Tauri Furling: First Contact and Alliance

by StargateFFWriter

Anti-Ori War; much more competent Ori/Orisian military than in OTL. Y2000 Tauri meet the militarily mighty Furling, returning from choiceless exile, to ally with the Tauri. These two great races will unite the war-capable races in 3 galaxies for a common purpose. The Alliance and the Ori Orisian corporeals had both better be beware!

8. The Battle of Vaerysia: Land

Chapter 8

The Battle of Vaerysia: Land

Vaerysia (Planet P3TX-456)

First Hours of the Furling-Ori War

The chevrons of the Stargate located on the western end of the only, and massive-sized, mountain located on the planet of Vaerysia lit up alive one after the other an orange-color as the gate began to spin after each dramatic-looking and dramatic-sounding 'dial'. A visible dome had been built over this invisible stargate.

A military officer waited a safe distance away in front of the soon-to-form event horizon, a hopeful and expectant smile having formed on his face. He had to have one. He counted down the final chevrons on the briefly-rematerialized stargate and the individual gate semi-rotations, until the fluid-looking event-horizon spouted out and then fell backwards. The light which the Stargate gave off illuminated the silver-colored shoulder-patches on his battle-armor, which

Another Furling officer with the watered-down gold-colored insignia each on his beige/ light-brown armor's shoulder-pads, clad in protective battle-armor from neck to toe materialized first, followed by three other Furlings, also wearing the same-colored characteristic Terrestrial Engagement Service (TES) armor, still with distinguished looks but slightly less so than the first's. A human wearing some kind of battle-armor he'd never seen before in the Triangulum Galaxy with two shiny stars on the shoulder pads and some kind of achievement-squares magnetically attached to the chest portion also stood out to the Commander.

The silver-insigniaed officer saluted the gold-insigniaed officer.

"General Aelerothi, I'm greatly honored and greatly reassured that you're leading us today, undoubtedly in one of our most perilous battles." The Columnar enthusiastically, but somewhat casually saluted the general with a raised fist to his forehead.

Lekilis raised his fist also to his forehead, glad to see his longtime colleague. He extended his hand quickly, which the Colonel took and clasped, the usual Furling greeting equivalent to an earthan handshake. "Colonel Scelick, we meet again my friend; not under the most pleasant circumstances, I realize."

"No, but I believe with you and your colleagues the High Command designated to lead us in this moment iof reckoning I think we possess a good chance of defeating our homicidal, mouth-foaming enemies." Scelik commented with much certainty in his voice.

Lekilis appreciated the vote of confidence. "Thank you. I promise to do my utmost to earn such trust from you. And I am also very grateful for colleagues such as yourself and these officers" he ued next to him to the gang that had come throught with him via stargate.

" Well, into the battle we'll go once again, sir. I promise to earn yours too." He turned

"Greetings to you also, General Revvan, General Tas'cil and Phylaie Hamilita. And I take it you're the Earthan general whos' come to aid us today yes? Another great mind always helps in these sorts of situations."

The two other generals smiled warmly and patted the Colonel on the shoulder heartily.

"Yes, I am he Colonel. Though great mind may be much too generous though. Ryan Peterson's the name." He chuckled in realxed manner and clasped the other's hand.

General Aelerothi earlier had read report on his advanced holographic data-pad, perusing though the many bits of intelligence that the Terrestrial Intelligence Directorate (TID) had gathered.

Reinforcements for making it much more easy to defending the planet against further attempted Ori incursions would be arriving as soon as possible. He would only needed to delay the enemy and prevent them from establishing a foothold on this extremely valuable habitable star.

The arrivals exited the Command Post and starting viewin and analyzing the situation they faced on the other side of the vast terrain before them. Their peoples' first battle of this war with the Ori and their corporeal followers, the Orisians, was about to occur; the Orisian soldiers clearly outnumbered the Furling soldiers quite a few times-at least six. A Furling disadvantage; at best, perhaps their only disadvantage if they were lucky. Those with superior numbers didn't always correctly guarantee thmeselves that theyw would win oevr their enemeis in battle. The hilly terrain in the middle would cause the Ori to have to split their numbers somewhat, even if they wished to attack in massive groups . This ruled out the Ori attempting a gap-less massed-infantry frontal attack in one single fell swoop, utilizing every single one of the estimated 480,000 soldiers they had with them.

