Skippable Author's Note:
Myrmidon: Special Light Infantry
Sorry for the wait, pals. Had college.
[Samsooth Mountains 03:00]
He helped them escape, but he didn't want their thanks.
The red-haired Macedonian woman and that recruit named Julian had run off earlier that night. He had watched them as they sneaked down the corridors, thinking they were silent. He had followed them as they left the old hideout's gate. He had stalked them with great amusement as they darted past the watchtower and into the courtyard.
A thief and a priestess. A man who had to rob for a living and a woman who had to keep the souls of the living. It was all too entertaining. He watched as they slipped past every security measure.
In all his years as a mercenary, he had never seen anything like it.
He helped them escape. He didn't want any thanks.
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[Marth's Command Center, yesterday 21:00]
"We're a bit limited on capabilities, Sir. We're going to have to perform dismounted operations if we're to make it through this part," Cain explained, motioning to the terrain model in the center of the room.
"Understood. Colonel Jagen, a recommendation for our primary course of action?"
"We clear this spine out on foot. I'd be careful about signaling our mechanized capabilities, lest we lose them to land traps."
"Major Abel?"
"I agree. However, I do think that we should use aerial assets to our advantage. I don't think a terrorist militia will be packing enough anti-air ammunition-"
"I know. I just feel uneasy about it." Marth rubbed his forehead. "I've seen more and more of those anti-air assets, and it limits our ability to chip the enemy. Lieutenant Gordon?"
"Did you salvage any of the long-range artillery from Talys?"
"Negative. That stuff is way outdated." Caeda rolled her eyeballs in the back.
"Understood. I'll need time to think about this. You're dismissed, and leave quickly."
The Alteans saluted each other and walked back to their sleeping arrangements, but Marth kept Caeda for a second.
"Hey," he started. "I'm sorry about what happened back there... It was my fault. I pushed you too far ahead into the battlefield."
She smiled. "I'm glad you're thinking about me, but I'd die happy if I gave my life for you."
Marth sighed. He rubbed his forehead. "Don't say that."
She hugged him.
"I'm here."
"I'm glad you're with me."
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[Samsooth Mountains 04:00]
"ALTEA-6, this is RECON-6 we got movement in the upper spine," Abel reported.
"Copy. RECON-6. You are clear to engage all probable threats." Marth responded.
"Roger. RECON-6 proceeding past Line B in map FE11-3."
The radio went silent for a little while. Marth held his breath. He toyed with the pieces in the terrain-model map in front of him. He moved Abel's unit through the spine of the mountains slightly.
"ALTEA-6, This is TALYS-6. We're in the air. Got eyes on a demolition company and two anti-air artillery units approximately 20000 meters to your western flank. Over."
"Copy. I'm moving the Colonel's unit your way. Do not engage with enemy threats."
"Roger, ALTEA-6."
Marth placed six pieces towards the western flank.
"GUARD-6 this is ALTEA-6. You've got two hostile AA units and one demo company inbound. Move your units at an azimuth of 285 a distance of 5000 meters and brace for impact."
"Yes sir. "
"DUSTOFF-6, return to base and meet the informant at the base of the spine."
Marth moved the helo to base.
"ALTEA-6, the informant and her escort are on board."
"Copy. Patch her through."
There was a short break of static.
"Good day, Sister. Are you all right?"
"Yes… Thank you."
"These mountains are dangerous. My forces will draw the enemy away; use that time to escape."
"No, I wish to help."
"But…you… What?"
"Please, your majesty. I cannot bear to watch others come to harm when I have the power to help."
"Well…all right… But I don't wish to see you come to harm, either."
"I will be careful. Thank you, sire."
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[Samsooth Mountains 05:30]
"ALTEA-6, this is RECON-6! Made contact with multiple infantry platoons, no heavy weapons."
"Copy. Wall up. I'm sending Cain your way." Marth placed more pieces. "Caeda. FIREBIRD. You are clear to fire on hostiles."
"Yes sir!"
"Dammit! Snipers! We're retrograding to Rally Point A! These bandits are packing anti-armor rounds."
"Need that bird up, Caeda, where is it?"
"OM," she replied. "Major Abel, need that Call for Fire now!"
Marth moved some pieces around. He considered doing a slow insertion at the palace's suspected location to bypass the Snipers.
"ALTEA-6, this is GUARD-6, we've been engaged. Arty's firing hard just west of our position."
"Copy GUARD-6. Slow your advance and retrograde slightly south. You've got arty ready."
"Copy."
"CAV-6, where are you?"
"Sir, we're 2000 meters south of RP A, ready for counter-measures. RECON's still taking fire!"
"TALYS-6, status report."
"No hits first run. Beginning the second."
"Copy, I'm sending LIGHTNING your way for support." Marth moved more pieces around. "LIGHTNING-6, come in."
"ALTEA-6, this is LIGHTNING-6, we're OM." Ogma reported.
Marth looked at the map and slapped the table. I've stretched these men too thin.
"ALTEA-6 this is GUARD-6, reporting two demo squads destroyed, one damaged. Arty's still blasting us."
"Copy GUARD-6. We've got mechanized support coming soon. RAM-6, status report on those guns!" Marth palmed the enemy pieces. It should be fine if I wanted to push out myself.
"This is RAM-6. Gun 1 is firing, Gun 2 is reloading! Gun 3 is RTB for quick fixes!"
"Dammit! Gordon, I can't send support out there! RAM-5. What's going on?"
