Chapter 12: Combat Roles
Perspective: Tyron
Tyron blew a glacial breath over the fire, dimming it just enough. He'd have to do the same thing again in about ten minutes, but if he turned it off altogether everyone else would complain about being cold. Being covered in fur really had its drawbacks sometimes. He was made for the End, which isn't exactly the hottest place.
They were in the command room, discussing strategy. Fire was talking: "Once we survey the site, we'll come up with the final skirmish groups, but we can think of some rough roles already. There is going to be one group that's doing the heavy fighting, taking out as many as they can. Another group should focus on flanking and catching out any enemies who try to flee. Maybe a dedicated ranged support group too, that's where your archers come in Kay." Fire paused to think. "We also need a small group to trigger the rockslide behind the patrol. They won't see much combat but if need be, they'll be somewhat of a secondary flanker group. Each group should have the resources to make a capture if possible."
Tyron said: "I'm part of the heavy group then?"
Fire nodded. "So far the heavy group contains me, you, Shadow, the Brines and Rose."
"Rose?" Kay asked. "Is she really heavy material? I thought of her more as a flanker or skirmisher."
Fire extended his claws demonstratively. "You haven't seen her in a real fight yet, but I have. She's more than qualified."
Astro interjected: "What about the children? Warnado won't be dissuaded, and Amanda goes where he goes. All we can do is minimize the danger we put them in."
Kay stroked his chin. "Rockslide perhaps. We'd need someone else there though. Let's get to that once we have the other groups."
Fire took the lead again: "As for the flankers, Voidblade is a must. He can run interference on their end troops. Destiny would fit as well. The flankers will have the highest chance of capturing someone and Destiny is hellbent on getting back at the Tower. Urist is also surprisingly quick and if he can get some good kneecaps that drastically increases our chances at a capture."
The tall, scaled man then let his gaze sweep through the room. "Kay, Astro, any preferences?"
Astro, who had been notably quiet up until this point, said: "Ranged support probably, if we're bringing archers, they need some form of protection from magical threats."
Kay nodded. "I'll probably start out with the archers to do the portal trick, but I'll probably join the flankers."
"That works, more teleportation for them to deal with." Fire said. "That leaves Fristad."
"Safe to use him?" asked Kir. "Still the dreamweaver."
"Obviously," responded Tryon. "He's a changed man. Big concern is where to put him. He's not exactly the world's greatest fighter. Maybe the rockslide group?"
"Sure, put with girl he tormented. Great idea!"
"You're being a real douche today, so I'm going to suggest it anyway."
"You're douche!"
With a little hint of irritation, Tyron walked back to the table and spoke aloud: "Maybe have him go with Warnado and Amanda in the rockslide group. That way they're not on their own. He isn't trained in combat so less direct confrontation is better."
Fire thought for a moment, then agreed. "Yes, good thinking. We'll think over the groups once we're done with the survey but those sound good for now."
"It does indeed," said Kay. "One thing though, we could actually get the rockslide to double for capturing the officer. I open a portal, they fall through and then it's three on one. Naturally if it's anyone crazy powerful we won't do that, but if it's someone like the Dog it'll be fine. He's just a dog with thumbs… I wonder how that guy is? We haven't seen him in a while."
Tyron remembered Kay mentioning that he and the Dog actually got on really well. There was a look of longing about him, but also of hope that his canine acquaintance might be redeemed.
Astro, in a rare, unprompted statement, cut in.
"You sure about that?" he asked. "The Tower doesn't exactly strike me as a place where the weak tend to thrive. They're only kids."
"And a shepherd," Kay rebutted serenely, a little smile playing on his lips. "I am confident in Warnado's combat abilities, Amanda's too. Fristad's the only one I'm concerned about and I'd still not like to get in his way when he's swinging an axe about. They can handle it."
Astro returned to his brooding nods.
"Aye," said Kay. "But the question is still where we set up the rockslide." He looked up at Fire expectantly. "Want to scout it out together?"
"We should do that, yes. It's a two hour walk so we should be back before evening, doubles as scouting the access route too. Maybe while we're there also mark some trees that would be useful for the ambush."
"Two-hour walk is nothing," Kay chuckled, opening a rift in demonstration. "Should only need the two of us. You two have the rest of the evening off. Don't go too wild without us."
He winked and beckoned for Fire to step through the warp, enlarging it to accommodate his height.
And so, it was just Tyron and Astro. Naturally, there was only one question left to ask. The Dragoknight took a deep breath.
"What happens to Kay?" Kir chirped nervously in both of their minds.
Astro responded with a hollow glare directed at the map. The crack of fingers pressed together filled the room and then faded.
"Tyron, Kir," Astro rounded on him, adopting the tone of an enforcer. "You've been good friends to me since I got here. You're dependable, selfless, heroic, all those good things. This, however, is a personal matter involving me and, when his turn comes to deal with it, Kay. It's an issue that causes me a lot of pain, and I've already had to explain it to one person and I'm not happy about it. As such, friend, I ask you to believe me when I tell you this: the danger is averted, Kay is not a threat. If he becomes one, I will tell you. Understood?"
He let it settle. Tyron's mouth was agape, but he nodded. The tension went out of Astro, and he seemed to shrink, like a paper bag someone let the air out of. His eyes were dead.
"Now, I hope that's settled. I'm going to take a walk, but you get some rest. Tomorrow's a big one."
With an almost-friendly squeeze of Tyron's shoulder, he left. Tyron, thoroughly not reassured, went off to the training room, battered a dummy for a while, then went to the leadership dorms. He didn't sleep. He just waited with his eyes shut. He heard them all as they came back in. Astro, Fire, Kay, then a big surge as the Dungeons and Enderdragons crew returned. Then, finally, Fristad and Destiny, giggling and joking in loud whispers. That too stopped. Even after that, Tyron didn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking.
The shadow of all those horrible things Freak had told him of hung over him. He still didn't know if they were true. If all those deaths had meant anything, or whether it had all just been set back to normal. Back to Herobrine's world.
"Who lives and who dies tomorrow?" He asked. "Will it matter?"
"It must," Kir reassured. "It will."
