At the base of a hill stood the charred remains of burned-out tank. Several other smoldering remains gave the appearance that a battle had taken place, but no such battle had happened. The National Guard had retreated quickly and orderly leaving nothing intact. The landscape looked ominous with the sun just starting to set over the hills.
Their former position was being observed by eyes in the woods. Fergus and the majority of his force evaluated what their next move was. They bore clothes that were a mix of green and brown that matched perfectly into the trees they concealed themselves by. It was an attire that was not originally worn by dark elves, but they too had taken on the dress as it became apparent how effective the clothing was in scouting.
One of his scouts informed him that the enemy was retreating to the east in a rather straight but hilly road which slowed them down. Now they only waited on one last scout, a dark elf. The elves wanted to advance immediately while the dark elves wanted to wait for their comrade and before Fergus knew it, they were pointing their weapons at one another.
"Burn your lips and stand in order!" Said Fergus. "If the foreigners are anywhere within five miles of us, they know were here now. We wait for Cullen to return! If anyone else makes a sound, I'll shoot them through the heart!"
Fergus was a regular elf who had been placed in charge of a majority dark elf force. He was respected by both elves and dark elves for his leadership in battle which had saved many lives. Still if it wasn't for threats from the Apostate even his charisma couldn't keep the two races in order. Working with the two groups was like getting hawks and crows to cooperate. Any hopes of them moving stealthily together was all but impossible.
Fergus did not fear leaving the scout behind. Cullen was more than capable of catching up on his own, but he feared a potential attack from the opposite hill. Once he was sure nothing was on the opposite side catching up to the retreating soldiers would be simple regardless of how fast their strange carriages were. After a few more minutes Cullen returned.
"Do you realize how much time we lost because of you? The foreigners must be halfway back by now." Scolded Fergus.
"That's because I found the enemy." Said Cullen. "It's the zealots no doubt about it."
"How many?"
"Not many left I'm sure it's the last of them." Hoffman and that slime of slug Caron are at the top of the hill, I saw them myself."
This changed everything. They're orders were to intercept the foreigners, but it was not of great urgency. If the heretic leaders were captured though the Apostate would likely commend him. Still was it truly worth risk? The last time the Apostate confronted him… He shuddered.
A regular elf broke in. "What use is a leader who trembles at such news without a word. They pose no threat. Let us catch the foreigners, or do you wish to wait until they have fortified themselves?"
"We should attack the heretics." Said a dark elf. "They are the only reason why we are here."
"The Apostate seeks to conquer this world. It is already contaminated by the zealots. It was the foreigners who allowed them to escape." Said another elf. "Those on the hills pose no threat but if the foreigners escape, they will return with a much larger force and terrible weapons."
"The Apostate will cleanse us if we let the zealots escape." Retorted the dark elf.
"We attack the zealots!" interjected Fergus.
It was a grave risk to disobey orders. He would never have done so if they were from the Apostate, but the Arbiter was more forgiving. Still if they failed, he would have no choice but throw himself upon the enemy and fight to the death.
After over an hour of bumpy travel the trucks finally pulled up to the 22nd observation squadron's base, and the Commander immediately entered the observation office and began shouting orders at the staff:
"Contact the Governor and have him call up all reserve forces, contact the U.S. army reserve is Lewisburg and request that available forces intervene on our behalf, contact the Virginia National Guard and request any forces available be sent here…"
"Commander Paul what the h*** is going on?" It was the Staff Sergeant who initially believed the situation was under control. "Only Governor Gore himself can request intervention by the U.S. army, and we certainly can't request another state's forces without his authorization either."
"Henderson anyone who is not flying or preparing aircraft I want armed and forming a perimeter around the base and turn all buildings and towers into strongholds. I want all planes fighters and bombers fueled and armed ready to go at a moment's notice, and I want a squad of two scout planes off the ground and patrolling the skies around the base at all time."
"Paul we don't have the fuel for that…"
"How much fuel is required?"
"If you want to have two planes off the ground at all times that can only be achieved for 48 hours perhaps another day if we siphon fuel from the bombers."
"Do it. I'll have more fuel brought in long before we run dry."
The Sergeant was taken aback with Paul's unfathomable demands. The Commander seemed desperate if not mad. He dared not do anything without being granted clarification. "Commander what is the situation?"
"We have lost such a large number of souls we can no longer effectively defend our state. We can do nothing more than dig in and wait for reinforcements from federal troops. I've had the Major set up the other National Guard bases to do the same, and I am prepared to have them abandoned if necessary, but the air base must not fall under any circumstances."
"My God man what on Earth happened?" Said Henderson bewildered.
"I expected you to tell me." Said the Commander annoyed. "Did you not send scout planes as ordered?"
"I sent a squad of my four best pilots in our best aircraft, but they have yet to return."
"Assume them lost." Said the Commander bluntly. "Only send further patrols around the base and have them rotated every 45 minutes around the clock for the next two days unless I order otherwise. Prepare as if the base itself will soon be under attack either from ground or air, and I also want all aircraft ready for takeoff if need be."
The Sergeant's mind was still reeling but he soon grasped the order. "Understood Commander God help us all."
"Sergeant report exactly what's going on to the Governor, but I want the federal bases contacted directly as well and informed on our precarious situation. They must not be caught off guard as we were."
