The sky was darkening. Corrin sighed as he sat on the exit ramp of the Warrior. He was a soldier in the final days of his nation. He was fighting more for survival than honor, but most of all he was fighting for a friend. His life was war. War was hell.
Several Thunderbirds flew over head, a stream of white liquid bursting forth from their hatches. Corrin looked in confusion. As the white material approached the ground, he realized it wasn't liquid, it was paper. Thousands upon thousands of tiny leaflets showing the Imperial Lightning bolt emblem and proclaiming the truth of the Emperor. Along with it came the news. Black and white print newspapers fluttered across the air.
He grabbed for one. The headlines read: "Emperor Moves into Jerminy" he read on.
by George Bluntt
The proclaimed "Emperor of Mankind" moved from his lightning campaign in Merica today to begin the invasion of Jerminy. Allies from Albania have come to his aid and are besiegingJermin lines from behind. The…
One word near the bottom caught his eye.
Riktus, the so called "Dark Controller" has been set as high commander of the Merican Crusade in the Emperor's leave. Many battlefield philosophers…
He threw the paper down. Riktus was at the head of the Imperial Army. Corrin would kill him, no matter where he stood. Corrin would free his friend.
Grange walked to him. "I just read it." He said, disgusted. "This could be a problem for killing our good friend…" Corrin nodded solemnly. There were a series of angry yells from one of the tents in the camp. The ruined city was beautiful. The Captain, whom said his name was Ferius, said that they were on the border of Canadia and the Amerin area.
The angry noises grew louder. The tent hatch burst open. "Who the Frak has a radio?" It was Ferius. He looked furious. The men gathered in around the Warrior Tank all shook their heads and looked at each other. Even Grange shrugged. "We just caught a vox frequency…someone is working for the enemy." He looked around suspiciously. "They called the Frakking Imperials on us!"
There was a great whoosh of sound. Everyone threw their heads to the sky. Two massive craft soared high above, almost tiny in the distance. Something began descending from the behemoths. It wasn't propaganda slips. "Scatter!" Jasper screamed over the blast of the great planes. Corrin rushed off, followed quickly by Grange, into the woods beyond. The snow began to melt quickly. The black pods from the ships came closer and closer.
The icy ground turned into a plain of heat. Bomb shells exploded across the town, tearing apart the ground and reducing old buildings to rubble. Imperial soldiers emerged from nowhere, charging straight into the hell-storm.
Grange spun around and fired at the oncoming soldiers. His bolt-gun cut three down and moved to a forth. Corrin turned. "Grange, dive right now!" They shot to the right and fell behind a small house. A rocket fired past them "Now…" Corrin smiled. "We're even." Grange laughed.
Corrin crouched at the side of the house. An Imperial approached. Corrin flicked out a small knife. The man's leg stuck around the edge of the house. Corrin drove the knife into his knee and toppled the man over. Quickly regaining his footing, he stepped on the Imperial's face. His las-pistol brought another two down.
Grange rolled out from the house, his Plasma Cannon emitting a powerful blue glow. The Imperial with missile launcher met eyes with the Adept for a moment. Fear shown clearly on his face. The Plasma Cannon threw released a mesh of super-hot liquid at the man. His body completely evaporated.
The house beside them exploded in a blast of concrete and straw. They fell to the floor and covered their heads. More Imperials stormed in from everywhere. Grange stood and helped Corrin up.
His head was spinning. His legs moved without his control. "Sh…Sh…k" He heard Grange faintly, as though he were far away. "Do…uo….me?" Grange looked at him worriedly "Do you he…me?" They limped on. The world was flipping up and down. He closed his eyes, begging it to stop. "Do you hear me?" Corrin nodded slightly. The white city disappeared and his vision was filled with trees.
Grange turned his head and blasted down several more Imperials. The forest shot by rapidly, forming into a smear of green and brown in Corrin's eyes.
The trees abruptly shifted to complete white. He could not discern between land and sky. He felt himself being thrown to the ground softly. "Die Imperial Bastards!" Grange yelled. A slight smile crossed Corrin's face.
He heard gun fire. Screams of pain came from the forest. Corrin slowly flipped over. He saw Grange, his hand a massive axe, eviscerate an Imperial.
The Martian turned and walked towards him. "Stay till. You're suffering from shell shock." He pressed a button on his wrist and a small pack fell from his chest. He opened it and withdrew a blue tube. He wrapped it lightly around Corrin's head.
He felt soothing heat slide into his head and down his body. "Now, you need to get rest. We can start moving in the morning. I'll start making camp. When you wake up you can…" He trailed off as Corrin's eyes snapped shut in sleep.