Jaspers POV
Shots had rang out in the direction of the field where I sent Winchester, Jerad and Meyers, startling my nerve. We were unprepared and unevenly split, this had not been my plan.
How did it come to this?
Grinding my teeth in anxiety, I asked myself How did he know we were here? Swirling the idea around in my mind,I had no answer that didn't involve treason.
My trepidation was short lived as continuous gunfire ensued after my men, followed shortly by orange smoke that lifted from the woods. This was our sign, Jerad knew we were under attack and had decided to continue ahead.
Grabbing the sleeve of Summers, heaving him forward with all my force, we ran towards the trenches which had been dug and fortified in the off chance of an attack. Thank god for intelligent colonials bent on preparation… We leapt into the damp ground, digging in for our next move. Popping a second round of orange smoke to alert Jerad to our placement, this also let the enemy know our position. This double edged sword played into our favor still as the walls were tenuously placed above, making them impossible to address without giving away your full position and leaving yourself vulnerable to counter attack.
Positioning myself on the edge of the fencing, I could clearly see the battlefield and how this could play out. Five men charging on Jerad to the left, another half dozen firing on us, two or three covering the Lieutenant to the rear; this is where we can make our final advancement. The air thickened with black smoke pursing from the buildings in town giving me little solace that everyone was spared but enough cover to begin my counter offensive attack.
Another onslaught of torrential fire rallied around us, emptying round after round and we returned their fire as best we could; Summers was not only one of the best strategists in war but a sniper, one whom I had seen take a man out from over a hundred yards away. These men lay easy prey to such a ranger however this did not stop them from the volley of heavy artillery they continued upon us. No clemency was granted as man after man fell to his death upon the field, no life spared this day. Each man in my sights was taken down, no leniency to give way of weakness; it was at this juncture the last shots from their camp rang.
"I have no interest in prisoners, finish them off." Summers nodded and continued his barrage.
"Major Whitlock, they are spent" He let out a baited sigh and set his weapon aside.
As powder burned into my eyes and nostrils, deep into my lungs, a secondary deafening ringing resounded in my right ear; not slowing my alert as I began to take in the sparse victory which belonged to us at this moment. I glanced through foreground and background for survivors of this siege and saw none. When the powder smoke cleared from the momentary cease fire, a quiet lay over the field; no man still stood a foe from neither our side nor Jerad's. However, I could not make out through the haze where Lt. James had gone. Like a snake, he had slithered away out of my grasp, but I swore not for long.
"Summers, can you see the Lieutenant?"
"No sir, I cannot."
"Can you see where my Captain is?"
"I cannot sir, my path is unclear on all fronts." He looked at me, awaiting our next move. Although our weapons now greatly outmatched our enemy, the gravest of circumstances still foraged ahead. Such a precarious situation we still lay in and as each subjection to this new turn ran in my mind; I wished I knew the condition of my three men. This attack would be better suited as a unit than as two flailing arms.
"Major, your orders sir?"
"I will not yield, I will not cease until he is no more. We press on."
Gathering my thoughts, from the corner of my eye I took notice of a slight movement behind the dilapidated cabin in the distance. A touch of destiny perhaps.
"Can you make out the condition of that movement, Summers?"
With rifle back in hand, he placed the area in his sights. With taunted breath I hoped.
"Sir, I have the Lieutenants men in my sights, they have protected him in a strong hold just a distance away. We can approach and conquer with permission…. Major"
There were no other options, I had no choices. We fight now or succumb to the results of a half assed attempt at valor and our treason against another officer would be for naught. I, for one, would choose death over failure.
"Make ready for an attack, my friend."
"Major? It has been my privilege to serve beside you these last few years. To die in battle with you, if that is our destiny today, would bring me no greater honor." I placed my hand on his shoulder and reciprocated his sentiments through my smile.
Jerad's POV
As an eerie silence rose over the field of battle, my enemies eradicated by our firefight save one. The Lieutenant that we came here to finish had scurried to a nearby cabin, barricaded in by two remaining guards.
With no sign of Jasper or Summers, I stood resolute to finish the job we set out to do. This was our mission and if we didn't complete it here there would be countless lives taken needlessly and I wasn't prepared to let that happen on my watch.
"Cover me" I commanded, as I stood up. His eyes wild, hands scrounging for his gun
Adrenaline burned through every vain as I dashed full force through the woods, my heartbeat searing loudly in my ears and my lungs full of fire, gasping for more breath. I ran even as a white hot bullet entered my body, staggering my step, taking blood and tissue as it passed. I could feel the pain grow in my arm, just a little further now… I had to make it.
I closed my eyes, every breath burned harsher down into my lungs. Just have to make the cabin.
With the target in sight, I hurled myself into the nearest log and made ready my next move. Although my sight was blurry and uncertain, I still found myself paces from the cabin stairs. Can't believe that worked. Although I was clearly bleeding, gasping for air, I was alive and one step closer to finishing this. The two men who stood guard now lay corpses around me, bleeding into the ground, by whose hand mattered not. I could hear the furious yelling of the Lieutenant within the walls. I laughed at this misfortune, such as it was. We now had the tactical advantage, charging in would guarantee his death, possibly my own as well; collateral damage I was willing to accept. As I stood, ready to burst through the doors, a hand grabbed for my shoulder and whirred me around, throwing us both to the ground. Grabbing quickly to my sword, my only defense, a familiar face hovered just above me... with it, a familiar disapproving scowl.
"Have you lost your mind? Charging at the powder house, no rifle in your hands? Did I not teach you any better tactics than that Captain Anderson! If you have a death wish sir, I'd be happy to oblige you." Jasper growled.
"Well, if I had a better teacher, I might have." Smiling at the accord, he smacked my wounded shoulder and I winced as I coughed.
At each of his sides rested Summers and Meyers, both shell shocked and filthy of powder and earth, but alive. I couldn't have been more pleased. The same couldn't be said of Jasper, who looked at my wound as it bled into my uniform, concern passed over his usually cool demeanor which I waved off.
"Major, it's just a scratch. I'll be fine. We have a far superior endeavor to fulfill at the moment." I motioned to the Officer in quarters
"And Winchester?"
"He's gone, Jasper; murdered in the woods before our arrival."
He ground his teeth angrily, "Who?"
"I do not know, although it seems not from the Lieutenants camp as his men were quite a ways away from Sam when we arrived."
His fear mirrored my own, a traitor. One we did not see coming.
Taking stock of the ammunition we had left, the provisions we still carried, our well devised plan did not take into account this predicament. If we went in, James would take us all with him, as I had surmised earlier. The door served as a hot gate where we would all perish. Each action we took seemed to have a greater recourse than the next. None of which ended this standoff. As well drew out new sets of plans in the dirt, he would fire a few shots around us in vain, most likely letting us know he was still alive and not going quietly. A better quality man would have set terms for surrender by now, but his quality would place him squarely in a shallow grave where it belonged.
We would not lament his absence. No one would.