" Folken shouted from his command chair. "Pull up alongside that cruiser and open fire!"
"Yes sir!" One of the bridge crew typed the new heading into the computer and the Vione veered to the right. The ship's guns opened up into its target's side before it broke off. The cruiser, it's engines damaged badly, coasted listlessly through the air.
A pair of Basram ships, smaller and faster than the one the Vione had just crippled, circled under and fired into the floating fortress' underbelly. Leva-stone and metal shattered from the impact, nearly jarring Folken from his chair.
"Damage report!"
"Electrical fire on the lower decks! We have a breach near the main engines!
"Get the twins down there now. We can't let boarders near those engines! And see what you can do about getting the cloaking shields back on line."
"I'm on it." Merle shoved a crewmember out of his seat and began typing furiously.
The tech boys had been unable to repair the cloaking shield from the last skirmish, forcing the Vione to go into this major fight without its main defensive field. Against a strategist like Veers, that was a recipe for disaster.
The bulk of Basram's heavy leva-ships had formed a perimeter outside Palas' airspace. The faster ships were diving in and out of Asturia's defensive line, disrupting positions as they went, while the cruisers kept up a massive bombardment from all sides. The attack plan was inelegant, but it allowed no Asturian ships the luxury of movement with which they could counter attack or escape.
'Looks like Veers has us all wrapped up in a box,' Folken cursed to himself, as he watched a squadron of fighters take off after Jasmine's flagship. He then swore louder. A pair of Basramian leva-barges were surging recklessly for the Vione. Unless he missed his guess, they'd have company sooner than he really wanted, especially since the cloaking shield was down.
He slammed his fist on the ship-wide communications frequency. "This is Folken" he spoke, calmly and coolly. "All hands prepare to repel invaders. Repeat: all hands prepare to repel invaders." He shut off the frequency and watched the invaders pull up alongside the floating fortress and fling grappling hooks. This was going to get epic.
As Basram storm troopers invaded the Vione, the battle continued on the ground. Waves of Basramian infantry crashed into the walls of Palas. The soldiers set light siege ladders against the walls and swarmed up them, ignoring arrows and rocks and explosives from the defenders. Several ladders made it to the top of the wall but twice as many fell back, hacked up by defending swords. Still, enough soldiers reached the top to fight for control of the wall.
A hundred Basram soldiers in plate mail tramped toward the gate. They were sheathed in metal to protect them from arrows and boiling oil. On their shoulders, they carried a great ram with a head of steel, enchanted by Kasar himself before his death. With the fall of the Blue Dragon and the containment of the Asturian guymelef forces, they marched arrogantly to the gates. Behind them marched an entire legion of Silver Serpents, bearing the banner of General Veers. Approaching the gates, the vanguard swung their ram. It smote upon the sturdy gates with an ear- splitting crash.
Van cursed as the sound of metal under torture filled the battlefield. "They've reached the gate!" he yelled over his comlink. "If they breach the walls then we're done!"
"And we aren't already?!" An ambitious soldier cut off Dilandau's snarl. The pyro swerved around the man's spear and drove straight for the face. Two other guymelefs attacked him from the rear but Dalet and Gatti intercepted them, protecting their leader.
Slowly but surely, Van, Dilandau and their remaining troops were being pushed back against the wall of the city. Sheer numbers, combined with rigid training and discipline, were gradually overcoming the defenders.
And there didn't seem to be a damn thing they could do about it.
***
Folken brought his sword down hard and fast.
To the credit of his black-armoured opponent, the sword was blocked. This being Folken's intent all along, he shoved forward hard. The man lost his balance and fell against the wall, stunned. Only his four companions kept him from being killed in the next second.
This time, the invaders had pushed past the inner defences and a detachment had made its way to the bridge. Where only order ruled, chaos had seized power. The bridge crew was fighting desperately to keep the invaders from taking the ship. The sheer fury at the audacity of the attack was all that stopped that take over from happening.
Folken ducked and thrust, his sword crunching into bone. He then whirled and blocked a downward slash. Kicking out, he crushed the man's kneecap and shoved him back. Across the bridge, Merle had tackled a man and was scratching him viciously.
Using his superior size, Folken forced the press of men back to the bridge entryway. He slammed his fist into the door release switch and a steel door, eight inches thick, slammed down. The men leapt backward to avoid getting crushed. That left only five or so invading men in the bridge, and these were quickly subdued.