Under normal circumstances, a Temporary Terrestrial Secondary-General could count on commanding at least 200,000-300,000 Regular Terrestrialelf Enlistees. But he only had 60,000 enlistees to do this job with already-slim chances of success.

Lekilis mentally utilized the combat-helmet's zoom function to better see the Ori personnel, he reflected that the Ori were considered ideologically-distant cousins of the Alterrans. He knew they were utterly ruthless, megalomaniacal, resilient, and rather resourceful when they bothered to be. And they were one of the few races in the known galaxies who were technologically matched with his race. So he must be prepared to be prepared-the Ori recently had been shipping vast resources to do something they hoped would give them an upper hand to exterminate any tough 'heathens' brave enough to oppose them. He presently spotted a total of 400,000 Ori 'Ordinarymen' on the opposite side of this mountain-the Ori footmen non-officers, as the Earthan military had taken to calling enlisted privates.

Huddled around him ,consulting, were his highest-ranking command-staff officers, Secondary-General Hacathra Revven, Quarternary-General Al'vik Tas'cil, and Phylaie Eliphon. Major General Ryan Peterson of Earth's United States Army, was also sent here here to both teach and learn.

All around them were the Furling Terrestrial Conventionals he'd been given command over. The Terrestrial Special Operators he had command over consisted of the Conflict Grounds Rangers (CGRs) to perform some incredibly effective sniping feats from afar while taking cover in between their highly-accurate shooting, and the Elite Land Warriors (ELWs) to engage the Orisians out in the open and at much closer range. At the moment they were hiding nearby in order to counter any Ori surprises with some surprises of their own.

---

Upper-Prior Simonius, charged by the Orici herself to lead the Orisian forces to victory for this battle, glanced throuh an outwardly medieval-looking telescope which actually had a similar capability to Lekilis's Optical Enhancer. He was liking all the details that he saw. Continuing to survey, he thought *I daresay there are no more than seventy-thousand of those pitiful creatures here to oppose me and my soldiers, who will carry out the will of the omnipotent Ori. The Ori shall guide us with their wisdom as they always have and we will annihilate those pitiful fools who dare to challenge the blessed corporeal representatives of the Ori. For our faith in the Ori is absolute and unshakable, and therefore our victory is absolutely guaranteed. They might as well surrender now and save themselves the tremendous suffeing and humilation we'll inflict!* He laughed maniacally, enjoying the anticipation of an assured upcoming slaughtering of these infuriatingly defiant infidels.

"My friends and follow unswerving devotees of the Ori, I assess that this is an utterly pathetic showing on the part of our blasphemous enemies, my fellow Priors. We will walk roughshod through this maximally futile wall of resistance and demonstrate what should be the clear truth to them-none who irrationally reject the hand of friendship that the Ori offer so wilingly. Fear not, we shall send a reverberating message to any future infidels we may come across. We will encounter significantly less opposition when the news spreads of what we are about to accomplish today." the Upper-Prior rallied his troops.

Middle-Prior Silas and Lower-Prior Geromiah flanked him, following along with their boss's train of thought like faithful supportive yes-men.

The Middle-Prior quite agreed with his commanding officer. "You represent our gods' will well, Upper Prior. They shall, by their omnipotence, ensure us a swift, decisive victory today."

The Lower-Prior echoed his superiors. "And with our newly created Terror-Knights, which our Ascended Parents in their infinite wisdom envisioned , we will doubly trample over their mangled bodies. They will convey the righteous terror of our divine masters which is reserved for such egotistical infidels as them."

"You have a great talent for appreciating the benevolent works of the Ori , Prior Geromiah. You are truly infused with the saving spirit of Origin." Simonius praised his toadying subordinate.

