Disclaimer: See first chapter.
*Sits down with cup of cider. Proceeds to look at reviews across all 3 stories. Then proceeds to do a spit take*
Holy crapola! That's a lot of reviews! And not enough chapters from me… I love hate school. Well any way here is the long overdue next chapter. Both one year since the last post and also oddly enough the launch day of Total War Warhammer!
Alright I must say thank you Artic Knight for all of your kind words.
Secondly thank you CMVreud! I appreciate every review you've made.
To the guest: Well here it is.
Also Folks be on the lookout for a future recursive fanfiction about the WAO series. Soon as it is done I'll tell you who it is done by and what is about. Till then keep an eye out on updates. And I've been wanting to use the song in this chapter for so long.
/
Sylvania, 5:35 AM 11th of September
Duncan was the sergeant on watch for his regiment. His men along with the other regiments in the expedition army were camped outside of Hankern. He had a squad of halberdiers on watch in the early morning. They were gathered around a fire and awaited the morning call to muster. After a night of hearing howling in the distance the entire army was on edge, but other then some wolves the men were able to sleep.
Duncan's boys were passing around a wine skin and talking amongst each other. One of his men, a transfer from the 62'd Halberdiers spoke up after receiving the wine skin." So, after we take care of these stunties and their traitor cronies. What are the chances we'll fight our ways to dwarfen lands. After all it's going to be a dry spell in Slyvania with only skeletons with no meat on their bones and I heard them dwarf babes are curvy."
There was a chuckle from around the fire and the wine skin was passed again. This time to a veteran who had been with the regiment." Course knowing you sick fucks, you'll try to screw some undead zombie ass out here." There was heavy laughter.
From one of the men surrounding the fire, who spoke with a New England accent." It won't be just dwarfs and humans you need to be fighting but also elves. Those bastards are quick on their feet."
Duncan waved off the comment." Eh, thems elves are to flashy. We would see them from a mile off and shoot them down by the time they get into bow shot." The wineskin was passed to the New England accented man and Duncan squinted his eyes to look at him though the fire." Wait a minute your not part of the regiment." He could see the stranger was wrapped up in dark clothing.
The New Englander chugged the wine skin. He lowered it and the group could see he was wearing the broad brimmed cap of a witch hunter. His eyes hidden, though his rusty colored burnsides were not. A smile cracked across the man's face, a wolfish grin." Aayup, I ain't from your regiment or from any other AverFuckerLander regiment. The names Adler, the Golden Wolf." The men inched to their weapons as Adler finished talking." Oh, also boys your in range of the elf arrows." Before they could react, Adler threw a grenade into the fire pit. It wasn't lit, but with the flames that wouldn't be much of a problem. He then rolled backwards twice and laid down as the Averlanders scrambled to their weapons.
Then from the firepit came a loud." BOOM!" As the grenade exploded, sending shrapnel flying from the pit and waking up the army. The force of the explosion knocking down the watch and killing two with the shrapnel, while injuring the rest. Adler rolled upright and started to book it the way he came. He ran past the bodies of the bots his elven comrades had eliminated. As he ran to his horse, elven arrows and pistol shots rang out in the early morning as the raid got underway.
Ducan screamed in shock, though he couldn't feel any pain he could feel the discomfort, numbness and the tears in his face as the metal from the bomb had embedded itself in his flesh and bone. He had lost a decent chunk of health but it was a non-life threatening injury. Still it sucked to get a grenade blast to the face. Around him the camp sprung to life as horsemen rode through it, firing off pistols, shooting bows and tossing grenades into fire pits. All around him bots fell as their commanders awoke and started to issue orders.
At the same time Adler reached his horse and galloped to the west of the camp, it well out of musket range. There was a rise that was going to get hit by the sun and he needed to be there to make the show complete. Though his comrades had done a good job of stirring up the hornets' nest after his own small contribution to the chaotic scene below.
The scene below was coming to its climax as the horsemen rode through the camp and out of it. The bots were getting organized and there was return musketry now. The men and elves charged out of the camp and away onto the road next to the town. Only a small contingent riding to where Adler had pulled his horse to a stop, this contingent was led by Cooper and Kirito. Quickly Adler pulled out a large, paper encased bomb. He then lit the fuse and threw it about as far from him as possible. Away from his incoming comrades.
