Well everyone, Happy New Year! It is now 2017!
You know? As a history lover, I can't help but think back to how many things happened many years ago. Think about it.
As a tip of the hat to 2016, in 1986 the International Whaling Commission banned the practice of whaling.
In December of 1777, two-hundred and forty years ago, General George Washington and the Contenental Army was camped at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. It was also during this year that Vermont declared itself the 'Independant Republic of New Connecticut'. This lasted until 1791. Vermont has the reputation of being the fourteenth state admitted to the Union after the Revolutionary War, and the first state to forbid slavery.
In June of 1837, King William IV of Great Britain was succeeded on the throne by his niece Victoria. She was crowned in 1838. Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire for 64 years (the longest reign of a monarch in British history) and her rule is universally known and recognized as the Victorian Age.
Also in September of 1837 an inventor by the name of Samuel F. B. Morse demonstrates the telegraph to stunned onlookers.
During the Mexican-American War in 1847, American forces led by Major General Winfield Scott captured the city of Veracruz, one of the largest port cities in Mexico. This was the first time the city was occupied by American forces. The second was in 1914 when several American citizens were arrested and American forces intervened.
In March of 1917, the Russian royal family was overthrown by the Bolshevik Revolution, effectively removing Russia from the First World War. One year later the Bolsheviks executed Czar Nicholas II and his entire family.
On August 6, 1917 the United States of America declared war on Germany, entering the First World War. A few months later (ironically on December 7, 1917) The US declared war on Austria-Hungary.
It is worth noting that the declaration of war passed almost unanimously with only one saying no. Later when the US entered the Second World War, it was the same: almost unanimous with an exception of one, the same person who voted 'no' to the WWI declaration also voted 'no' to the WWII declaration.
In May of 1937 Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister of Great Britain. During his term, he was faced with Germany and Italy 'rattling the sabre' and agreed to several demands made in an effort of 'appeasement'. In 1938, he was recorded as waving a signed peace of paper and declaring 'peace in our time'. The next year, the world was at war again. He was replaced by Winston Churchill in 1940 and died soon after.
Though hostilities officially ended in 1945, the Second World War didn't end there. In 1947, after nearly a year and a half of deliberations, several treaties were signed in Paris, ending the European chapter of the Second World War. The Pacific chapter of WWII wouldn't truly end until 1951 when Japan signed peace treaties with over 48 nations (not including the Soviet Union which was later signed in 1955).
These are but a few interesting facts from our history, some you know, some you may not have known. Anyway, 2016 is gone, 2017 is here, and 2018 is now 364 days away. Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
As a side note, the F13-H4 Strike Fighter introduced later on is based upon the German Ta-152 Interceptor.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING OR ANYONE IN THE SPYRO UNIVERSE. ONLY MY OCS.
Chapter 63: The Indomitable Will of Launces
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The engine sputtered and coughed again. The broken exhaust pipe coughed out a puff of thick, oily, foul-smelling black smoke into the cab of the HTM4 as a Syllian civilian tried time and again to start the old hand-crank engine. The mixed Syllian and Rotarian crew coughed as the engine failed to start, once again.
They had been like this since the tank had first stalled out at East Fifth and Broad when the OAC and Loyalist soldiers had been forcibly pushed back to Grand Gate by a veritable flood of Syllian paratroopers and dragons. The three Rotarians were the original crew but were bolstered by six Syllians who just so happened to know a thing or two about these old tanks. It didn't matter to them that they were now under the command of a Syllian officer, they just wanted to get back in the fight.
After the first three tries, a civilian came up and started working on the engine, muttering to himself all the while. Eventually though the man's patience wore thin and he started banging and kicking the old engine and occasionally turning the start crank again and again. It was almost to the point that the Rotarian sergeant was about to request permission to dismount and continue on foot. Finally though, after the fifth try, the crank caught and the pistons started moving up and down, restoring the tank to working state. The civilian smiled and looked to the Syllian officer.
"Turns out this tank likes being cussed at. This oughta get you lads back in the fight." The Syllian officer nodded to the man and then turned to the driver.
"Alright, let's get back in the-"
He was interuptted by a loud siren splitting the air, it's high-pitched wail getting everyone's attention.
"This is an alert for all Syllian forces and Royalist forces. The Chimera has completed its maneuvers and is targetting the city! All civilians take shelter and prepare for imminent artillery barrage!"
At that moment, a loud whistling noise was heard and the crew looked outside and up just in time to see three shells arc overhead and land somewhere in the city with three tremendous explosions. The officer cursed.
"Looks like things just went to shit..."