"Thank you, Prior Simonius. I shall endeavor to continue to serve the Ori with boundless inspiration." He inclined his head slightly towards his superior for a few seconds before raising it back up again.

"I am glad to hear your great resolve Geromiah. And now we will turn our attention to the matter at hand-the general strategic attack."

He commenced.

"It is simple, but most effective. This is a very hilly field of battle, which I suspect one might think would cause great difficulty if we tried what I plan to do. The enemy will therefore not expect us to send out a massed infantry attack. We will do exactly that. By the will of the Ori, we will succeed without a doubt, hills or no hills. We can regroup them later if truly needed." This Upper-Prior had intaken some limited military knowledge the Ori transfused into his brain. He hadn't fought in or lead in a single battle in his life, but yet he was feeling damned assured he would be the successful general.

"By the will of the Ori, we will succeed this time, as we always shall!" Silas and Geromiah exclaimed in unison and raised their staffs slightly up in the air.

Simonius smiled a full smile and nodded his head confirmingly of the validity of their enthused slogan. They were only stating the obvious, but expressing their continued dedication to their ascended masters by doing so.

"Prior, I very respectfully emphasize that we should be all the more vigilant, if these people are fanatically loyal Alterran servants as you say, well then they must possess great power similar to our own-we should proceed all the more cautiously. Perhaps we might even need reinforcements to successfully occupy this mountaintop much later!" An Ori Terror-Knight Regimental-Leader had the good sense to suggest, much as he was contradicting his superior.

Prior Simonius felt the most enraged he'd felt in a long while. "Blasphemy! Blasphemy! You, Colonel, you are the leader of the newly-formed Terror-Knights, the elite soldiers of the Ori. How dare you open your mouth to offer me nonseniscal, uninvited dribble! Remove your helmet, commander!, and look me directly in the face."

"Prior, I meant no disrespect, but I merely urge you to utlize caution when dealing with these infidels who would oppose us. I emphasize that while the Ori empower us to defeat these fools, we may assure that we do only our absolute best and nothing less to be alert and proactive. The Ori are counting on us to do so, therefore they sent us rather than do this themselves. The Ori may be no doubt invincible, but we are mortals and are not. So we should take care to preserve our healthif we are to serve them by vanquishing the enemy afte this confclict."

"You question my basic competence and authority as a Prior of the Ori?" he scolded furiously as he swung his arm furiously to deal the leading Terror Knight a sever blow which shattered his very durable helmet into pieces. "Take and confine this audacious doubter until I have the time to punish him!' he yelled to whoever was listeining.

Commander Tomin of the Orisian First Light Footmen Battalion cringed at seeing Simonius savagely dealing the blow. He didn't feel the Prior acted in a justified manner. He reflected on whether or not the Priors were really carrying out the will of the Ori as they were supposed to.

---

"Elflady, gentleelfmen, General Patterson, your thoughts for an overall strategy? You've heard mine, and I'd very much like to hear yours" Lekilis requested invitingly.

Hacathra Revven, Lekilis's highest-ranking subordinate, gestured with her index finger in the air requesting the floor.

Lekilis gestured with two hands spread forward at her. "General Revven, Ma'am?"

Hacathra smiled a very honored smile. Even now, Lekilis was always the gentlemen, casually referring to subordinate officers casually as ma' shared her thoughts.

"I suggest we concentrate all our heavy firepower first, in suppressive volleys at their front lines, while they're massed and waiting or about ready to charge. Without saying, we will then use all artillery which is below fortress-grade, for efficiency reasons, to continue when they increase speed and we can no longer We should be able to slow the initial advance for at least a vital few minutes, which is very important in the long run until we're reinforced. We should continue to barrage them." Whether they send all or one percent of their total troop number at once, we benefit every time we have them at an advantage like that. Broadly speaking, I suggest beginning with and maximizing the usage of a defensive strategy first to drain their numbers. We should then take the offensive to capture their fortress and commanders when we clear enough of a safe path, supported our advance with maximum covering fire. "

Lekilis showed his approval while raising his smallest left fingers on each hand, the Furling equivalent of an Earthan thumbs-up. "I like your intial approach."