The bomb exploded and there was a great flash. The sound of the bomb as loud as a pair of cannons firing at the same time, and getting the attention of the entire camp below. With Adler giving the signal Cooper raised up his staff and within a moment concentrated magic formed around his staffs head. He shot a smoke cloud above Adlers head.
The cloud took form into a cartoonish version of Adler, which was bent over and mooning the entire camp below, with the smoke figure having a troll face as it looked back. Below the giant smoky figure was also the words." Fuk U, From Adler!" Rufus Adler was on the rise and giving the PLA a double one finger salute as he shouted obscenities at them.
The PLA took offense to that and there was a fusillade of gun fire shooting at Adler and his elven comrades. The shots were wild though and given that these handguns were at best smoothbore firelocks, all the shots missed their targets. The message was set though and Adler then nodded to his Dark Elven companions and started to ride back down south. The elves following after him.
/
Within the camp Riders were mounting up. Jeremy had his pistoliers mounted on their horses and he changed out of his bed clothes to his armor. He was not ready to leave just yet, instead he needed to find David and get some real orders so as to not go gallivanting off without having any idea what the rest of the army would be doing. He found David talking to the Orcish commander, Jeremy took up an at ease stance behind David and waited.
David spoke to the orc." Yes yes. I know you want to deploy the war rig, but we can't rely on it right now. Its useful against infantry and the like, so we should keep it back in the main column. The boar boyz are more than welcome to hunt down the raiders though."
The orc raged." And if this turns into a trap and they've got Infantry waiting for us at the next pass? Or hidden in some woods. We need that War Rig to keep mah boar boyz safe incase we need to retreat!"
David crossed his arms." Think of the long term though, the dwarfs have weaponry of their own. Better cannons and even some flyers. We need to keep our advantages with the main force. Not to mention the War Rig has no chance to catch up."
The orc yelled and stamped his massive tree trunk of a leg." Fuck you Empire Boy! Fuck you and your logic!" He continued to rage and shout.
David though took the shouting and raging until the orc was panting. It was during this time that David had turned and noticed that Jeremy was behind him. The colonel raised up his hand after the orc was finished." Good to see that you agree to my logic." He then turned to David and motioned for him to step forward.
The pistoliers did so and David spoke to the orc." This pistolier and his men will travel with you and your orcs as support. The War Rig will stay back here as we march to the south. You have your orders, you are dismissed and happy hunting." The orc stormed off his feet stomping as he made his way to the mount.
David watched the spectacle and spoke to Jeremy." This is a trap. I hate that bastard Adler, those traitors I'll see in hell and I couldn't care less about those dwarfs. But I know when I'm being led by a carrot. What that dog did though was to draw us out and have us make a mistake." He then nodded to the orc." When they become committed retreat back to the main column."
Jeremy spoke." Of course sir. Soon as they get their asses in the fire. I'll be running the opposite direction, at your orders of course."
David grunted." Go and take care of it." He told the pistolier before leaving.
Jeremy then ran and mounted his horse. With his fellow riders in tow he rode to the orcish commander. The orc gave a grunt and then spurred his 500 boar boyz onto a road to the south. At the same time Jeremy was sure to keep his men back about a hundred yards on the road. Though they had to ride through pig shit, it was a better alternative than being at the head of a cavalry charge.
/
After about 2 hours of riding away through the western portion of Sylvania, to the west being the Fallow Hills and to the east the Fae Marshes, Kirito's horse was at the end of its stamina along with the other horses after driving them for so long. The horses, and in fact most other animals in the warhammer world were much hardier than their real world counter parts. They could be ridden for hours before having to rest, but still they had their limits before collapsing. Given that the raiding force had been riding through the night then had to gallop away after the raid was completed, even the elven horses were near their breaking point.
Even though they were being pursued, Kirito knew they had to stop. He raised up one of his swords at the head of the column and shouted." Halt!" First the bots, then the players came to a stop. Cooper and Adler rode up to him, the latter speaking to the teenager." So, we gonna rest up here?"