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Inside the castle, the Partisans were pinned down by machinegun fire coming from the back of the East Wing where the main tower was located. George had heard the siren as well as the announcement and the accompanying explosions and cursed to himself. He then turned to the troops with him and scowled.
"Enough fooling around with these Loyalist bastards! Break through them and advance to the main tower!" Carmine looked to him and nodded.
"Your Highness, it's a long shot but I think I have an idea. There is a radio room set up in the main tower. The Chimera is a massive weapons platform but it has no way of directly targetting the city, it must be relayed radio coordinates like any other artillery. Plus... Terref... he was an artillery officer before he became OAC. He knows everything about artillery and is likely the man giving the radio coordinates." George looked to him and nodded.
"Alright then... get to the main tower, destroy the radio, and retake the castle. Sounds simple." Carmine chuckled.
"Most things are easier said than done. Still, we have our course. There's only one way to the tower and that is forward through the remaining Loyalists." The Partisans nodded and then started firing around the corner at the machineguns. George gazed around to them and handed Carmine his weapon before shifting again into dragon form.
Taking the lead, George plowed into the hail of bullets like a living tank. The Partisans, seeing this, once again took cover behind him as he advanced, firing as they went. The machinegunners panicked and started raking the floor trying to make George balk all the while calling for the soldiers nearby to ready some weapon that he couldn't hear. As he approached the end of the hall, he suddenly saw three Rotarian soldiers come from a room he recognized as the armory and saw the large rifles they were holding. As he gazed at the rifles he suddenly realized what they were.
The rifles the Rotarians hefted were were the precursors to the Northumbrian Avalanche Gun. They were old single shot bolt-action rifles that fired a 13mm bullet capable of piercing light armor...
... or for that matter dragon scales.
"Carmine! Three Panzergewehrs at the front! Take them down before they fire!"
Amber was quick on the trigger as she heard him call and fired a round, killing the last remaining machinegunner. Carmine, now free from the withering barrage, stepped out of the shelter of George's left foreleg and leveled the assault rifle at the three and opened fire, raking the barrel back and forth.
The first soldier dropped with six bullets going across his chest. The second dropped the rifle as a bullet went through his hand and then fell as another ripped through his neck. The third and last soldier hastily leveled the rifle and fired, the 13mm round flying forth and striking George in the right shoulder, making him roar in anger. Miles then dove forward, submachinegun in hand, and emptied the entire clip into the third soldier.
As they stopped at the staircase, George reverted to human form and gazed at the injury, glaring as he did so.
"Dammit. I got careless." Immediately, Angela was there and she examined the wound and nodded to him.
"It's alright, it looks worse than it is. Heh, you dragons sure can take a hit, huh?" George chuckled.
"Yeah, Jonathan Havvers once called us living tanks. I guess I liked that so much I requested a transfer from artillery to the tank corps." She then laughed.
"I definately saw that." She then turned to Carmine.
"Carmine, if we stop the transmission, won't the Chimera use another broadcast to target the city?" Carmine shrugged.
"I only know of that one radio station but, knowing the OAC, they likely have a backup somewhere. Still, the main radio is long range and anything else is likely short range meaning the Chimera would have to maneuver again to close with the city. This means that they would then be in range of the city's big guns on the outer wall." George looked to him.
"But... we saw that thing before! How the hell can the cannons dent that thing?" Carmine chuckled.
"Because, I believe the people of Blue Islands have a phrase calling something a 'paper tiger'?" George looked to him.
"Yeah... something that looks fierce but is actually weak. Why bring that up?"
"The Chimera is a paper tiger. It has incredible firepower and immense size but that's it." Miles looked to him curiously.
"You're going to have to explain that one." Carmine nodded to him.
"You see, it was the first superweapon Mechanos built and sheer pride alone kept him from modernizing it as he believed no other nation would be able to equal it's sheer size and firepower. It has a severe downside though. It still uses the engines he built for it two decades ago, the Schwannburg Torsion Two Twenty-five." George nodded to him when he paused to make sure the others were following him.
"The ScBT-225 had a major flaw, it cannot operate for extended periods of time before it overheats. Once it does, the Chimera is stationary as it vents the heat and must stop near a water source to refill the coolant tanks." His smile then widened.
"Mechanos tried to solve this a number of ways. Eventually he was forced to cut back on the armor plates and upped the weapons caliber slightly to deal with threats further away. Don't you see? The Chimera has big guns and all but it's thickest armor isn't even five inches thick. The cannons on the wall, if aimed correctly, can rip through the thin armor of the Command Tower and possibly the hull. Hell, even rifle and machinegun fire could pierce the turret armor." George nodded.
"First thing's first though, we need to stop that long range bombardment." Carmine nodded and looked to the stairs.