He looked at the rest of his staff. "Alright, who'd like to suggest the next phase?" he inquired a bit hurriedly.

Al'vik turned to look Hacathra in the face. "If you're done suggesting for the time being, Ma'am, I request the floor next."

Hacarthra smiled graciously. "Don't feel the need to be so formal, Al'vik. You rank may be lower than mine right now, but as we all know the past anti-Aelerothi political crusade, not your lack of ability, has prevented you from advancing to the rank of Tertiary-General like I have. So just call me Hacathra."

Al'vik looked her in the face and nodded, greatly appreciating her courtesy. It was a mutual respect they'd shown each other beginning from when Hacathra noticed that like General Aelerothi, he was equally respectful and considerate of all officers and enlistees regardless of gender or social background.

He pointed his finger diagonally and smiled wittily, indicating approval for Hacathra's plan."We must be very careful not to accidentally erode that large hill in the very center, because it's our most vital wall of defense. Should the Ori choose to attempt to remove this impediment to them, we might not be able to stop them, but we shouldn't help them. When the footmen advance too close for the artillery to be effective at zero-distance range, then ask the infantry to fire at will and grenade-toss at will also. Should they breach our lines, we must order the light cavalry, heavy cavalry, and armored combat vehicles in to overwhelm them and halt their advance. Artillery, at that point should carefully supress the units our cavalry don't engage. I'm done suggesting for the moment."

"Phylaie Hamilitia or General Peterson?"

"You first, Eliphon, I insist." Ryan Peterson answered courteously for them.

"Appreciated, Ryan." Eliphion nodded a curt thanks at the Major General. "We'll likely be facing a scenario sometime when we can no longer avoid hand-to-hand fighting. He paused for everyone to consider. He smiled rather confidently. "But that may work to our advantage! I doubt those footmen are so skilled at hand-to-hand combat, as well as even their possibly present elite warriors. Furling strength, agility, and reflexes are superior to human agility, I mean no denigrative statement Genernal Branson, so if and when we must engage in close-quarters combat, we must maximize the . We must consider what damage they may be able to inflict with their staff weapons used as a striking staff. And due to their overwhelming numbers, the Ori footmen may still be able to shoot a few plasma pulses. So I urge that the soldiers attempt as much as possible, to avoid being struck on their shields at the very beginning of the battle to utilise them later at greatest need. I'm concluding for now and pass the floor to you James."

"Well, those Orisian land troops certainly look the same to the naked human eye", the United States Army liason to his counterparts in the Furling Unified Republic's Terrestrial Engagement Service reported his face-value observations decisively. We'd of course like to know the answer to is have the Ori been enhancing their minions' armor and weapons? Goodness forbid, not their natural abilities either while they've been at it, if they've been doing so! We really don't want is for their now-average soldier to possess enhanced speed, strength, reflexes, stamina,and senses; we'd lose our edge over them. Not to mention earlier the horrid possibility of the Ori actually bothering to school their officers and enlisted in strategy, tactics, and movement-drilling. In short, we must adapt in a very timely manner mentally and physically if we encounter the enemy adapting their known strategy and tactics as well. Having a mentality to be constantly mobile is very important. We can't take any chances that they've been preparing far more than we think at this point. I guarantee you that they'll still have weaknesses to exploit. For example, I' very certain that

Lekilis considered Patterson's input." I too highly hope the Ori haven't been enhancing their corporeal minions' capabilities in even one of those ways, as doing so would negate our advantages against them to some degree, which we seriously can't afford. Hopefully, after running the Uel-Eel Scans on those ordinary-lloking footmen, we'll We'll be ready to compensate. We have some alternate Pardon me please for a moment, all."

