The Lightsaber
By: Tellemicus Sundance
#19: The Centaur War Begins…
Forbidden Forest
April 8, 1996
Harry watched as the last of seven large cargo ships lifted off and flew off towards the horizon, quickly fading from view as their invisibility shields activated. It wasn't until the last ship disappeared that he let out a sigh of relief. Though he hadn't liked it, Bane had ultimately made the best choice he could to keep his people's future safe and sent all the noncombatants away to Centre Point. If nothing else, this trip would give the young children a glimpse at the world outside the forest, something could be quite invaluable for the Centaurs later on.
Shaking his head, Harry turned and boarded the hurriedly refitted Warlock. The ship was now bristling with weaponry, including two large plasma cannons, six bullet-fed machine-guns, three plasma gatling guns, and four rocket launchers. It was meant to be the 'alliance's base of operation and their ace-in-the-hole if things went really bad. Walking up the ramp, he passed by several Lycans and Centaurs who were donning some of the new combat gear and examining some of the new weapons and technological gadgets. Despite himself, he couldn't stop the slight smile as he watched several of the Centaurs' visible astonishment and awe at the new holographic wrist-mounted communications. Even in the Muggle World, those were also hot-selling items that inspired equal awe among the customers and civilians.
Passing by those warriors, Harry made his way to the center of the former cargo area, now converted into a command center with a holographic map in its center. Coming up to it, he said, "The last transport's away. Now it's up to us."
"This fight is going to be so one-sided, it's gonna be boring," Sirius said from where he stood on the opposite side of the hologram. "I mean, really, what chance do any of the Wizards have against us? No standard Auror tactic, no Hitwizard spell salvo, or even a sneak attack with work on us. Our shields can repel most magic and the Centaurs can cut them to pieces if they manage to penetrate them regardless."
"But we don't know exactly what lengths they're willing to go to win," Hendrick pointed out. "Never underestimate your foe, Mr. Black. That's your first mistake in any battle."
"And the Ministry knows about some of our new weapons," Magorian said, having to crouch down slightly because of his unusually tall height for a Centaur. "They will probably change their tactics to try and account for them."
At that moment, a hologram of one of the Lycan scouts replaced the forest map. The image showed the Lycan crouched behind and beside a wall, holding his wrist up to face to speak quietly into it. "The Wizards have arrived in Hogsmeade. I count several hundred of them, at least. I think they might've brought the entirety of the Aurors and Hitwizards to march on the village."
"How far out are they?" Hendrick asked immediately. "Any guesses to how long it'll take them to reach the Forest?"
"At the speed they're walking, I'd say an hour at—wait, they sent out flyers!" the Lycan hissed, looking up and around the building side. "I'm counting…ten to twenty on brooms! And they're flying bloody fast!"
"A scouting patrol," Hendrick said, grimly. Turning to the side, he called out, "Fire up the HWP and prepare for a scouting skirmish!"
"Yes sir!" three Lycans replied as they quickly moved over to a series of computers, screens, and control panels.
As Hendrick was busy organizing the defense and Bane left to prepare his people for the start of the battle, Sirius turned back to the Lycan scout and said, "Keep low and keep watching. Try to figure out what Fudge intends to do if any of the scouts return. If you're discovered, get out of there and back to the Warlock as quickly as you can."
"Yes sir! Out!" the transmission ended with that.
Looking over at his godson, the corporate business, convicted felon, and now leader of a paramilitary alliance, Sirius suddenly felt far older than he really was. For a moment, he seriously envied his godson's seeming cool demeanor and calmness in the face of a budding all-out war. "The war really has begun now. I hope you're ready to do what needs to be done, Harry."
Harry looked over at his godfather with a solemn expression. "I am. I won't like it, but I'll do it nonetheless because no one else is willing to do it."
Sirius just nodded as he turned back to the hologram map, watching as a cluster of fast-moving red icons neared the Forest's boundaries.
Tightening his utility belt, Dudley turned to the side as he watched a burst of activity suddenly ignite inside the Warlock. He was standing outside his beloved ship, next to a series of emptied crates and cargo containers that were now used as makeshift tables. Around him, a crowd of Lycans and Centaurs alike were also gearing up for the coming battle. The expressions on the warriors' faces was equally solemn, grim, and determined. There were a few here and there who were trying to crack jokes to lighten the mood, but weren't very successful at all.
Dudley himself was feeling an incredible weight of fear, excitement, anxiety, and resigned acceptance. The fear and anxiety were things that he hadn't yet had a chance to really feel before. Unlike the little scuffle he had been in with Harry and Mr. Lupin all those months ago, this fight wasn't a spontaneous affair that he just reacted to. No, the buildup of the tension, the realization of the genuine possibility that he, Harry, and many others he knew here could and likely would die, and the terror of knowing that he'd likely be unable to prevent any of those deaths. All of this was eating away at his nerves and pressing down on him with a near-physical weight that left him almost hyperventilating. But he forced himself to continue preparing his equipment and weaponry, trying futilely to keep his mind off the inevitable that was obviously now starting.
He was dressed from neck to toe in a soft but conforming green jumpsuit. The jumpsuit was an experimental type of underarmor meant for soldiers, capable of regulating body temperatures during exertion using a system of internal micro-piping and fluids that he didn't really care to remember. Over that jumpsuit was a layer of composite armor for his torso, knee and elbow pads, and forearm armor with several small mounted weapons and a gadgets. Picking up a large book bag of a type like he'd worn for school, he smiled somewhat mischievously as he pulled it on and securely buckled it to his chestplate. He knew he was going to have a blast the first time he fired that backpack up.
Reaching over to grab the last piece of his armor, a suddenly vibrating roar sprung to life from the largest cargo container. The top was knocked open as from within arose a large black vehicle that was absolutely bristling with weaponry, two glowing red cameras and other optical sensors were gazing around on its metallic 'face' as if it were alive and trying to get its bearings. After a moment, it continued rising into the air, turning and flying off as it cleared the forest canopy.
"The HWP is away," one of the Lycans said, watching as the Heavy Weapons Platform disappeared over the treetops. "The Wizards must be on the move now."
"Alright, people!" one of the Lycan commanders called. "Finish up and get to your assigned positions! Move it double-time!"
"Come on, Dudley," said the Lycan next to him, George Hudson, a thirty-year-old with wild black hair. "Time to go."
Donning his helmet, which was little more than a converted and enhanced paintball mask, Dudley nodded, forcing his spike of tension and anxiety to the back of his mind again. "Right, on my way!"
(Author's Note) I am so sorry about the long wait and the ridiculously short chapter. These are due to several problems and changes that have occurred in my life recently. Namely, relocating from Montana to Tennessee, getting used to a new job and its obscene work hours (10+ hrs for 4-6 days, ouch!), and now searching for a new apartment. Yeah, my motivation for this story is very, very low right now. Which is unfair because my drive for my new Star Wars story is still quite high.
Regardless, I'm hoping to start getting new chapters out with more regularity in the near-future. I get the feeling most of these coming ones are going to short pieces, like this one. Please bear with me while I work this stuff out and get back into the flow again.