"As we advance, I'd like to find my Uncle. If what Terref said is true, I hope he's alright." George nodded and together, the group started up the stairs.
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"Engine Six has been repaired! Crystal generators still at eighty-seven percent and holding steady! All engines functioning!"
The repairs had taken some time. More time than James had thought originally. Through the window of the observation point he could see the east wall of the city, as well as the back face of the castle. It was refreshing to see the city again yet at the same time, smoke from the battle raging rose into the sky. A frantic radio report had informed him that the Chimera had just begun bombardment of the city. He returned to the station and gazed across the bridge crew until he found the officer he was looking for.
"Colonel Colston, how much farther from Launces are we?" The officer turned and saluted him sharply.
"We're still several miles out Your Majesty. By my watch, if we continue at full speed, we'll reach Launces in about three hours." James nodded and did the math in his head.
At a speed of 12 mph, and a ETA of 3 hours, it meant that they were 36 miles out from the city. James nodded and gazed at the castle, he kept imagining that he could see George climbing the tower in an effort to reach the top. He folded his arms and sighed, knowing that at this range and without radio coordinates there was nothing he could do to help. Still, he steeled his resolve and glanced to Colston again.
"Colonel, try and contact Bertram again. We have to get some sort of coordinates to use the cannons." Colston nodded and sent a runner to the radio room.
James felt the familiar charge of the crystal engines kick in again as the landship Indomitable, a weapon he specifically created to counter the threat of further Rotarian land-battleships like the Hydra and the Chimera, slowly lurched forward again.
At that moment, an alarm split the calm and a report came through.
"Alert! Alert! Loyalist and OAC zeppelins and helicopters taking off from Launces Airport! All tower gunnery crews, man your weapons and prepare for attack!" Colston turned to James, an exhasperated expression on his face.
"Your Majesty. I must once again voice my concerns about you being on the front lines here. Surely you wouldn't consider falling back to a safer position?" James gave a small smile and nodded.
"I may be the King of Syllia but Launces is still my home. I cannot stand idly by while so many sacrifice themselves to liberate it. Notify the remaining Dracocorps dragons with the force and dispatch them on an intercept mission. Unlike fighter planes and jets, these airships and helicopters are targets that they can fight against." Colston nodded and turned back just as the radio came alive.
"Paladin to Fortress! I have firing coordinates on the Rotarian landship! Grid Section Twelve-Eleven, Points Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Fire for effect!" James grabbed the PA speaker and keyed it.
"Attention forward guns, we have firing solution. Load long-range Magnum shells, double propellent. Grid Section Twelve-Eleven, Points Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Set elevation to forty-five degrees. Fire for effect!"
A siren sounded as the three large 15 inch cannons in the forward hull slowly lifted their barrels into position. James watches as one by one all three stopped at a perfect 45 degree angle for maximum range. Then the alarm stopped, and all three cannons fired, the recoil shaking the entire landship. James turned to Colston and then faced the crew.
"Now it begins."
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"This is an alert to all aircraft in the area, mobile radar station Dog-Six has detected numerous Rotarian aircraft inbound to attack. Repeat: multiple hostiles inbound to Launces." Bertram cursed as he broke of his strafing run of the Chimera and leveled out. Just as he finished, he heard an alarm from the Rotarian land-battleship.
"New fire coordinates recieved. Quadrant R-Seven-Four-Four. Target confirmed as Grand Gate. OAC requesting artillery fire to stop advancing traitors and Syllian forces. Coordinates are danger close." Bertram held his breath as the three large naval cannons on the stern deck of the Chimera rose to a twenty degree angle. However, just before the cannons fired, he heard something come through his radio and he looked in the direction of the city just in time to see three large shells drop from the sky.
The first shell struck the aft deck, punching a huge hole through the deck armor plates and setting fire to the area. The second was a little high but still hit the Chimera as it tore through the third smokestack, caving it in, and then continued down into the small building nestled between the second and third smokestacks. This was followed by a tremendous explosion that ripped the third smokestack free so that the remnants of it toppled over and then, to Bertram's relief, the radio tower also fell.
The third round though, if luck was gold then whichever gun crew aboard the Indomitable aimed that was rich as the last round struck the pivot point of the cannons, shattering the joint and dropping all three 9 inch cannons back into the resting position as well as started another fire. Then, all of a sudden, the grates on the port and starboard sides ripped free from where they were bolted on and sailed in opposite directions, smoke pouring from the revealed holes. Bertram crowed loudly and keyed the radio.
"Gun crews of the Indomitable, I owe you guys a drink because that was beautiful. I count three hits on the Chimera, all critical. I confirm that the long-range radio is down, as is the stern artillery, and severe damage to what looks to be the engine room. Good shooting, Launces is safe from artillery fire." As he released the radio key, he caught a glimpse of something in the sky and his eyes sharpened to see what it was and he gasped.