The rather-young general pressed the button to activate his armband's ground-to-space communicator in order to accept an incoming signal from his friend and Aerial-Spacial-Flying-Combat-Craft-Service (ASFCS) counterpart in this battle, Secondary-General Anduril Riven.

"Lekilis here, hello again down there. I've re-assessed the situation again, with the changes, since we last spoke."

Anduril, hello again up there. "Will you re-update me ?"

"The Ori fighter-craft are arriving according to the timetable our service has predicted, close to the numbers they've predicted; a little less actually. I believe that we may be able to defeat their flight-wings according to our ideally-desired timetable. As soon as we succeed, we'll use all our fighter-vessels to conduct strafing runs to first either destroy Ori artillery pieces or the strongest Ori landtroop groupings. We'll then also use our light-bombers to commence dive-bombing their land soldiers once you are able to sufficiently distance your soldiers from them. Remember though to take sufficient cover if they should."

"Acknowledged, Anduril. I still estimate my previously estimated minimum time to clear my designated arena of all battlefield of all hostile ground soldiers. If we succeed on the ground first and you are still outnumbered, direct some of your pilots to bring their fighters down to the surface, hopefully luring Ori fighters with them. I will lead my artillery to strike low-flying Ori fighters to help even the odds. Once more, let's go forth to battle doggedly for the valorous defense now of our beloved homenation Furliya's, and her like-minded brethrens' noble ideals of tolerance and freedom. As with all others who would ruthlessly threaten those after our sincere entreaty to them to cease, let us show them just how fiercely determined we are to defend these sacred ideals."

"Show them we shall, to the absolute fullest extent of our innate potent abilities,my longtime friend and eminent colleague. Anduril out."

"Lekilis out."

Lekilis switched his micro-communicator to send a communication request up to Primary-Admirals Cir'lan Andrir and Fey'rial Elid of the Stellar Interstellar Galactic Naval Service (SIGNS). He checked up on the situation in their theatre and asked them to estimate conservatively when they could spare the effort, to completely destroy, or at least effectively disable, the nearby supergate as soon as possible to prevent their Ori adversaries from dispatching any more units through the massive transportation gate. He also asked asked for an estimate of when they could orbitally bombard any Ori fighter vessels trying to join the land battle below, then orbitally aim their massive starship-type plasma burts at the masses of Ori Elites down below.

"Pardon my absence, friends-does anyone else have any advice to give at this moment?"

Hacathra shot up her right fist with one finger.

"Please do proceed, general."

"Consider the fact that we'll be utilizing many ruses over the battle's course in order to counter the Ori numberical superiority, we'll need to devise and execute complex ruse after complex ruse to continously wear down the Ori corporeals by attrition. After the Ori command notices our first ruse, we must succeed at more and more clever, unthinkable ruses, lest they should recognize our later ruses and not participate. In fact, we'd succeed best if we pull of ruses which they especially believe wwe can't anymore, because we've already executed the particular ruse prior to those. "

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Most certainly agreed."

"Completely agreed."

---

General Tascil headed outdoors againt to assess any changes the enemy had since made. He now noticed at the very back of the Ori formation were many people dressed completely in plain white robes. They also seemed to be emitting anomolous energy readings either from, he guessed, some armor and/or weapons they wore underneath. Al'vik was able to notice that these particular soldiers gave off a completely different type of vibe. As a schooled energonics (engineering field specializing at working with energy sources) specialist, he had a good hunch of what it was.

*Now,who are those mysterious robed people?* he pondered. *Could they be Ori religious acolytes here to assist the priors in praying an extra amount so that we don't easily trample over their deployed forces? No, the Ori don't have any. Could they be a special sect within Origin who've chosen to come by to play their part in the land battle? No, they couldn't be-I know Origin is a completely orthodox religion. The Ori Theocratic Nation would put a most miserable end to the lives of any cult members they ever came across. Perhaps they're special land-types the Ori have been developing specifically to fight the Anti-Ori Alliance. That would make sense, especially since the Ori can't expect their regular footsoldiers to successfully hold their own too well even against just our regular terrestrial soldiers. I'd guess very logically send in 'expendable' regulars to distract us and then use those elites however they see best to undermine our manuevers all of a sudden*.