The dark elf corsair nodded." That we are. I'm going to call in the A2-C2 as well to give us enough warning about our pursuers."
Adler looked somewhat confused." A2-C2? Is that like an AT-AT?"
Cooper chuckled." Nah, this is a lot cooler." He then pointed to the sky and explained what it was and Adler had to admit, it sounded awesome.
/
Sitting at about 5,000 feet above the raiders the A2-C2 engines chugged as the propellers turned, keeping it stable. The A2-C2 moniker was the shorten name of the Aerial Air Craft Carrier, an airship. The airship shared many traits with a real world zeppelin in that it had a few helium bags inside a super structure and covered in a double layer of silk canvas. But where a real world airship is had a long tube to act as a crew compartment and passenger bay. The A2-C2 had instead a re-purposed ship's hull beneath it. The ship was wide and had a shallow berth which would of made it hard to control on the ocean, but given that the ship was never to sail on the water the decision to go with the widening had allowed for more weight to shed from the airship as a whole and had allowed a greater range for it to travel. The ships propellers turned with a low chug and with a few wisps of smoke emerging from the exhaust vents. The engines were powered with a cross of kerosene steam engines and dwarfen runes of magnetism helped drive the shaft which turned the propellers with a force that the steam engines would have been impossible to match by themselves.
The ship had a pair of rigs, one on each side which would normally have gyro-bomber attached to it. Those two bombers were currently circling and awaiting the orders to strafe the upcoming PLA forces, their pilots just waiting for the orders to arrive. The rigs instead contained 9 bombs, on 3 rows apiece. These bombs were called 'Mother Clusters' or as the technicians who developed them called them, which was gaining popularity with the armorers and mechanics who maintained them, 'Cluster Fucks'. In addition to the bombers and the bombs there was also an organ gun at the aft and the bow to provide some rapid fire assistance. Then there was the crew's personal weaponry which consisted of repeaters.
The ship's hull was painted purple with a trim of red, the usual Zhufbar colors, with a gold figure head of Grimnir holding out twin axes. At the bow in bright gold lettering was the ship's name, 'Grimnir's Fire'. Along the deck bombardiers, deck crews and mechanics scurried and worked on various machines, made sure the deck guns were in proper order or readying another load of bombs. This type of work was done only by players, since bots were not trusted with the fine machinery that humans had created within the confines of the game world.
At the aft of the vessel standing next to the helm was the captain of the ship. Dordi wore a leather bombers jacket with a Rune of Furnace emblazed on its back. His head with a bombers helmet and he wore his goggles to protect his eyes. Back in the beta he was able to rise up to control a gyro-copter, this experience helped him as being one of the few individuals who could teach other players how to pilot the dwarfen helicopters. Within a few months there were several squadrons of gyrocopters trained up as part of the Skyhammers and Dordi was then put in command of the A2-C2's. Grimnir's Fire being the first fully functioning A2-C2, there were other vessels but they served as prototypes and were being repurposed for larger prototypes for even bigger vessels.
As it stood this was the first combat mission for the A2-C2's and Dordi was ready. There were four observers around the ship with large telescopes to keep their eyes out for enemy movement below. One of them shouted lifting up an arm." Sir! Large dust cloud with boar boyz at the head of it. Their fanning out along the road and looks like their getting ready to charge the elfs below."
Dordi nodded, he then said to the helmsman." Bring us to 500 yards north of the raiders and set to hover on the road, shift our altitude to 2,000 feet ." The helmsman saluted and turned on the throttle before turning the wheel to the north, another hand pulling a level to direct the ship downward. Dordi then walked to the railing on the aft, he then spoke to the rest of the crew." Bombardiers prepare for bombing run. Drop when you can cause maximum casualties." The Bombardiers sprung to action and went to the rigs containing the Mother Clusters.
Dordi opened his menu and sent out a pair of messages to his gyro-bombers.' Get close to Grimnir's Fire, when you see the bombs drop start your bombing runs.' He then stood and waited to hear the release of clasps from the bomb rigs.
