At the base of a hill the Commander looked over a map strewn over the hood of a truck which outlined the topography of the area. The Major stood on the opposite side of him waiting for a response.
Finally, the Commander looked up. "The occultists are holed up on these two hills correct?"
"Yes, Commander." Replied the Major. "The two artillery guns are on this side and the three tanks are on the other side. Dug in machine guns and the armored cars are scattered throughout the area along with the infantry so that there is no chance of them leaving."
Another truck pulled up to them.
"Those the supplies I wanted?" Said the Commander.
"Yes."
The Commander ordered the crates unloaded and the soldiers opened them with crowbars revealing an assortment of masks inside. The Major looked toward the Commander puzzled.
"Sir what do intend to do with these?"
"Major you do understand, or must I clarify?"
The Major got a sinking feeling and gulped. "How did you get permission to do this?"
"During the war we were pumping out chemicals and now there's stockpiles all over the country one of which was only 20 minutes from here. I have clearance from the Governor to carry out an attack."
"Federal approval is needed the Geneva Protocol was just…"
"The Geneva Protocol was not approved by the Senate nor will it be anytime in the near future. This is an emergency situation and I will take full responsibility for the ramifications of my actions."
"Sir perhaps more consideration is needed, more artillery will be arriving soon with which we can bombard the hills."
"The artillery that is needed will not arrive for another month and every day we wait is another day when our enemy can dig in, spy, and scheme. They wiped out an entire platoon worth of men. They will suffer for the savage attack on our brothers in arms.
Now listen carefully I need the masks distributed to all soldiers immediately. Tomorrow the 22nd observation squadron will drop modified chemical shells onto the enemy position. Then the artillery will fire chemical shells and follow up with conventional shells. Then when the occultists emerge, they are to be shot on sight. Then the infantry will be sent in to clear out any remaining resistance."
The Major looked down at the map digesting the plan. "I presume that no prisoners are to be taken."
"Unless they come out with hands up yelling, that they wish to surrender they are to be shot. I remind you that these heathens are extremely dangerous and are not to be underestimated."
Back at the location of the incident five tanks stood facing the darkness with three artillery in the wood line covered by machine guns and armored cars. The National Guard was in a defensive stance.
Out of the woods arrived a trooper on horseback. He spoke to two soldiers dug into a foxhole and was directed toward the tanks which stood closest to the hole. A Sergeant emerged from a hatch on the tank and the cavalryman held out a message.
"Sir the Commander has orders for you." He said.
The Sergeant took the folded paper and the rider immediately left the way he came. He quickly skimmed the message and gave a look of disgust.
Another soldier came out of the hatch. "Sergeant what does it say?"
"They're going to launch an attack on those occultists on the hills near Czar. At the same time, we are to go through the darkness and secure it if possible."
"What why?"
"Diversion most likely. Perhaps the Commander thinks that the army on the hill can perhaps communicate with others still in there."
"That is idea is completely flawed. We should stay where we are. If anyone is still in there, we can easily kill them once they emerge, but if we go in there we'll be on their turf. There's no telling what could happen to us."
"The orders are clear, but I will not be hasty. I have a plan on how to carry out this order, unfortunately Cox you're not going to like it."
A soldier awoke on a cot in a deep sweat. All he could remember were those black horses charging toward him and then nothing. He tried to move but could not and began to hyperventilate. He looked around seeing a white tent over him with sunlight glowing through. He attempted to calm down and successfully returned his breathing to normal.
"Aw your awake."
He turned to see a man in civilian clothing and began to struggle again.
"Its okay." He said. "Just lie still a minute. Se Le Ua."
Suddenly the soldier was able to move again and sat up. "What did you do to me?"
"I'm sorry but it was for your protection as much as ours."
"Whose side are you on? Am I your prisoner?" The soldier demanded.
"Everything is fine." The man said with a calming tone. "We'll have you home soon."
"Private First Class Harrison Moore. I have nothing more to say to you."
The man let out a sigh. "We're not going to interrogate you."
"Well what do you want?"
"Asylum."
Biplanes did a pass over the hill and came back ready to drop their payload. There was a slight breeze to the west so the bombs would be dropped at the eastern side of the hill. They came in low at a reduced airspeed and then lead plane dropped the bomb about halfway up the hill and its two wingmen followed suit. The artillery guns immediately opened fire from the west and smoke soon engulfed the top of the hill.