"This is Paladin, I confirm several flights of large twin-engine bombers at high altitude. Damn, how can something that big fly on only two engines?" To his amazement, Dieter was the first to reply.
"Those are HB13s, the long-range heavy bomber of the Rotarian AAF. They're only used when Mechanos really wants to see something destroyed. The nickname for those aircraft are City-busters." Bertram didn't like the sound of that.
"Why are they called that?" This time Kaleb answered.
"They were used during the attacks on Retorinc and Chamberlain. They earned their nickname because they carry over six tons of explosives in their bomb bays and because Mechanos deployed over two-hundred of them when he attacked Chamberlain, and then the Tellanian holdouts in Tobleski. The bombers were deployed for eight days straight and they completely leveled the city, there isn't a building higher than two stories still standing there." Bertram grimaced.
"So then, any guess on their target? Launces? The ground forces? Or have they somehow learned of the Indomitable?" There was static for a second and a voice came over the radio.
"Attention, any aircraft, this is George de Launces of the Launces Partisans. We have almost secured the castle from Rotarian Loyalist and OAC control, however, we have just intercepted a message from Mechanos to the OAC commander informing him that there is a wing of bombers inbound to level the city! He even had the nerve to ask if Launces was burning." Bertram cursed.
"Well, there's our answer. All fighters, leave the Chimera to the Indomitable. Intercept those bombers and bring them all down."
A chorus of confirmations blew through the radio and almost as one the fighters started climbing higher to intercept the incoming bombers. As he rose through the clouds, he was suddenly struck by the size of the force.
"Umm... anyone else seeing this?" There was an explosion of colorful words over the radio.
"There must be over a hundred! Paladin, how the hell are twelve fighters supposed to down a hundred bombers?"
"Oh ye of little faith. Have you already forgotten about us?" Bertram glanced around where the voice came from and heard a loud engine droning beside him. He glanced to the left and gaped at a sight that, had he been faced with a few months ago, would have made even him contemplate retreat.
Off his left wing, also flying up to meet the bombers, were six whole squadrons of the Rotarian F13-H4 strike fighter, the aircraft Mechanos had designed to replace the F9 and F10. These frontline units had been assigned them shortly before news of Ayura reached them and, with the exception of three or four squadrons, they all defected when they heard the news and saw the silver griffon princess herself.
The Royalist squadrons closed with the bombers from underneath and fired their impressive armament of four machineguns and five cannons. The nose of the lead bomber in the formation literally disintigrated with the power of the rounds hitting it. As the lead bomber fell away the voice on the radio started laughing.
"I forgot that these bombers have glass jaws!" Bertram then smiled as he got the joke and actually gave a laugh when Dieter cut in.
"That is a very bad joke Lieutenant Kelvin." Bertram keyed the radio as he turned in the air and raked the right wing of another bomber.
"If you can, try and aim for the bomber's engines. They won't get far without them." Another groan came through the radio.
"Et tu, Bertram?" Bertram chuckled at that but then saw a sight that made his heart skip.
"Sweet Mother of- Squire! Bomber below you! He's diving straight at the Tower! He isn't about to carpet bomb it, he's diving right at it!" The reply was one of utter shock.
"What the- that's not possible, a bomber like that, the vibrations alone would crack it like an egg!"
"Says the young man who pulled a barrel roll in a four-engine transport."
That voice was all that Bertram needed to snap the plane into a tight role just as tracers whizzed by him and shot the tail section of the bomber he was bracketting to pieces. He hurriedly performed an Immelman and when he righted himself, he saw several aircraft bearing the raven, reaper, and scythe crest of the 666th.
He spared a moment to gaze in amazement as, just as Kaleb's intuition proved right as with a resounding shriek of metal and breaking glass, the large twin-engine bomber all but disintigrated in the dive. However, the fuselage, and more frighteningly, the bomb bay, continued on its previous path of flight and crashed directly into the Tower, punching a hole in it. Seconds later, the bombs it was carrying exploded, splitting the old fortification open with a resounding 'CRACK'.
Bertram watched, in fixed horror, as the top three floors of the Tower mimicked a smaller Dalon Tower and tilted forward, crumbling as it fell and then crushed the section of the wall before it. Stonework, metal, and worse of all soldiers, fell from the rubble and was smashed as pieces of the wall came down atop them.
Bertram turned back just in time to see a Rotarian F13-H4, this one bearing the 666th emblem, trying to maneuver around and get on his tail. what made this plane different was the blood red '2' on the fuselage. Bertram managed to put voice to memory and growled.