/
Jeremy watched the orcs fan out on the road ahead and directed his pistoliers to the west on the orcs right flank to the base of the hills. He didn't want to follow right behind the orcs any more, now that they were about to start their attack he wanted to make it look like he was about to flank the raiders, while in reality he wanted to be sure he had an route of escape. He watched the orcs a few hundred yards up ahead, the bots yelling aloud in their crude tongue.
Then suddenly they were committed with a unified 'Waaaggghhhh!' charging dead on to the awaiting raiders who just sat upon their horses with their ranged weapons, awaiting the orcs. Jeremy smelled a rat, and there wasn't a single skaven within 20 miles of him.' Fuck it's a trap, the poor bastards.' He then raised his fist up and brought his horse to a stop.
Before he could shout an order to halt, the Mother Clusters landed amongst the orcs. The Mother Clusters were not single bombs, instead there were a dozen different incendiary bombs in a single canister of Mother Cluster. When the Mother Cluster was dropped it tail fins spun it. When the canister spun fast enough the outer casing would break off at about 500 feet above the earth, as was normal for bomb when dropped from 2,000 feet. The incendiary's would have a string which would be torn off from the Mother Cluster, activing a friction primer in the mini bombs. The friction primer then would lite a fuse and in 8 to 9 seconds it would explode in 10 yard circle of flaming death. There were 18 Mother Clusters dropped from Grimnir's Fire, each carried 12 incendiary bombs. In a matter of a few seconds over 200 incendiaries struck the orc Boar Boyz and essentially bathed the entire center of the cavalry line in flame. Where there were over 500 boar boyz, there were now 400 scorched and burnt boars and their riders. Many of the survivors were also scorched, yet still they charged out through the smoke, though close to breaking.
"Holy shit!" Jeremy felt the fires of the many explosions and his horsemen's mounts reared back and neighed. Jeremy got control of his horse and turned it around, he saw the hell that was unleashed and wanted no more part of this." Lets get the fuck out of here. Turn around run now, run!" He spurred his horse back to the road.
Behind him the raiders spurred their own horses forward, their bows and pistols firing into the remaining orcs along with the lances of the silver helms being lowered. There was a sudden crash and the raiders exploded past the remains of the orcs and broke them. The combination of the bombs and the final blow of the raiders breaking them. But still there was more.
The gyro-bombers swooped down on the retreating pistoliers, dropping bombs on the column at about 200 feet above them. These were black powder explosives that had quicksilver primers, an experimental version of early primers from the 19th century. Only half of these bombs exploded but as they did they tore through the light armor of the pistoliers. The pistoliers though were not without their own defense though. They drew their wheel lock pistols and issued forth a salvo at the strafing bombers. Most of the shots impacted the hulls of the bombers, but one shot hit a bomb on the tail of a gyro. The entire back of the bomber exploded and the pod containing the pilot tumbled forward in a dozen spins before crashing into the dirt of the road. The pilot being decapitated from his dashboard.
The remaining bomber flew away back to the mother ship to deliver the news and refit. At the same time Adler and the Raiders rode up to the bomber purist of the pistoliers. Adler unleashed the reaming rounds in his flintlock revolver, the shots missed but were a hell of a way to send off the PLA. Adler and the raiders slowed down after passing the bomber, before stopping.
Kirito rode up to Adler, who was reloading his pistols and letting his horse rest." That'll give us a good 10 minutes before they reorganize, given how fast they were riding away. If we keep at a decent gallop we will be able to outrun them back to the army. At least we don't have to worry about the horses dying from under us."
Adler looked up at the elf." Ayyup." Then he looked up to the clouds where Grimnir's Fire was most likely hovering and added." That airship is the most dangerous thing, outside of the 40k weaponry, I've seen in this world. Even on the table top it was never that dangerous." He shrugged." Then again I'm not surprised, give someone with the know how the proper tools, even if it's in a fantasy verse, and they could eventually make most anything that doesn't have a 'puter chip." He then had an knowing smirk on his face." It maybe the 16th century, but 20th century just came a knocking."