The Sergeant then walked out of the office and down the steps. The creaking of the wood reminded him of his porch back at home. He then ordered his men to prepare in fortifying the base and upon them dispersing opened the door of one of the trucks and sat in the front seat. He struck a match and lit his pipe breathing in deeply. The next two days would be utter confusion, and if the enemy took advantage of this they could be wiped out. He took several puffs on the pipe. He then heard a bang on the glass and looked up at the Major. God could I just have a few minutes to steady my nerves? He thought.
He cracked open the door. "What is it Major?" said the Commander with a sigh.
"Commander what about Private First Class Moore and his squad?"
"If they are still alive Major, they are on their own."
"Sir!" Said the Major surprised. "The camp has American civilians…"
"Traitors and heathens." Said the Commander coldly. "They have more than likely slaughtered Moore and his men by now. If I send others to learn their fate they will be attacked too, and I can't afford to lose anyone else."
"But Commander…"
"That's it Major. You have work to do, every minute you waste the enemy gets a step closer to eradicating the last of us."
"Yes sir." Said the Major reluctantly.
The elves approached the camp cautiously with arrows drawn and searched the perimeter looking to silently kill the guards before any alert could be sounded. However, there appeared to be no one around. The light was now fading, and everyone was starting to become uneasy. A dark elf finally found that the base was abandoned which quickly led to bickering.
"You soot elves were all wrong again and now the Apostate will have our heads. Now the foreigners and the zealots have escaped, and we have nothing to show for it!"
A dark elf was quick to respond. "You tree lovers were too cautious and took too long approaching and let them escape!"
"That's enough!" said Fergus.
"Your dark elf love got the better of you again and now look what happened."
Fergus could not help but agree, his decision in command had cost them dearly and he alone was to blame.
"Yes I bare the blame and consequences alone still you…" He was interrupted by an elf that had climbed down a tree.
"It was the warrior bunnies they gathered up those out here and fled but are still on the move we can catch them."
This was a relief perhaps the situation could still be salvaged. Fergus was about to order the scout to lead the way when he was stuck in the face. It felt like a leather whip and smashed against his cheek knocking him down, he looked up to see the Arbiter whose face was bright red.
"Fergus give me one reason I shouldn't ki…" Suddenly she stood back and grabbed her head like she had a bad headache. After a moment of rubbing, she turned back to them with no trace of anger.
"Arbiter?" said Fergus. "Are you…"
"It's the Apostate." She replied "He understands the situation and wants us to attack immediately, he will reinforce us. We are to kill every zealot at all costs, but he wants they're leaders taken alive unless absolutely necessary."
"Of course, Arbiter." Said Fergus with a fiery zeal.
"Fergus if you disobey my orders again, I will personally kill you in a manner far worse than anything the Apostate could do to you."
"Yes Mistress."
Commander Paul walked back and forth in the communications room as two men frantically tapped morse code. Then one scribbled a message and handed it over. The Commander took the message:
Have received request for reinforcements. West Virginia National Guard has been fully mobilized. However current status unclear. Requesting full report to be sent by means of USPOD. Until then no further action will be taken.
Governor Howard Gore
Paul slammed his fist against the desk. "You tell that highbinder that Sergeant Morrison and his entire force is dead and that the rebels are marching on us as we speak. We require any army troops in the state to be mobilized immediately!" He then stormed out the door, kicking a bucket at the base of the steps. He was greatly frustrated as by the time a written report would arrive on the Governor's desk they would be overrun by those barbarians and their monsters.
He looked up to see mechanic running toward him with something clutched in his hands. He soon noticed that it was a bird which the mechanic held up to him.
"What of this?" asked the Commander.
"Its foot sir."
Paul took the bird and upon seeing the piece of paper pulled it off the pigeon's leg and dropped it. The bird fluttered before landing on its feet. He then unrolled the paper and read Moore's message:
We have been attacked by brutes and are now low on ammunition we request reinforcements immediately.
PFC Moore
The Major who had come to report on the situation had just seen what had unfolded. "Well, what does it say?" he asked.
"Moore may be alive, but nothing can be done."
"Commander we must do something…"
"You think I want them dead." He replied annoyed. "There are towns under attack and men still alive and missing in the field. I take great shame in ignoring their plight, but if we go there's no reason we wouldn't be routed as well. Until reinforcements arrive our only chance is to fight them in an entrenched position." He said starkly.
"Could we not send a recon team on horseback…"
"And what will they do once they find them? Evacuate them? Resupply them? You can only carry so much on horseback, and wagons would be easily picked off by the enemy."
The Major looked around frantically trying to think of anything that could be used to help, then he got an idea. It was not the soundest in logic but perhaps it was worth trying. "What if we could supply them by air?"
"Major what on Earth are you talking about!?" The Commander said stunned.
The Major gave a nervous smile. "The bombers. Have crates with food, water, and ammunition placed in the rear gunner's seat, and once they're over the refugee camp drop…"
"No, No, No! That would never work. If they are not attacked and if they find the camp, then they would have to fly low and slow to have any chance of the supplies hitting the ground and still being salvageable."
"With all due respect Commander, I think if even one crate of supplies makes it into their hands it's worth it."
"So, you're willing to risk precious planes and the invaluable lives of our pilots to buy perhaps another day for Moore and his men!" Yelled the Commander angrily.
"Commander…" The Major breathed in deeply. "This is an unconventional war and requires unconventional thinking. You don't want to take any unnecessary risks and I understand that. I request that two bombers with two crates each be sent to resupply the camp, but only if the crews volunteer. That's it."
Paul stared at the ground and then looked into the Major's eyes. "Exactly as you say then, but Major if the crews are lost, I will hold you personally responsible and there will be consequences."
The Major gave a salute and the Commander saluted back.