Lekilis suddenly saw Alvik sprinting towards him at a speed he'd never seen his fellow general officer run towards him this fast for a while.

"We need to factor in one very important variable." he announced. "I'm at this moment, after viewing the scan results, quite certain than not only have the Ori been enhancing their footmens' armor to a notable degree have developed some sort of elite land-soldiers to more effectively combat us. While you were speaking to your counterpart commanders, I noticed them mobilizing these units from somewhere on their side of the battlefield. I still can't tell exactly what they're like though, except very tall. "

Lekilis took the data pad Al'vik handed him and from ", Al'vik. I think we'll try to hold back as much as another five thousand at least more of our own elites, for as long as we can considering the safety of our combatants, so we don't display all our greatest strength at the beginning. And, those first five thousand reserve have been able to acclerate dig tunnels under this very ground to utilize in ambushing the enemy. I'm thinking of withholding them from the battle longer,as much as possible, to enhance our surprise element. We'll ask them to ambush the Orisans' own 'elites' as soon as they attempt to use their talents to to turn the tide of this battle against us too much."

A just-returned CGR officer interrupted their conversation.

"Sir You must hear this. We know the Ori corporeal warriors recently, to some extent, believe they are essentially invincible as long as they believe in the divinity of their gods, so they consider using tactics as a last resort. As suspected, our great advantage is their great disadvantage, my colleague. One thousand of the original party of Conflict Grounds Rangers just arrived and reported this observation. Of those, five hundred have possess sniping skills. Another advantage for us" Al'vik smiled reassuringly and casually.

Lekilis beat his fellow general to announce his next related thought. "However, let's be ever-vigilant if they decide to start using tactics at all or improving their usage of tactics. So will we maintain our advantage and more, as long as we keep feeling paranoid about their possible moves. Thinking with paranoia certainly helps sometimes, as long as one doesn't follow it to effectively head in a counterproductive direction."

"Yes, it's important for a battlefield commander to be paranoid in a productive way if he or she decides to think 'paranoically'."

"Glad you genuinely agree with me on all these points, by the way, General Tascil, after first thinking it through for yourself of course. I'm glad some of my staff officers like you actually take the due time effort to do so, and not just automatically agree because I'm your supervising officer or because my name is Lekilis Aelerothior becasue I'm an Aelerothi serving in the military." He chuckled, turning with a self-mocking smile toward Al'vik.

"Oh, well, I may have forgotten, General Aelerothi-you're one of the greatest telepaths I know. Well then, if I ever think anything negative about you, I'll stay far enough from you for my own safety."

The two elven officers shared a loud pre-battle laugh at Al'vik's very clever quip. Al'vik wasn't just one of his high-ranking subordinates ; he was his slightly younger longtime friend from their childhood, Furliya National University's and its accompanying Civilian College Military Officer Recruit Education Program (CCMOREP), Terrestrial Officer Intermediate University, and the Advanced General and Flag Officer Learning University up until this very historic moment. The elfman had a talent for quipping witticisms he enjoyed hearing and vice versa. Additionally, he could truly use Al'vik's talent alonngside his own abilities today and was greatful that Al'vik was able to accept his requested command position.

Lekilis heard an auditory signal, which alerted him of an incoming transmission. He turned on his micro-communicator to accept a locally-based transmission. "Lekilis Aelerothi." "General Aelerothi sir, the Ori lead commander sent out a short message saying he wishes to hold a pre-battle meeting."

"Acknowledged, Delegate. I'll need to decide in while if we should accept this request or not."

"Noted sir" the communcations officer responded.

Four important-looking military figures, judging by the insignia three from each of the two opposing sides, walked towards the centerpoint of the battlefield appearing to be quite civil. Upon reaching, Lekilis and his close friends and subordinates Secondary General Hacathra Revven, and Quarternary General Al'vik Tascil stood side by side silently staring at the three somber Priors, Upper Prior Simonius and his subordinates Middle-Prior Cilias and Lower-Prior Silas.