/
Averland, 50 miles East of the Nuln border, 9:20 AM
Along the tree line they awaited. Facing east, the cannons were set up and aimed along the road, which ran through their forest, and the opposing tree line half a mile away. They had been moved into position the night before and fortified though the night. Behind the tree line trees were cut down to become barriers and as platforms for the guns to easily be rolled up to the barricades. Behind the barricades were several regiments of state troops in the green and black of Brunswick Corps, and behind them the artillery horses and limbers for the cannons. Then there was the small detactment of Skaven Far Squeker operators and their own wagons, who sent radio reports back to Nuln and would in turn be sent back to Altdorf to Central Command.
The 1st Imperial Horse Artillery were awaiting their orders. They had their lighters lit, bots ready to push the guns, their positions prepared to give and receive fire. But the human players were relaxing now. They were drinking wine from waterskins, nibbling on their rations, or having light conversation. They had some time before the enemy arrived, why send it bent over sights hours on end. After all it wasn't like they were going to be there long. In addition to the rounds they had in the guns, there were also 3 more rounds of shot and one of grape ready to be loaded safely behind each gun. The rest of the ammunition were safely in the ammunition carts and caissons behind the infantry regiments.
While the members of the regiment were relaxing, one of soldier's lover's on the other hand was doing something unusual. Delia was going from bot team to bot team and giving them small treats or a swig of wine. Though Oak was In a conversation with Likes Gaming about some WW2 stories he had heard through the years, he was looking at his girlfriend from time to time. He was watching and listening to how each of the bots thanked her for her gift.
Likes Gaming noticed his gunner mate's eyes wandering to his woman. and asked." Was she like that when you two first met?" The kid took a drink of the weak wine, part of the rations they were given, as he listen to Oak.
The Sergeant Major tore his eyes from his girl back to the teenager." To be honest no. But then again when we first met I was covered in blood and she was a single woman looking after a bunch of kids. When we first met she was shivering, a mix of fear and cold I reckon." He snorted." I know what you're talking about though. She was great with them kids, after we got her set up into Nuln with the kids she would try to treat them right and do the best for them. Not to different from what she's doing with the bots right now." He ran his left hand through his hair." And I'm finding it weird that she's treating them to snacks. I mean their digital critters so…." He shook his head and let the conversation drop.
After a moment of silence when Likes Gaming didn't pursue the conversation, he may have been young and a bit of a jerk but he knew when to drop a conversation, Oak spoke up and said." Right back to it. Any way this American tank platoon and German infantry company were holding this castle against an SS Battalion-"
After finishing his story and starting another one, Oak saw that Delia was walking back to his gunnery position. He stood and walked to her." Hey darlin' mind if we have a couple of minutes alone?"
Delia answered immediately." Of course." After she spoke Oak offered his arm, and his woman took it.
Oak walked with Delia at a decent pace so they passed the gunnery positions without the other artillerists being able to listen in on the conversation. Oak spoke to his love." Darlin', I gotta ask why are you handing out them treats to the NPCs? I could see they were pastries." Which from a fair market price was a gold piece, due to it being a better tasting dish than a tankard of beer and a loaf of black bread." Why are you wasting your gold?"
Delia didn't stumble, but she was silent for a moment, gathering her words." I'm not wasting my money as much as I am rewarding the NPCs. They are talking to me like… well no not like a player, they are talking to me as if they were real people who lived and worked in this world all their lives. No it's not part of their scripting before you ask. I can the difference between a 'the tavern is that way'." She then pointed off in a random direction as one of a town guard would do." And some one saying 'thank you for getting that water for me Miss Delia'. They remind me of my kids back in Altdorf and when they did a good job I always got them a treat."
Oak listened to her words. He took in her words and processed them.' So the AI in the bot's are getting better then? Considering the hell we are going through and the crazy situation, I'm inclined to believe her.' He thought to himself. Oak replied to his love's word's only a few seconds after she finished speaking." Alright I'll take your word for it darlin', I not all that surprise that bot's are getting smart, considering were in a world that may just kill us all. Just there are two things I want you to keep in mind."