"So, still alive Kiln? I figured a coward like you couldn't die a soldier's death." There was a cough on the radio.
"Indeed. I'm far too partial to living to allow the likes of you to kill me. As I am now the 666th Squadron's XO, I will cement myself by being the man who slays you. Ironic that we finish that little dance we started over Launces when your friend was killed. I haven't been to Launces though, do you think there still might be some trace of his bones or his fighter in the ruins of the castle tower? I've been meaning to go looking for mementos." Bertram grimaced.
"I don't think so Kiln, the only way you're getting into Launces is if I shoot you down inside the city." Kiln laughed.
"Is that so? Well then, you'd best prepare to back those words up dragon."
Kiln throttled down and tried to slide his way onto Bertram's tail but he was having none of that. He stomped on the rudder pedal and flipped the fighter over into a roll and then reversed it, coming up behind Kiln. However, the Rotarian ace saw this and copied the maneuver, firing a burst as Bertram's right wing passed his crosshairs.
Bertram felt the large caliber rounds strike the wing and cursed as he saw a huge hole through the wing where the Syllian cross was located. Luckily he still had control of the ailerons and managed to break free from Kiln's sight and loop around on his tail, firing as Kiln's plane rolled in front of him. He was rewarded by seeing sparks shoot from the belly of Kiln's fighter as well as flames from the engine cowling as the plane started belching thin grey-white smoke.
"Gah! Damn you! Blast... no! I refuse to die like this!" Kiln wheeled the plane away and started diving for Bertram, firing as he closed. Only a quick roll from Bertram saved him as Kiln's plane swooped by.
"Have you gone mad?!" Kiln's voice came through, but this time he was worried, even fearful, as he spoke his voice cracked in several places.
"Mechanos' orders. Do whatever is nessessary. Will not tolerate any more failures from me... no... US. Operation Serpent... We screw this up, we're dead. W-We've gone and burnt our candle up from both ends... I... I cannot... I WILL NOT DIE!"
Kiln performed a maneuver that even Bertram could see his plane was in no shape to perform, a quick, tight turn to try another kamikaze attack at Bertram's fighter. It was him, or Bertram, and if he was going to die, then he would take Bertram down with him. The radio crackled back to life, Kiln's voice was broken, hysterical.
"I swear to you Bertram de Launces, I shall be your death, and I shall drag you through the gates of Hell myself!"
Kiln's voice broke down into high-pitched laughter as he dove again. Bertram realized suddenly that there was no room to maneuver. He also realized that, if he shifted and escaped, Kiln would still plow into him, the propellor blades likely slicing him to ribbons.
Suddenly, a burst of machinegun and cannonfire got his attention and Kiln screamed as the rounds peppered the fuselage, tail, and wings, forcing him to abort the ram. Then suddenly the radio crackled to life again, Kiln's voice suddenly sounding six or eight octaves higher.
"It... It's not possible! I... I KILLED you! I KILLED YOU!" Kiln's plane flew past Bertram, thick black smoke pouring from the engine. From the looks of the way it was flying, Kiln was just barely keeping control of the fighter, all the while shrieking into the radio like a madman.
Another plane got Bertram's attention and he turned to see a sight that made him think he was seeing a ghost as well.
There, tailing Kiln, was a Syllian blue P-31b. The only difference was that on the rudder was the Blue Isles kanji for 'Hurricane' and on the fuselage was the crest of the Ayatane family. Bertram's eyes blurred as he saw the crest.
"M... Michijo Ayatane? Hayate...?" The radio gave a burst of static and the aircraft flew at Kiln again, opening fire when he was in range. Over the radio, Bertram could tell Kiln was loosing what was left of his mind. Through the canopy, he saw that Kiln tried to roll but couldn't. That last burst from the unknown plane had damaged his controls.
He was a sitting duck.
As the fighter closed again, the radio crackled once more and a voice came through. The Blue Isles accent was there but the voice was different from Michijo.
"You are the monster who attacked Michijo Ayatane. Today, his death is avenged!" Kiln screamed as cannon and machinegun rounds riddled his plane, walking their way up to the cockpit.
"Who... who are you?!" The radio cracked once and then:
"I am your death."
The plane fired again, cannon rounds slamming point blank into the cockpit of Kiln's fighter. The glass canopy shattered, and through it all, Bertram could see Kiln inside, each round striking his body, passing through it, and destroying the panel before him. He even saw one round pass cleanly through Kiln's body and break the flight control stick in front of him in half leaving Kiln ludicrously holding the upper half in his hand. At that moment, the engine caught fire, and through his damaged radio, Kiln let out a scream that Bertram could hear as the fire flashed over and into the cockpit and engulfed him.