The two pairs of battlefield commanders in what would appear to be some sort of a staring contest to see who would finch or look away first. Still gazing, the Upper Prior opened his mouth first. "Furious are the Ori toward those who reject the benevolent, unequivocal offers coming from their great will to save the doomed souls of the unenlightened masses of the universe. Righteous and all-benefitting are the Ori's intentions. Those who do not wish to embrace the light the Ori offer must simply be extinguished to save the noble honor of the Ori. I once more present the same generous offer from the Ori. Will you, commander, have the wisdom to accept their offer this time around? Answer immediately an you shall be on the path to salvation."

Lekilis had continued to smile tellingly. "Thank you, Prior, for issuing a final magnanimous plea and warning. But it is you who are the one sinning. You preach an ideology of nonpluralistic spiritual belief. Don't the enlightened, forgive the pun, religiousities tend to preach pluralism and tolerance on the contrary? Upper-Prior Simonius, I must first state, before I express my personal opinion about your offer, that I am a commanding general with the Furling Terrestrial Engagement Service of the Furling Armed Warfare Services. I am therefore only a military leader only and we defer to the civilian government. So I'm afraid you'll have to speak to them if you can gain their audience."

"VERY WELL THEN!" Simonius bellowed, fed up with the further intention of these beings, somewhat more advanced in his mind than their usual intended victims. "We are done negotiating at this very moment. Do not place the blame later for the deadly consequences of continuing to insist on your ignorant, foolish ways!"

"Actually, I would place the blame for what I envision to be a very bleak outcome for your side, on you because we also warned you to cease your aggression and you did not heed us either, Upper-Prior and your associates." Lekilis replied in a casual but clearly defiant tone.

"You presume you can defeat us, the loyal servants of the Ori?" Simonius and his two lackey lower-ranking Priors let out wild laughter in response. Only the Terror-Knight Crusade-Colonel kept his lips still. He was adamant that his superiors were simply underestimating these formidable enemies.

"Return then, past the line to your fellow unrepentant heathens and await us to inflict annihilation as we inflict on all the servants of the Alterra and any other unredeemable unbelievers we encounter during our crusade. Pray to those lesser, compulsively-lying gods that we know the Alterrans are in the time you have left to inhabit this plane of existence. The Ori defeated their evil cousins billions of years ago and will do so again, preempting them from spreading their evil." "

The Furling party raised single eyebrows, sighed, and felt like putting their faces right down in their hands, because they could all guess that the Ori tried spreading this propaganda about all races having the power to fight them on equal terms to be 'Alterran servants'.

"I'd like to state, for the record of those present, that we are not and we are stating that we are not, servants of the Alterrans, for what little it matters ultimately to you and to us." Al'vik corrected him. "Well, I think we've wasted two decca of our lives listening to lunatics who we simply can't communicate with in the higher meaning of this word."

"Would I be asking too much if I requested we leave and go back about our original duties?" Hacathra asked in a deadpan tone?"

"I think we'll immediately benefit our sanity if we did so" Lekilis decided.

Back again on the Ori side of the immense battlefield, moments before the battle was supposed to begin, Upper-Prior Simonius was, even more fervently than he usual was, rousing his Crusader army battalions and regiments consisting of the ordinary infantry, artillery, and cavalry as well as his elite ground soldiers which consisted of those same function-regiments. He decided to quote from the sacred Book of Origin to reinforce his fervor-rousing speech.

"And the Ori did attempt, even at the very end, to convince the utterly doomed and stubbornly foolish heathens to save their lives and their souls one final time, but alas they would not accept the finally-offered chance our great gods in all their magnanimity offered them. And so did the Ori decide to commence the punishment of the obstinately unwilling sinners. Go forth, now, ye completely dedicated servants of the Ori, and dole out our gods' punishment!"