Delia was relieved that Oak believed her and she replied in a positive tone." Thank you for believing me love. But what is that you want me to keep in mind?" Her tail was swinging back and forth as she talked.
Oak ran his free hand through his hair and sighed." Alright keep on giving out them sweets when you want, but I'd prefer it if you stuck to my gun crew and Like's Gaming's crew as well. I don't want trouble with the rest of the regiment because the players are sensitive about their crews. It takes a while to train them up. The second thing is that I don't want you over spending on them. They may be talking more like us as you been saying, but I don't want you to spend your vacation funds on them. " He also added silently to himself in his thoughts.' And I don't want the boy's laughing behind your back because your doing something that we think is crazy.'
Delia nodded as she walked." I'll keep that in mind love."
Oak smiled and then wrapped his arm around her properly and kissed her on the cheek." Thank's for listening darlin'." As the pair were walking themselves back to their gun positions, he heard the drums of the regiment beat out an order.' Back to your guns!' What artilierists there were who weren't at their guns, like Oak, ran back to his Saker, and those already at their positions quickly put away their foodstuffs.
Next to him on his own gun was Like's Gaming, while walking behind him was Fish who was speaking to his regiment." Averlander's are coming this way. Pistoliers about a thousand strong with a strong force of spears and crossbowmen are coming up behind. Remember first shot is solid so lead your targets, second shot is solid. If I don't say hold your fire, get that grape all loaded up and unleash hell at 40 yards." He barked out the orders that were went over the night before." Remember don't leave ya gun's till I give the order to run."
Delia was getting the limber ready for her man's Saker, she was also let in on the plan by Oak after last night's briefing. When they gave the order, the guns would be pulled away and be sent to the next defensive positions several miles back. To the flanks of the sakers, hand gunners and riflemen moved up to take positions and prepared to unleash their volley's. These state troops were equipped with the more expensive flintlocks and wore dark green or black uniforms, thus were better camouflaged in the tree line than the more colorful troops of the other states would have been.
The Brunswick Corps heard their pistolier's long before they could see them. They could hear the thunder of hooves, the crack of pistol's and the whines of horses. Breaking from the tree line across the field, and emerging on the road, the Nuln pistoliers appeared at last. They rode in a formation 3 wide, taking up only half of the road. The pistoliers of Nuln were not like the shiny breast plate wearing horsemen of most of the other states of the empire. Instead they were more in line with the hussars of the Napoleonic age, with tall fur covered hats with deathshead skull's emblazoned on the front and flashy black and silver coats, which covered their chainmail shirts. They may not have been as armored as generic pistoliers, but the flintlock pistols they carried were of a better quality than the wheel locks of the fresh out of the barrack stock type.
As the Brunswick's Corp's Pistoliers thundered down the road, a few hundred yards behind them the Averlanders chased after the Nulnites, their formation four wide. These pistoliers were much easier to differentiate because of their shining breastplates, bright plums, shirts and pants. All of their cloth and plums being of different combinations of red, black, yellows and white, along with the checkerboard pattern on their pauldrons. As they rode, the riders were reloading their pistols, having expended their shots in the chase.
As the Averlander's reached half a mile from the guns, Colonel Fish shouted." Take aim at their cavalry, set sights at 600 yards!" The gunner's then took aim, adjusting their shots to a point on the road six hundred yards away from their position. The gunner's raised up their lighters and awaited the orders.
Then the order came." Independent fire at will!" The gunner's touched off their saker's and the entire tree line was engulfed in smoke as the cannons roared. Over 20 cannon balls flew down range, there were three shot's that went wide, another two were to low and embedded in the earth but fifteen shots found their targets. These cannon balls rolled into the line of pistoliers like a bowling ball getting a strike. Well over two hundred horses fell as the cast iron balls shot through the flesh of the horses. While most of the cannon balls hit the horses or the lower extremities of their riders, two were high enough that they blasted through the heads and chests of their riders, turning men into red mist.
The Brunswick Corp's gunners though didn't take time to watch their destruction. Instead they had their crews load up the saker's once more, the crew springing into action after the first shot was expended. The Nulnite Pistoliers didn't take time to lessen their gallop either, they still had Averlander's on their heels.