Taking the time to breathe, Folken looked at Merle, who had tied up her victim with a piece of conducting wire. "Don't you even think about trying to escape or I'll start running electricity through it!" she scolded. Turning to her console, she whistled. "Folken, we've got two hundred of Veers' lackeys onboard."
Folken whistled. The Vione's sixty crewmen were in trouble indeed. "Where are they?"
Merle pressed a few buttons before answering. "It looks most of them are stuck in the corridors leading to Engine Maintenance. Naria and Eriya and most of the shipboard troopers have them boxed in. Only thirty or so are trying to get to the bridge and a couple more are scattered around."
An idea struck Folken and he smirked deviously. Merle saw this. "I know that smile Folkie. Either you're going to save our hides or get us killed."
"I know which one I'd prefer. Flood the corridors the bulk of those troops are in with engine coolant. Let's see how well they can fight while they can't breathe."
Merle turned and made it so, punching in the appropriate commands through her computer. "You realise" she said casually, "That, without coolant, the engines will start to overheat."
"Not if we don't do too much fancy flying".
"Touché". And with that, most of the invaders were incapacitated. The remaining few were easily overcome, mostly by surprise. With his ship back under his control, Folken checked his computer screen for the status of the battle. He winced slightly.
Veers' troops had made it to the wall and his armoured units were bottling up Asturia's 'melefs. The tanks were bombarding the inner city while those accursed sorcerers had whipped up a massive windstorm. On the plus side, Jasmine's air forces seemed to be holding their own, despite the odds they were facing. Folken decided to help them out.
"There" the cyborg pointed on the view screen. Three of leva- cruisers were ganging up on Jasmine's flagship, the Peace Keeper. "Lets give the good general a hand, shall we?"
"Aye aye Folkie!" Merle and her fellow bridge crewmembers directed the ship. Soon a hail of torpedoes raked the side of one of the cruisers. The Peace Keeper joined in and the warship exploded under the fire.
The remaining two ships each veered to one side of the small area of battle. Their purpose became clear as the Vione and the Peace Keeper were caught in the withering crossfire.
The bridge shook and Folken was nearly thrown from his chair. "Damage report!"
"Stabilisers are out! Armour is out! Engines are oh so close to becoming out!"
"What's in?"
"The weapon systems. Shall I keep firing?"
"Would you?!"
The argument was cut off by a crackle from the com-system. "Basram troops have breached the gates" a panicky voice shouted, "And are marching for the castle! Repeat: Basram troops have breached the-" The transmission cut off in a trail of static.
"Damn it!" Folken slammed his fist on the arm of his chair. "What else can possibly go wrong?!"
Merle stared incredulously at her radar screen. "Sir, I'm picking up more leva-ships coming in". She looked at Folken with a raised eyebrow. "You had to ask, didn't you?"
Folken shook his head in annoyance. "Alright then" he stood up. "Lets give this one last run for the money. Merle, charge the weapons and set a course right at the closest of those leva-ships."
"I'm on it."
Slowly the Vione began to pick up speed. It's engines damaged, it drove straight for one of the Basram cruisers. The cruiser kept its distance and fired surgical shots, methodically taking out the fortress' few remaining systems. Still it surged through the air, its weapons slowly gaining a lock on the enemy.
And then, for no apparent reason, something exploded on the Basram warship. Flames consuming its engines, the ship plunged from the sky onto the city.
Folken stared. "What the...?"
Merle stared at her radar again, this time even more incredulously. "Folken? Those new ships that just arrived. They're not Basramian. You'll never guess who's they are."
The bleep of the ship to ship communications system diverted Folken from Merle. He pressed the button and looked at the view screen. There he saw one of the last people he ever expected to see.
"This is General Adelphous of the Zaibach Alliance. And if it isn't dear old Folken Fanel, gotten himself in trouble again". The old General grinned at that.
Folken grinned back. "It's good to see you again General. But I don't think now is the right time to catch up on old times."
Adelphous snorted. "I'm not here to catch up on old times! Zodia and I are here to put an end to this war business."
"Zodia? Zodia Quu?" Folken was shocked. Two of Zaibach's best Generals had come to fight on their side, and had brought their armies too.