The Commander breathed through his gas mask and waited along with all the other soldiers. Suddenly men emerged running, gasping, some fell on the ground clawing the dirt. Every gun then went off and everyone fleeing the hill was gunned down. The infantry then rose their rifles and pressed up the hill adorned in gas masks.
The Major looked at the fallen on the hill. Most of the men had no armor at all only having clothing that looked like little more than sackcloth. He knew what they had gone through. The ones that had been shot were the lucky ones.
The Commander puffed on a cigar while looking at the hill still smoldering after receiving many hits from the artillery guns. All enemy combatants had been eliminated without any casualties of his own. It had all gone to plan easy, to easy. Something was off.
"Sir there's a woman who wants to talk to you." Said a soldier.
The Commander snapped out of his thoughts. "What about?"
"She says she's a representative of the enemy forces and wishes to negotiate a surrender."
The Commander ordered her to be brought over and she appeared. She had a black dress, gloves, and a hat. The hat also had a navy-blue feather in it. The Commander was baffled and doubted that she would say anything serious, but still he was intrigued.
"What is it I can do for you Ma'am?"
"Greetings Commander Paul I wish to negotiate a peaceful end to this conflict enough blood has been spilled on both sides."
The Commander opened the passenger side of a nearby truck. "Step into my office."
She did so and he sat down on the driver side closing the door. He offered her a cigar, but she refused instead taking out a cigarette holder and asking for him to light the cigarette which he did. They both took in their tobacco products for a minute and then the Commander started.
"You're not trying to pull the wool over my eyes are you bim?"
"I assure you I'm completely serious. Do you have any concerns you would like to address?"
"How did you know my name?"
"From the soldier I talked to of course."
"Why bother asking for mercy when your forces have already been wiped out?"
"The men on this hill have been destroyed yes, but we have two other camps hidden elsewhere. You must know that you failed to find our knights, and our mages are also still alive."
"Mages." The Commander choked.
"Magic users."
"Satanic rituals you mean what of them?"
"Do you not know what happened?"
"My men were ambushed and killed, and their vehicles were blown up after they were captured."
"So, you have only secondhand information."
"They killed everyone without mercy."
"We did not. They attacked us first we merely retaliated we had no choice. Our casualties were 126 while yours were 43. We still have three of them alive and are willing to release them."
"Where?"
"Commander we are willing to surrender and explain everything to you we have only one condition."
"Fine what is it?"
"Let the gate between worlds be closed."
"We want it closed but unfortunately I cannot allow you to do so until you to prove that you can be trusted. What if you call fourth more forces or make the hole bigger?"
"Commander you have no idea what lies in the world we came from."
"World? It's just the compound concealed with some sort of black mist isn't it?"
"Commander I have no time to explain." She sounded desperate. "Dark forces lie just beyond the other side. If nothing is done, then the Harvester and his minions will come through!"
"If that's the case why didn't you close it when you came through?"
"We had to care for our wounded by the time we cleared them out your forces cut us off from one another."
"Surrender unconditionally and then we can address your grievances."
"Can you take me there now? There is little time."
"I must discuss things with my men. Come back at the same time tomorrow."
"But Commander…"
"That's the best I can do Miss…"
"Burmilla." She opened the door and got out. "Commander remember time is of the essence." She slammed the door and wandered back off into the woods.
After nearly returning to her camp Burmilla was confronted by a man in heavy armor. "Well how did it go?"
She did a slight bow. "My lord I'm afraid not as well as was hoped."
"You should have dressed in uniform. They won't take you seriously looking like that."
She removed her hat revealing cat ears and a long tail stretched out from under her dress. "Mew. I wanted to seem trusting rather than suspicious so I dressed like a woman of their world. I'm afraid it had mixed results though."
"Do you think they can hold their own against the dark forces?"
She stared thinking a moment. "They have such advanced technology that it makes us look barbaric. They also have a large army which dwarfs even the Harvester's coalition. But to stand against one who can kill apostles I doubt even they could."
Back at the compound tanks began to roar to life and slowly rolled forward. It was decided that three tanks would go through the hole. They were fully armed with naval guns along with a number of machine guns. Corporal Cox commanded the lead tank.
As the driver steered the tank forward, he yelled back. "Corporal do you really think hell itself lies in there!"
"If it is hell there's no better way to go through it than in an International!"
Inside the hole it was pitch black and the tanks slowed to a crawl. Someone turned on a flashlight inside, but Cox ordered it turned off. He was concerned that the tanks would collide with one another or with something unseen within. There was nothing unusual about the surroundings other than them being pitch black. He squinted and then to his relief he could make out a slight glow of light up ahead.