The Averlander's themselves took the complete destruction of their vanguard in stride though, their commander ordered the pistoliers to spread out into the field in a formation only two deep. They shifted their target away from the Nulnite pistoliers, turning their attention to the artillerists. Their pistols were loaded up and they were ready to unload once they closed the distance. To the officers who observed the Averlander's, most realized the pistolier commander was half decent at his role when they saw the maneuver.
At three hundred yards the cannons open fired again, this time the destruction wrought by the cannons were seriously lessened as the shots were ragged. Only thirty of the pistoliers fell from this volley. They still came on, as they got closer the men of the Brunswick Corps saw the pistolier's horses foaming at their mouths. The Nulnite Pistoliers rode into the woods and well behind the melee troops to rest their mounts.
Then at seventy yards General Sharpe roared out to the handgunners and riflemen." Volley fire! First rank fire!" Several hundred musket's unleashed their fire at the oncoming horsemen and scores of pistoliers fell. Players fell as well, these men and women were easier to pick out because of their customized gear and thus made the greatly reduced pistoliers easier to break. As the handgunners lowered their muskets to reload, Sharpe shouted out once more." Second rank fire!" As the musket's cracked another hundred of the pistoliers and their horses fell. There were gaps in the formation now which couldn't be filled fast enough.
Then the gunners at their artiliery pieces started to unload the grape shot into the horsemen at forty yards. This was ragged though and not all at once, there was a five second delay from when the first cannon spoke with flames till the last. Now hundreds more of the pistoliers were dead and broken on the ground. Yes they were close enough now that the bot's raised up their firearms and started to fire into the gunners and musketeers. Each of them raising up two pistol's, one in each hand, then firing. They discarded their first set and fired again with another, then another. There may have been only 200 remaining but they unleashed a large enough volley that could match eight hundred musket armed men.
The gunner crews and musketeers, the bots, were the hardest hit, scores fell from the near point blank fire. The player gunners were also hit, two players fell from the gun fire. Like's Gaming was shot in his left arm, straight through the flesh, yet it didn't hit the bone thankfully.
The pistoliers on the other hand were finished, they had lost over 70% of their force in just the past 3 minutes. They couldn't urge their mounts any further into the superior numbers of the Brunswick Corps. The player's commanding the Averlander pistoliers turned their horses and ran. They broke and soon after their bot's followed after them.
The call went up from the officers." Hold your fire! Hold your Fire!" The bot's reloaded their weapons and held back from firing after the pistoliers, then moved to fill in the positions of the fallen to keep the ranks as straight as possible. What uninjured gunners there were, they saw about reloading their cannons with the reduced crew. The injured bots and players were sent back to get patched up by the warrior priests and other healers. Colonel Fish set about moving the command of the gun's whom player's had fallen at, under their command. Above the head's of the gunner's and a large amount of the hand gunner's their recitals turned red, representing the players they had killed. This was an ambush, not a battle with an invite sent to the partaking parties, so the players would be marked by the taking of the lives they had done.
The guns were loaded up, crew members were given new roles and besides the wounded men and horses, the battlefield was clear. The Averlander's pistoliers retreated back into their side of the woods, leaving the Brunswick Corp's with no enemy before them. The men rested, the weapons cleaned and cannons re aimed.
After twenty minutes though, a mile away, the Brunswick Corp's could hear the rumbling of drums in a marching tune. At the tree line to the east, the infantry of the Averlander Vanguard gathered and the Brunswick Corp's awaited them.
/
Wasteland, 40 miles South of Marienburg, 3:24 PM
Relief rushed through the crew of the Titan's Hand as they finally saw the tops of the Marienburg fleet. After two days of constant sailing downstream and repairing their ship, hoping that the Imperial Navy wouldn't catch up to them, the sight of safety was welcomed. Just a few more miles and around another bend and the crew would be amongst friendly sails.