"As I was saying to your Miss Jasmine a minute ago" Adelphous continued in conversational tones, "This is what happens when you let a bunch of namby pamby desk Generals tell your soldiers what to do. Well! She just blew right up in my face! She's feisty, that one is." He chuckled then turned to someone off screen. "Concentrate your fire on that ship their before it can launch any fighters". He turned back to Folken. "Anyway" he continued, "I checked the battle pattern and the devil-boy seems to be in trouble. So I sent a couple squadrons to back him up and Zodia is going to swing around and parachute his boys into the city. That ought to keep those bastards out of the castle". The General looked at a technical readout. "It looks like you're damaged Folken. Why don't you let me take it from here?"
Folken shook his head. "It's my friends down their Adelphous. I'm not going to stop just because I'm tired."
Adelphous shrugged. "Ah well. Suit yourself. Oh, and before I forget, your lady friend, Miss Eries, says hello." Chuckling, Adelphous signed off. Folken never thought that his ears would heat up in the middle of a battle.
***
Armoured troopers raged through the city streets, tearing through buildings in their rampage. Basramian Silver Serpents and regular army troopers clashed with Asturian soldiers and reinforcements from Zaibach. Their battles savaged the city but both sides were locked in a stalemate. Veers' plans had not accounted for this. Had he been there, he could have led his men through the obstacle but he was not there. And the defenders did not have enough force to drive them back, not even with reinforcements.
And so, as the battle remained deadlocked, a smaller battle took place.
Sweating flowed in rivers down Yukari's face. The strain was becoming too much. Balancing the great rock pile and lifting new rocks was driving her past even her formidable endurance.
Once she slipped and the entire edifice began to topple. But, through sheer force of will, she righted the pile and continued on intrepidly.
At last, she reached the bottom, where a battered and broken body lay. Setto dashed into the pit and picked up the form of Sabrina. Cradling her gently, he brushed her bedraggled hair from her face and carried her from the pit. Thus released, Yukari abandoned the effort and let the rocks fall. Ignoring the crash, she sat down wearily. She managed one brief look at her brother and his love before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell over into unconsciousness. Luckily she landed on Mark, already unconscious from blood loss.
Setto held Sabrina and wept. "Oh Sabrina" he whispered. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. If I had then you'd be all right." Tears trickled from his jade eyes as his heart slowly broke in two.
Something showed on his dirty and soot-streaked face. Setto leaned down by Sabrina's face. "Sabrina" he whispered, "I love you." He pressed his lips to her forehead and pulled back in grief.
The body in his hands stirred. "Setto?" Heavy eyelids lifted and dark eyes looked into green. The look they held...it was indescribable! Sabrina smiled slightly. She mouthed three little words to Setto that mended his heart.
"I love you."
***
Total chaos rampaged through the battleground when Veers got his first tactical readout of the area. The Destiny had maintained enough spare parts to repair the drive system and they arrived on the periphery of the battle to see his armoured units and airforce slowly bring forced back by suddenly superior numbers of Asturian and Zaibach armies. His infantry had forced its way into the city, but they were stalled and could not make it before their support was destroyed. The sorcerers had abandoned their positions as had his tanks and were fleeing battle.
Veers cursed. His grand campaign had ground to a halt against an unexpected alliance between old enemies. A mistake on his part and one he would not compound with useless heroics.
"Signal the attack force" he ordered his communications officer. "Sound the retreat. Order them to regroup around Solek." He paused before adding, "And give them my congratulations. They fought well against a twist of fate."
Veers leaned back in his command chair and reflected. It was not such a disaster. He held most of the Alliance members captive, even if the strongest few had eluded him. His position was still strong when it came to the bargaining table.
Yes, when.
It would be prudent to go on the defensive for a while. The allies had greater access to troops than he had counted on but it would not last long. Eventually, as the years passed, they would tire of their constant vigilance and would want to make a peace offer. He would negotiate and there would be a peace.
He had no idea how long that peace would last, but he would take no military action in that time. But he would gain time to rearm and to study his opponents anew. It may not happen in his lifetime, but Asturia and all of Gaea would be at peace one way or another. And his daughter...
Veers clenched his fist. 'Sabrina' he said silently, 'I will see you again. I swear it.'
The Destiny and its army pulled back from the city in an orderly fashion. When the Asturians pursued, they fought back fiercely, but they retreated just the same. They returned to Basram and to occupy countries, leaving Palas to the defenders.
The Battle for Asturia came to an end.
***
Magicman: The end is near gentle readers. One or two more chapters, I haven't decided. But it's near and I hope you enjoyed it all.