"Barrel's blown, sir. Demo teams got close with a hit and run on our position. Repelled them to GUARD, but not without exhausting our rifle ammunition."
"GUARD-6 expand your line. Cover RAM's retreat."
"Copy."
Marth rubbed his forehead. He moved pieces very quickly. Shouldn't have sent the engineers away.
"ALTEA-6 this is RECON-6. We're RTB for resupply. Only one platoon is combat effective. Suffered 10 KIA, 20 casualties on that mission."
"Roger RECON-6. Send that platoon to mount up and move to GUARD's pin"
"ALTEA-6 this is CAV-6. Got eyes on a mass of retrograding hostiles, about 3 squads. RECON lost its men to the snipers. Sniper shots got us pinned down."
"LIGHTNING-6 what's your status?"
"We're in contact, sir. Can't move forward."
"What?"
"My men keep screaming 'RED'. If this is who I think this is on the other side, we're going to need heavy support."
"I can't send the FIREBIRD. Who are they?"
"Crimsons." Ogma spat.
"Crimsons? That means..."
"Navarre. To think he'd take a job like this."
"TALYS-6 we got a problem. What's your status?"
"ALTEA-6, this is TALYS-6, wiped 5 squads on that run. Got eyes on AA, can't go again from here. We're RTB for resupply."
"Copy TALYS-6. Mount the WINGSPEAR. I'm going out."
"Daring, ALTEA-6. We'll get the flock ready."
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[Samsooth Mountains 07:30]
The Talys Royal Guard is just as good as advertised, Navarre thought.
"Gentlemen, go silent for a quick minute. Take alternate firing positions."
"Got it, six. We're on our way."
"Look for high-value targets. Can't keep burying the grunts."
Navarre slung his sniper rifle and tapped his spotter on the shoulder.
"Let's go."
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[Samsooth Mountains 08:00]
"ALTEA-6, this is TALYS-6. We have to land FIREBIRD. Radar's acting up. Must mean the Crimsons are on the move." Caeda fiddled with the knobs on the console. "Reroute, ALTEA. Too dangerous. This LZ's only safe for one bird."
"Copy, TALYS-6," she heard a brief pause before Marth began speaking again. "GUARD-6, ALTEA is OM to your location for support." She sighed and examine the gauges.
"What does the manual say Chief?" She asked her co-pilot while trying to reset the auxiliary power.
"Doesn't look like a problem with the avionics: probably a jammer. Regardless we have to land. AA detection's not looking good."
"Got it. Let's land. Come on, I'll get your release," she came off the controls and began looking for an LZ. They reached the LZ and slowed to a hover. "Hover in 5...4...3...2...1… release."
They turned the rotors off. Caeda slid out of the cockpit. On her way out, she unhooked her pistol. She went to the back of the aircraft to watch for movement. Worst case,
"They packed the slings so as soon as they drop off Prince Marth, we'll be able to get a lift."
"Roger," the warrant officer stated.
Minutes passed. There was a rustle in the bushes.
"ALTEA-6, this is TALYS-6, we got movement on our location."
A shot rang out.
"Get down, Ma'am! 12-"
"Chief!"
A second follow-up shot killed the pilot.
"ALTEA-6, this is TALYS-6. My co-pilot is down. Hostiles closing in."
She gripped her pistol. This is it. This is really it. She began to move slowly to the front of the aircraft. Maybe if I can get this thing running I can escape and try to return to base.
A man stepped out of the bushes and pointed his rifle at her. "Don't move. Boss, we got a girl. Might be a good tool for negotiation."
Another man stepped out of the bushes, this time with a pistol trained on her forehead.
"Navarre," Caeda said.
"He's right. You'd fetch us a handsome tribute," He motioned for the man to lower his weapon. "But I don't harm women."
"Really? So how does an ex-Special Forces commander like you stoop to working with thieves and cutthroats?"
Navarre glared at her. "Fly away, girl, before someone decides to swat at you."
"Please, Navarre. You know this is pointless. Why fight for nothing when you can fight for something? Lend us your strength."
"Is not all fighting meaningless?" He responded coolly.
"Not all fighting," Caeda raised her pistol. "And I'm willing to force your hand to prove it."
Navarre chuckled to himself. "Stand down!" he ordered. A number of men stepped out of the bushes.
"I turn no blade of mine against a woman," he said. "And a woman who bids her life bids the highest price. My sword is yours."
Caeda lowered her pistol and breathed heavily.
"ALTEA-6, this is TALYS-6. We've cleared the spine of hostiles."
"Say again?"
"Let's just say we made some new friends."
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[Samsooth Palace 20:00]
"Sir. The bandits left a sizable amount of gold when they left. Should be enough to coerce black market dealers to restock your troops."
"Thank you, Malledus. We'll carry what we can with supply."
Marth proceeded to his command center with Malledus trailing him.
"Sir, one more thing, I believe it would be prudent for us to start taking time to send advanced scouts. The path ahead is not easy."
"I understand. I'll be sure to send recon forward." He stopped briefly and turned to him. "At least now we have a better idea of what lies ahead."
"Sir."
"Aurelis is next. We've got friendlies there. We can replace the troops lost today. Additionally, having the Crimsons aboard will surely give us an edge."
He turned forward and began to walk. "I need you to get me an idea of what these men need. We'll see what we can salvage here."
"Yes sir." Malledus departed, and Marth proceeded to negotiate payment with his new ally.