Yet, it didn't explode.
The plane, uncontrolled, rolled slowly to the left, the nose dropped as the damaged engine seized, and Kiln fell, burning, still strapped in his plane as it disintigrated around him, burning oil trickled down the fuselage and caught fuel leaking from the tank, consuming the rest of the plane, all the while, Kiln screamed until the fireball he had become struck the ground just outside Launces, finally ending him. As Bertram leveled out, the mysterious plane lighted alongside him. Recovering, he keyed his radio.
"Pilot, thank you. Can you identify yourself?" The radio was silent for a moment before it came back on.
"Yes Your Highness, I can, and I will. Flight Lieutenant Ichani Ayatane of the Blue Isles RAF branch, 82nd Interceptor Squadron, Force YZ-8. Michijo... he was my older brother..." Bertram nodded to himself and sighed.
"I thank you for what you've done. Your brother would have been very proud." The radio crackled again.
"I know."
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As the Indomitable drew closer, the Dracocorps found themselves being drawn from the battle in the city towards the airships and helicoptirs heading for the attack. After leaving Caldor in the capable hands of the surgeons on the ground, Shimmer had managed to catch up with Elisari and the rest of the group. He glanced at her and gave a small smile.
For the first time since Silverus' execution, he saw that her eyes burned brightly. She had been restored to the Dracocorps by order of James de Launces and assigned directly to him as his second in command. Now with her heart restored and the heavy weight she had carried all these years removed, she seemingly regained the beauty for which she had been known for before Silverus. Shimmer remembered once he had asked her if she would have considered him a mate and she had given him a small chuckle and a generally vague answer.
Now as they flew together, he felt those old feelings stirring up inside. He had alsways believed he was the literal, if draconic, expression of the old human saying 'Lucky at cards, unlucky at love'. He could have had sixteen bombs explode near him and he would have walked away without a scratch. One instance during the Dalon Conflict, he had over thirty AA cannons from the Poseidon trained on him and bracketting him with flak shells.
He was never hit once.
A flak burst broke him from the thoughts and he saw airships mounting machineguns and cannons turning to intercept the dragons and protecting the other airships and helicoptors. The large, counter-rotating twin blade propellors revved up to quicker speed. The engines whined and the rudders turned, slowly bringing the broadside of the airship facing the dragons. Shimmer growled and gazed to Elisari's wing.
"Eli! Take your group high and attack from above!"
Elisari gave him and nod and with three great flaps of her ruby wings, she was rising above the airships. An airship, L3, spotted her group and started to rise as well, the aeilerons rising to a full 40 degree rise. The flak cannons were hurriedly cranked into position to open fire on the force. Elisari, seeing the danger, stoked up the fires deep within her and unleashed a torrent of her legendary ruby flames. The gun crews, believing this was bravado, laughed.
Right up until the flames struck the gun deck, setting off ammunition, melting the cables lashing the deck to the envelope, and setting fire to the fabric envelope itself. The glowing hot cables snapped, the tension whipping across the deck, cutting through all in the way. Though helium wasn't explosive, the fabric that contained the helium was highly flammable. Each airship had eight gas-filled envelopes keeping it afloat.
L3, the airship that had turned to engage Elisari, had three of its eight envelopes burning and the large canvas 'bag' that was the skin over the entire balloon was slowly spreading the flames to the other envelopes. The hiss of escaping gas was audible even in the chaos of combat. Another airship, B26, came in as close and soldiers on L3 took a leap of faith, jumping from the stricken airship to the other.
Their rescue however, was short lived as moments after L3 fell away, completely engulfed in flames, Elisari raked the deck of B26 in flames and Shimmer who flew under her, lanced the envelopes with precise shots. The entire balloon 'popped' and the deck fell flaming to the world below, the deck crews still screaming as their life lines now became figurative nooses.
At that moment, two helicoptors tried to fly in and buzz the dragon formation. Again, Elisari and Shimmer moved in perfect sync. Shimmer nailed the lower flying one with a light bolt through the cockpit and Elisari melted the rotors on the higher one. Both choppers actually collided mid-air as they fell.
As the group flew onward in pursuit of the airships still heading for the force, a loud roar pierced the air. His sharp eyes managed to watch in amazement as the humans on board the airships suddenly seem to lose heart in the attack, as if they were unsure of their plan of attack. In contrast, the dragons in the air picked up and roared triumphantly. Shimmer realized what he had heard and turned to gaze up through the clouds and gasped aloud.