Magicman: Ah gentle readers. I offer you my sincerest apologies for the abysmal amount of time it has taken to update. I have been swamped with schoolwork and other such things. But the show must go on, and without further ado I bring you chapter 31.
***
The chilly air drifted slowly about the school track. The streetlights gleamed, bathing the area in a soft light. Hitomi had finished her tale and awaited her friends' response.
"Gods Hitomi" Amano whispered. "I had no idea. I wondered what had happened to you but...I really had no idea."
Hitomi shrugged. "Neither did I, to be honest. It all happened so quickly that I was off balance for a while."
Amano only nodded.
"Why didn't you come back Hitomi?"
Yukari was watching Hitomi, unhappiness standing out like a giant zit. "You stayed on this weird other world instead of coming back to your friends. Why would you do that?"
Hitomi shook her head. "I know what you're thinking, and trust me. It was not an easy thing to do. I couldn't go back to Earth right away; I had to help fight that war. And after it was done... Well after it was done I-"
"And after it was done you what?" Yukari stared hard into Hitomi's eyes. "I'll tell you what. You left us."
"Oh come on-"
"You left your friends for some world and you didn't give another thought to anyone else. I never thought that you were that selfish Hitomi."
Hitomi's head snapped back. "Yukari!" she protested. "That's not true!"
"Oh yeah?" Yukari challenged. "Then how come you never once came back to check on us?"
Hitomi started to answer then closed her mouth. Yukari nodded.
"Did you know that your family was screwed up totally when you left? Your mother is a pill-popping drunk. Your brother is a bouncer at a whorehouse so he can support her. Only the Gods know where your father is. He left when things started to go bad."
Hitomi didn't say anything and Yukari continued, her voice getting shriller with each passing second. "The entire school was pissed off at you. You were their chance to go to the nationals and, when you disappeared, they all thought that you ran out on them. You became one of the most hated people in school. And then Amano and I became the next most hated!"
"You're not serious-"
"Yes I am! We were your friends and so they gave us the cold shoulder. I swear, I barely managed to graduate, the teachers were so vindictive!"
"Yukari" Amano reached out for Yukari but she shoved him aside. She wasn't about to stop now.
"And what do you think screwed up your mom? I remember the exact time it started and it was the day you left us all. Why do you hate us Hitomi? Why do you treat your friends like shit and your family like a-"
Hitomi slapped Yukari right across the face. The redhead whirled back, furious enough to spit nails. It was not to last. The anger and helplessness of twenty years drained from her at the sight.
Tears had begun to trickle down Hitomi's cheeks. Her green eyes glistened with them as she took Yukari's accusations to heart. She was frustrated and upset at her friend's words, even as she felt the grain of truth within them.
"You have no idea what you're talking about Yukari" Hitomi spoke in a quiet voice. "I agonised over whether I should stay on Gaea or come back to Earth. Even while I fought, I couldn't get it out of my head. I remember lying awake at night for days at a time, just trying to come up with something, anything that would help. After the war ended, I finally got an answer. If I couldn't leave Gaea in times of war, then how could I leave in times of peace? I had a family on Gaea. It wasn't the same as the one I left here, but it's my family nonetheless. I have a husband and two children. They are my life and I will never abandon them for anybody. So tell me Yukari. What would you have done?"
Hitomi sighed. "Don't answer that. I should never have come back."
Amano caught her hand. "Don't say that! If you hadn't then we would never have found out what happened to you."
"Maybe that would have been for the best."
"No it wouldn't have." Yukari sighed. "I didn't mean it. I know you would never abandon us. I was just upset that I hadn't seen you for so long. I'm sorry."
Hitomi smiled. "Well don't be. I think that I understand." She placed an arm around her friend's shoulder. "I've had moments like that. Trust me. I know."
Yukari laughed and Amano smiled. "Now that that bit of unpleasantness is over and done with, why don't we all get something to drink? I know a coffee shop that's open at this time of night, and the owner doesn't ask questions about people's getup." His eyes sparkled with amusement at Hitomi's sudden self-conscious glance at her green and black armour.
"That'd be great."
Happily, the old friends united went off to catch up on old times. Hitomi figured that things would be fine on Gaea for a while. One woman, more or less, wasn't going to make a difference in the battle. Besides, Van and Dilandau were there. If they couldn't win then no one could.