Even from several miles away though, the dust cloud from the Marienburg army could be seen making it's way to the south. Though there was a good sized dust cloud, it was in fact only two thirds of the army that Marienburg mustered. The other third was in Middenland to hold back the Middenheimer's from flanking the main army. The main army could make some good distance on it's own each day, but it stuck with the fleet since they served to secure the river and had most of the supplies belonging to the army. Especially since getting a whole broadside into the flank of your army wasn't anything the ground pounder's wanted to face.
The Marienburg forces were not an exclusive 'Empire Stlye Force' either. There were longships and chaos warriors, there were elves of all verities marching under one banner, lizardmen prowled the water and land, while the cavalry corp's of Marienburg was made up almost exclusively of the Dixie Boy's. There were also a few surprises only the Marienburger's had that were waiting for when they faced their equals on the battlefield.
Phillip, who was wearing his lighter clothes and out of his armor, stood next to Rosalina on the aft deck. He spoke to the captain of the Titans Hand." Well looks like the real fight is going to begin soon. Any word on your position in the fleet?"
Rosalina was slumped forward on the railing of the aft deck. A neutral expression on her face as she replied." We're getting sent to look after the barges. If we didn't have the damage that the Titan Hand took back up the river, she would be serving in the second line behind the main ships-of-the-line."
Phillip acknowledged her words with a grunt." Well at least you'll be relatively safe on that front." Rosalina looked up at him with an 'hmm ' and a quizzical look. Phillip gave a light smile and spoke." What? Can a man not wish a comrade not to be in the main line of danger."
Rosalina turned her head back to the crew as they were talking amongst themselves and getting musical instruments out. She asked Phillip." Comrade? I thought we were just working together because our respective bosses said so?"
Phillip chuckled aloud and told Rosalina." We spilt blood together, killed together, worked together and all together didn't try to cuss each other out. I'd say were comrades or acquaintances."
Rosalina's lip's turned upwards and she said." I think I like that. Better than how my crew and I started out." She then stood and turned, crossing her arms under her breasts and asked." So once we make it to the fleet what do you plan on doing comrade?"
Phillip's smile faltered as he replied." To reply to my own boss and direct him and the armies general on which ground is best for the cavalry. It's one thing to point it out but another to have someone who knows the lay of the land of the course. I'd expect the same thing with Chica, infact I think she flew the coop a few minutes ago to hook up with her razorback riders."
Behind Rosalina, some of her crew were drawing up strings and talking about what song to play. That was at the back of her mind as she nodded." Well I hope your not at the head of any idiotic cavalry charges."
Phillip gave a little 'ha' and his smile was back." Don't worry, I may be playing dress up like a knight, but I know that I live in the 21st century not the 14th. I know what cannons and repeaters do the cavalry. Some of my people though, not so much. Especially those insane Wood Elves…." He looked off to the side and cursed under his breath." Fuck that bastard bringing that religion here." He felt Rosalina stare at him and he looked back at her." It's nothing."
From the main deck they could hear a crew man call up to Rosalina." Boss! We got something special for you. Listen to this!" One of the crew hit the ship's bell twice and the impromptu band started to play.
Rosalina recognized the tune, she had heard it more than once in the Marienburg tavern's. She smiled and turned to Phillip." Care for a dance before we have to go our separate ways?" She offered him her hand.
Phillip smirked and took it." Certinally. Lead the way m'lady!" They danced and so the band played the shanty.
/
"Merrily we sailed along
Though the waves were plenty strong
Down the twisting river Reik
Following a song...
Legend's faded storyline
Tried to warn us all
Oh, they called her "Loreley"
Careful or you'll fall... "
/
"Oh, the stories we were told
Quite a vision to behold
Mysteries of the seas in her eyes of gold...
Laying on the silver stone, such a lonely sight
Barnacles become a throne, my poor Loreley... "
/
"And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley..."
"You would not believe your eyes, how a voice could hypnotize
Promises are only lies from Loreley
In a shade of mossy green, seashell in her hand
She was born the river queen, ne'er to grace the land..."
/
"Oh, the song of Loreley
Charms the moon right from the sky...
She will get inside your mind, loveley Loreley...
When she cries "Be with me until the end of time"
You know you will ever be with your Loreley..."
/
"And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley..."