There, descending through the clouds, was Palas the Behemoth, a light dragon of such immense size that he was rivaled only by Shimmer's father Titanus and Gojani. Shimmer realized that if he was here then... He started looking about wildly and then he noticed something. Nearby he also caught more glimpses and saw more light dragons descending. Some joined Palas, others started flying in perfect V formation with their fellows and launching attacks on the confused Rotarian Loyalists. What made these light dragons different from the ones with the Dracocorps was that these dragons had archaic silver-steel armor and a crest stamped into it.
A crest of a dragon surrounded by seven stars. The Knights of the Blood-Rite.
The Knights were light dragons who had sworn to protect the last great houses that commanded the Blood-Rite powers of their race. Those who held the Blood-Rite were the 'Lords' and the others were the Knights. Palas, or more precisely, Lord Palas, was the wielder of the Blood-Rite: Champion's Aura. As Shimmer watched, two more formations of light dragons dropped from the sky. He immediately recognized both dragons leading them.
The first was Lady Dulcia the Merciful, wielder of the Blood-Rite: Prism Burst. This Rite, which, unlike several offense-oriented Blood-Rites, was meant to trap opponents in a prison of light until they could be apprehended. Although if they couldn't, the Prism would then shatter and destroy its prisoners quickly and mercifully.
The second was Lord Arranthas the Vigilant, wielder of the Eternal Vigil Blood-Rite. When Arranthas used this ability, he never seemed to tire, never wavered. As a result, that stamina and behavior passed to those around him. When using Eternal Vigil, one never tired, never felt the urge to sleep, eat, or drink. Pure mana sustained them.
Shimmer knew in his heart he was witnessing a sight not seen since the ancient times when the Knights of the Blood-Rite went to war against the newly formed Slayer Corps of Tellanos. Light dragons were few in number, being born a light dragon or having a light dragon hatch was all a matter of chance. Naturally in Caldor's case his mother mated with a light dragon so she had at least a fifty-fifty chance while those who were not of a light dragon parentage had a less than ten percent. Yet, seeing so many of his race here was staggering.
The Dracocorps naturally were allowed to keep a roster of dragons who volunteered for service and out of the some nine-hundred dragons of all the elements (and even a few who had no elements like shapeshifters), roughly sixty were light dragons. And now here was some ninety more light dragons just dropping from the sky to fight alongside them.
His focus was broken when Elisari roared and Shimmer looked to see she had been engaged by an airship that had been hiding in a low cloud bank. Shimmer quickly dove to the rescue, using his light to shoot the airship full of holes, then using his momentum to snag the balloon and pull down, causing the evvelopes to collapse and actually flipping the deck upside down as it fell. He quickly returned to Elisari who was no worse for wear despite a few scratches.
As he closed with her, she glanced at him and then gazed up at the formations of light dragons and then back to Shimmer. What no one knew was that while she had been in Royalis, Shimmer had been trying time and again to woo Elisari, despite the stigma that she bore. As Elisari gazed at Shimmer he gave her a nod which she returned and the two of them reformed their group and renewed the attack.
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George and his group had easily reached the radio room in the tower but now they were running into obstruction after obstruction. The OAC had tried to block the hallway every few feet with furniture forcing the Partisans to clamber over the block to advance. Carmine was quiet though, having found that Terref, after his ambush had failed, returned to his Uncle's quarters and had shot him dead. Now George could sense he was vengeful. He wanted to see Terref dead and Heaven help whoever got in his way.
On the second to last floor of the tower, George made a round only to leap back as several weapons fired. The OAC had set up a strong defence at the chokepoint leading to the solar (his parent's chambers) and the roof. He looked down to the flag he held in his left hand and his pistol (his SMG having run out of ammo some time ago). He then gazed to far side of the tower and spotted the old balcony and turned to his group.
"Try and break through here. I'm going to shift and scale the tower from the outside."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, George shifted form, took the Launces flag in his mouth, and leapt around the corner, running for the balcony. The startled OAC troops fired anyway, despite that their bullets were useless.
George plowed through the locked wooden and glass doors to the balcony, shattering and splintering them and scattering the wreckage all over the balcony. He gave a painful glance around the enlarged balcony which he recalled his Mother and Father loved to use as a sunning spot and grimaced. He then turned around, sank his claws into the stonework of the tower, actually startling himself at his own strength and started climbing the tower. He gave a thought to what the OAC soldiers were thinking every time they heard him sink his claws into the stonework outside. Thankfully, it was a short climb and he was soon at the roof.
Before him was the glass dome to the solar. To his left, the stairway that led up here from the hall outside the bedroom. Then to his right, he saw it. The castle flagpole and flying from it, the Occupation flag the Rotarians had hoisted up the day Launces fell. He released the flag of Launces from his mouth, shifted back into human form and started for the flagpole.
Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of movement and gasped as Terref came from behind the staircase where he had been hiding, leveled his pistol at George and fired.
He felt the round strike him. Glancing down, he saw that Terref's aim had been off and he had been hit in the collarbone. Terref, seeing he had missed the killshot, snarled and advanced, weapon in hand to finish him off. As he stopped, he raised the pistol and smirked.
"Launces will never be yours." He then lifted some sort of detonator in his hand and George blanched.
"The... the failsafe... You... you said..." Terref grinned.
"I lied." He then used his left thumb to flip the cover off the detonation switch and then gazed to the Occupation flag.
"All Glory to Emperor Mechanos." He pressed the button.
...
...
...
Nothing happened.
Terref glanced to the detonator and pressed it again. Then again. Then again. Still nothing happened.
"What's wrong with this blasted thing? What happened to the failsafe?" The sound of clanking got George's attention, a deep voice boomed from the stairs.
"I happened."
George and Terref both turned their heads to the stairs and saw a man, clad in steel plate armor standing before them. A blue and white surcoat that covered the cuirass bore the emblem of the Royal Knights, the protectors of the Royal Family. Terref immediately howled in rage and leveled his pistol at the knight, pulling the trigger.
A sharp snick made Terref go just as pale as George had when he activated the detonator. The knight drew his weapon, a longsword, and charged at Terref with a battlecry. Terref struggled to clear his pistol and managed to do so and leveled it at the knight just as he closed and squeezed the trigger.
The pistol misfired again.
Terref screamed in fear as the knight brought the sword down, slashing him from his left shoulder to right hip. The force of the hit made Terref pivot where he stood and on the backswing, the knight cut him across his back from the left hip to right shoulder, forcing Terref foward and down on his knees. Now wasting a beat, the knight then twisted the blade around and thrust forward, running Terref through. The OAC commander gave a rattling gasp of pain as the sword severed his aeorta, then to free his sword, the knight placed his right boot on Terref's back and pushed his body off the blade.
The knight then turned and glanced at George who was slowly struggling to his feet. As George steadied himself, the knight advanced two steps, knelt, and removed his helm, giving George a shock.
It was Gordon Calawai.
The only time George had seen the man he had a permanant frown plastered to his face and grunted at everything anyone asked him. Now the grizzled man's red hair was a mess and his moustache was lifted as the man smiled.
"Your Highness, Sir Gordon Calawai at your service and command." George didn't know what to say. The sound of footsteps coming from the stairs echoed as the Partisans came to the top. Carmine took one look at Calawai and then saw Terref sprawled out on the ground, dead, and then dropped to his knees, the anger draining out of him. Calawai saw him and gave him a sympathetic nod.
"Sorry lad. It was either him or the Prince and I couldn't allow that to happen." Carmine said nothing but instead nodded understandingly and then looked to George and gasped.
"Angela! George is injured!" Angela nodded and ran past him and knelt beside George to examine his shoulder. Once she got a look at it, she chuckled.
"Well Your Highness, you've earned yourself another month of enjoying my company as a nurse. That shoulder will have to be stitched up and no moving that arm for a month or so." George groaned while the others laughed and then George turned to Carmine, realizing what was now happening.
"Carmine, get back to the radio room and start broadcasting. We've retaken the castle!" Carmine nodded and started off as George then turned to Miles.
"Miles, remember that old PA system that my Father installed here to broadcast across the city? Go to my chambers, find the recording of our National Anthem, and start playing it next to the PA system." Miles nodded, looked to Amber to come with him, and they started off down the stairs. George then looked to Calawai.
"Sir Calawai, if you would be so kind?" Calawai nodded and walked to the flagpole and started lowering the OAC flag. George approached, flag in hand, and then replaced the OAC banner with the Launces flag and Calawai then started raising it.
As the flag made its way up the pole, George produced a lighter, held the OAC flag over the edge, set the corner on fire, and let the flag fall. Then the PA speakers suddenly came on and a full instrumental came on. Moments later, the radio broadcast speakers, which the OAC had used to broadcast Rotarian propaganda came on.
"Attention! Citizens and soldiers of Launces! This is Lieutenant Carmine of the Royalist forces attached to the Partisans! As of now, His Highness, Prince George de Launces, who was in fact the leader of the Partisans, has effectively retaken Castle Launces from the OAC. I repeat: Captain Terref, commander of the OAC, is dead. Castle Launces is now in Partisan hands!"
As the flag reached the top of the flagpole, it finished unfurling as a strong gust of wind caught it. The bright blue banner waved proudly over the castle, it's size large enough that all in the city who looked up could see it and know that what they had heard was the truth.
Launces was free.
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