***
"Bear thirty degrees starboard!" Folken shouted from his command chair. "Pull up alongside that cruiser and open fire!"
"Yes sir!" One of the bridge crew typed the new heading into the computer and the Vione veered to the right. The ship's guns opened up into its target's side before it broke off. The cruiser, it's engines damaged badly, coasted listlessly through the air.
A pair of Basram ships, smaller and faster than the one the Vione had just crippled, circled under and fired into the floating fortress' underbelly. Leva-stone and metal shattered from the impact, nearly jarring Folken from his chair.
"Damage report!"
"Electrical fire on the lower decks! We have a breach near the main engines!
"Get the twins down there now. We can't let boarders near those engines! And see what you can do about getting the cloaking shields back on line."
"I'm on it." Merle shoved a crewmember out of his seat and began typing furiously.
The tech boys had been unable to repair the cloaking shield from the last skirmish, forcing the Vione to go into this major fight without its main defensive field. Against a strategist like Veers, that was a recipe for disaster.
The bulk of Basram's heavy leva-ships had formed a perimeter outside Palas' airspace. The faster ships were diving in and out of Asturia's defensive line, disrupting positions as they went, while the cruisers kept up a massive bombardment from all sides. The attack plan was inelegant, but it allowed no Asturian ships the luxury of movement with which they could counter attack or escape.
'Looks like Veers has us all wrapped up in a box,' Folken cursed to himself, as he watched a squadron of fighters take off after Jasmine's flagship. He then swore louder. A pair of Basramian leva-barges were surging recklessly for the Vione. Unless he missed his guess, they'd have company sooner than he really wanted, especially since the cloaking shield was down.
He slammed his fist on the ship-wide communications frequency. "This is Folken" he spoke, calmly and coolly. "All hands prepare to repel invaders. Repeat: all hands prepare to repel invaders." He shut off the frequency and watched the invaders pull up alongside the floating fortress and fling grappling hooks. This was going to get epic.
As Basram storm troopers invaded the Vione, the battle continued on the ground. Waves of Basramian infantry crashed into the walls of Palas. The soldiers set light siege ladders against the walls and swarmed up them, ignoring arrows and rocks and explosives from the defenders. Several ladders made it to the top of the wall but twice as many fell back, hacked up by defending swords. Still, enough soldiers reached the top to fight for control of the wall.
A hundred Basram soldiers in plate mail tramped toward the gate. They were sheathed in metal to protect them from arrows and boiling oil. On their shoulders, they carried a great ram with a head of steel, enchanted by Kasar himself before his death. With the fall of the Blue Dragon and the containment of the Asturian guymelef forces, they marched arrogantly to the gates. Behind them marched an entire legion of Silver Serpents, bearing the banner of General Veers. Approaching the gates, the vanguard swung their ram. It smote upon the sturdy gates with an ear- splitting crash.
Van cursed as the sound of metal under torture filled the battlefield. "They've reached the gate!" he yelled over his comlink. "If they breach the walls then we're done!"
"And we aren't already?!" An ambitious soldier cut off Dilandau's snarl. The pyro swerved around the man's spear and drove straight for the face. Two other guymelefs attacked him from the rear but Dalet and Gatti intercepted them, protecting their leader.
Slowly but surely, Van, Dilandau and their remaining troops were being pushed back against the wall of the city. Sheer numbers, combined with rigid training and discipline, were gradually overcoming the defenders.
And there didn't seem to be a damn thing they could do about it.
***
Folken brought his sword down hard and fast.
To the credit of his black-armoured opponent, the sword was blocked. This being Folken's intent all along, he shoved forward hard. The man lost his balance and fell against the wall, stunned. Only his four companions kept him from being killed in the next second.
This time, the invaders had pushed past the inner defences and a detachment had made its way to the bridge. Where only order ruled, chaos had seized power. The bridge crew was fighting desperately to keep the invaders from taking the ship. The sheer fury at the audacity of the attack was all that stopped that take over from happening.
Folken ducked and thrust, his sword crunching into bone. He then whirled and blocked a downward slash. Kicking out, he crushed the man's kneecap and shoved him back. Across the bridge, Merle had tackled a man and was scratching him viciously.
Using his superior size, Folken forced the press of men back to the bridge entryway. He slammed his fist into the door release switch and a steel door, eight inches thick, slammed down. The men leapt backward to avoid getting crushed. That left only five or so invading men in the bridge, and these were quickly subdued.
Taking the time to breathe, Folken looked at Merle, who had tied up her victim with a piece of conducting wire. "Don't you even think about trying to escape or I'll start running electricity through it!" she scolded. Turning to her console, she whistled. "Folken, we've got two hundred of Veers' lackeys onboard."
Folken whistled. The Vione's sixty crewmen were in trouble indeed. "Where are they?"
Merle pressed a few buttons before answering. "It looks most of them are stuck in the corridors leading to Engine Maintenance. Naria and Eriya and most of the shipboard troopers have them boxed in. Only thirty or so are trying to get to the bridge and a couple more are scattered around."
An idea struck Folken and he smirked deviously. Merle saw this. "I know that smile Folkie. Either you're going to save our hides or get us killed."
"I know which one I'd prefer. Flood the corridors the bulk of those troops are in with engine coolant. Let's see how well they can fight while they can't breathe."
Merle turned and made it so, punching in the appropriate commands through her computer. "You realise" she said casually, "That, without coolant, the engines will start to overheat."
"Not if we don't do too much fancy flying".
"Touché". And with that, most of the invaders were incapacitated. The remaining few were easily overcome, mostly by surprise. With his ship back under his control, Folken checked his computer screen for the status of the battle. He winced slightly.
Veers' troops had made it to the wall and his armoured units were bottling up Asturia's 'melefs. The tanks were bombarding the inner city while those accursed sorcerers had whipped up a massive windstorm. On the plus side, Jasmine's air forces seemed to be holding their own, despite the odds they were facing. Folken decided to help them out.
"There" the cyborg pointed on the view screen. Three of leva- cruisers were ganging up on Jasmine's flagship, the Peace Keeper. "Lets give the good general a hand, shall we?"
"Aye aye Folkie!" Merle and her fellow bridge crewmembers directed the ship. Soon a hail of torpedoes raked the side of one of the cruisers. The Peace Keeper joined in and the warship exploded under the fire.
The remaining two ships each veered to one side of the small area of battle. Their purpose became clear as the Vione and the Peace Keeper were caught in the withering crossfire.
The bridge shook and Folken was nearly thrown from his chair. "Damage report!"
"Stabilisers are out! Armour is out! Engines are oh so close to becoming out!"
"What's in?"
"The weapon systems. Shall I keep firing?"
"Would you?!"
The argument was cut off by a crackle from the com-system. "Basram troops have breached the gates" a panicky voice shouted, "And are marching for the castle! Repeat: Basram troops have breached the-" The transmission cut off in a trail of static.
"Damn it!" Folken slammed his fist on the arm of his chair. "What else can possibly go wrong?!"
Merle stared incredulously at her radar screen. "Sir, I'm picking up more leva-ships coming in". She looked at Folken with a raised eyebrow. "You had to ask, didn't you?"
Folken shook his head in annoyance. "Alright then" he stood up. "Lets give this one last run for the money. Merle, charge the weapons and set a course right at the closest of those leva-ships."
"I'm on it."
Slowly the Vione began to pick up speed. It's engines damaged, it drove straight for one of the Basram cruisers. The cruiser kept its distance and fired surgical shots, methodically taking out the fortress' few remaining systems. Still it surged through the air, its weapons slowly gaining a lock on the enemy.
And then, for no apparent reason, something exploded on the Basram warship. Flames consuming its engines, the ship plunged from the sky onto the city.
Folken stared. "What the...?"
Merle stared at her radar again, this time even more incredulously. "Folken? Those new ships that just arrived. They're not Basramian. You'll never guess who's they are."
The bleep of the ship to ship communications system diverted Folken from Merle. He pressed the button and looked at the view screen. There he saw one of the last people he ever expected to see.
"This is General Adelphous of the Zaibach Alliance. And if it isn't dear old Folken Fanel, gotten himself in trouble again". The old General grinned at that.
Folken grinned back. "It's good to see you again General. But I don't think now is the right time to catch up on old times."
Adelphous snorted. "I'm not here to catch up on old times! Zodia and I are here to put an end to this war business."
"Zodia? Zodia Quu?" Folken was shocked. Two of Zaibach's best Generals had come to fight on their side, and had brought their armies too.
"As I was saying to your Miss Jasmine a minute ago" Adelphous continued in conversational tones, "This is what happens when you let a bunch of namby pamby desk Generals tell your soldiers what to do. Well! She just blew right up in my face! She's feisty, that one is." He chuckled then turned to someone off screen. "Concentrate your fire on that ship their before it can launch any fighters". He turned back to Folken. "Anyway" he continued, "I checked the battle pattern and the devil-boy seems to be in trouble. So I sent a couple squadrons to back him up and Zodia is going to swing around and parachute his boys into the city. That ought to keep those bastards out of the castle". The General looked at a technical readout. "It looks like you're damaged Folken. Why don't you let me take it from here?"
Folken shook his head. "It's my friends down their Adelphous. I'm not going to stop just because I'm tired."
Adelphous shrugged. "Ah well. Suit yourself. Oh, and before I forget, your lady friend, Miss Eries, says hello." Chuckling, Adelphous signed off. Folken never thought that his ears would heat up in the middle of a battle.
***
Armoured troopers raged through the city streets, tearing through buildings in their rampage. Basramian Silver Serpents and regular army troopers clashed with Asturian soldiers and reinforcements from Zaibach. Their battles savaged the city but both sides were locked in a stalemate. Veers' plans had not accounted for this. Had he been there, he could have led his men through the obstacle but he was not there. And the defenders did not have enough force to drive them back, not even with reinforcements.
And so, as the battle remained deadlocked, a smaller battle took place.
Sweating flowed in rivers down Yukari's face. The strain was becoming too much. Balancing the great rock pile and lifting new rocks was driving her past even her formidable endurance.
Once she slipped and the entire edifice began to topple. But, through sheer force of will, she righted the pile and continued on intrepidly.
At last, she reached the bottom, where a battered and broken body lay. Setto dashed into the pit and picked up the form of Sabrina. Cradling her gently, he brushed her bedraggled hair from her face and carried her from the pit. Thus released, Yukari abandoned the effort and let the rocks fall. Ignoring the crash, she sat down wearily. She managed one brief look at her brother and his love before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell over into unconsciousness. Luckily she landed on Mark, already unconscious from blood loss.
Setto held Sabrina and wept. "Oh Sabrina" he whispered. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. If I had then you'd be all right." Tears trickled from his jade eyes as his heart slowly broke in two.
Something showed on his dirty and soot-streaked face. Setto leaned down by Sabrina's face. "Sabrina" he whispered, "I love you." He pressed his lips to her forehead and pulled back in grief.
The body in his hands stirred. "Setto?" Heavy eyelids lifted and dark eyes looked into green. The look they held...it was indescribable! Sabrina smiled slightly. She mouthed three little words to Setto that mended his heart.
"I love you."
***
Total chaos rampaged through the battleground when Veers got his first tactical readout of the area. The Destiny had maintained enough spare parts to repair the drive system and they arrived on the periphery of the battle to see his armoured units and airforce slowly bring forced back by suddenly superior numbers of Asturian and Zaibach armies. His infantry had forced its way into the city, but they were stalled and could not make it before their support was destroyed. The sorcerers had abandoned their positions as had his tanks and were fleeing battle.
Veers cursed. His grand campaign had ground to a halt against an unexpected alliance between old enemies. A mistake on his part and one he would not compound with useless heroics.
"Signal the attack force" he ordered his communications officer. "Sound the retreat. Order them to regroup around Solek." He paused before adding, "And give them my congratulations. They fought well against a twist of fate."
Veers leaned back in his command chair and reflected. It was not such a disaster. He held most of the Alliance members captive, even if the strongest few had eluded him. His position was still strong when it came to the bargaining table.
Yes, when.
It would be prudent to go on the defensive for a while. The allies had greater access to troops than he had counted on but it would not last long. Eventually, as the years passed, they would tire of their constant vigilance and would want to make a peace offer. He would negotiate and there would be a peace.
He had no idea how long that peace would last, but he would take no military action in that time. But he would gain time to rearm and to study his opponents anew. It may not happen in his lifetime, but Asturia and all of Gaea would be at peace one way or another. And his daughter...
Veers clenched his fist. 'Sabrina' he said silently, 'I will see you again. I swear it.'
The Destiny and its army pulled back from the city in an orderly fashion. When the Asturians pursued, they fought back fiercely, but they retreated just the same. They returned to Basram and to occupy countries, leaving Palas to the defenders.
The Battle for Asturia came to an end.
***
Magicman: The end is near gentle readers. One or two more chapters, I haven't decided. But it's near and I hope you enjoyed it all.