The Ori personnel raised their arms skywards. "Victorious shall we be by the power of the Ori! Death and righteous punishment for the unrepentant enemies of the Ori"

---

Lekilis, in the meantime, delivered no less rousing a speech to his brave and dedicated soldiers no less than the one his counterpart Simonius had.

"Fellow terrestrial-elves, what we're attempting to achieve today will be no relaxed, easy feat. At times after the fighting starts, we may all feel highly discouraged. But don't give up. You may think that as the current reserve regiments, you lack fighting experience. But I can tell you, from my own experience, that there are those that are so imbued with the spirit of a soldier that they are able to easily regain their battlefield instinct on the field. The Extraordinary Command chose each and every one of you out of the entire reserves, because of your great innate abilities impeccable combat records. And you may rest assured that I personally will do everything I can to insure very few to no major casualties while you risk your lives out there."

"That is for certain! We trust you completely with our lives, Kaelesar! (1)" one enlistee shouted out. Lekilis's personability with the common soldier and his very sincere concern for their well-being always earned him the full trust of his commandees.

"I second that!" I second that again! I too second that!" three more soldiers and then tens of thousands more repeated.

"I thank you profusely for your great votes of confidence and I promise I'll keep my promise to the letter. In the name of Furliya, her ideals, and her allies and our common ideals!"

"Save the precious light of Furliya and her allies!"

The Ori soldiers occupying their side of the field waited to launch a massed-infantry attack. They happened to not have many artillery units despite the overall size of their forces present.

Suddenly, through their newly-installed helmet-installed microcommunicator they heard the the familiar voice of Upper-Prior Simonius. "Begin the vast assault against the heathens! Commanders, march your footmen swiftly forward with the full fury and dedication of soldiers of the Ori, to the top of the hill, then Forward charge!"

Battalions of Ori land-warriors, with their hostile-looking face-covering helmets, chanted in unison their bland-sounding phrases of For the glory of the Ori! four times before they sprinted forwards with their weapons raised and absolutely-assured smiles. They charged and ran towards the center pushed their charges forward, in making sure to leave just enough space so that they could lift their weapons and take aim at the enemy. "Faster by two paces! And Leave a space so your fellow soldiers may take actions, you miserable imbeciles!" an Ori Thirdman chided at his wayward charges. He smacked a few enlistees upside the helmet to make a point. Then he smacked a Fourthman, the leader of their squad." No wonder they're so incompetent! They have an incompetent leader like you!" The Fourthman bowed his head low and mumbled a stuttering apology.

Lekilis at this very moment yelled,"Fortress main battery commence firing-aim one for their front, two at their sides, then one more at their center."

The tactical officer selected the right caliber and positioning of the fortress guns and concentrated in thought. His brainwaves communicated with the required operating system and seconds later a long, wide solid plasma beam about seventy-two feet long struck the very front of the huge formation, causing hundreds of footmen to go for vertical, horizontal, and diagnolrides. int he air. Less than a second later, two more struck the flanks, breaking their formation Those rows of soldiers dashed backwards, running into soldiers dashing forwards and colliding with them, before they were all struck by another large beam and one could hear hundreds of hellish air-piercing screams.

Simonius slammed his staff down on his desk over and over and over again. "What, in damnation, is occurring here? Retreating already? Unbecoming of servants of the Ori."

The Prior clenched his fists as tightly as he could and then pounded his desk with great impact, pound after pound.

"Silas! Take disciplinary action! Instruct the officers to instill in their charges a fear of disobeying superiors!"

"Yes sir, Upper Prior, sir!" his subordinate complied. "Hesistant, vacillating footmen, you've shown less than your full enthusiasm at carrying out the wishes of our gods! Now we shall deal with you with leniency no more! Officers will begin shooting any regularman who they even suspect of committting les than a full effort!"

At the outer left of their side of the whole terrain, Furling Terrestrial Infantry Regulars and the accompanying Elite Land Warriors at the moment fought victoriously against the hordes of approaching Ori Footmen and the smaller hordes of infiltrating Ori Knights .

---

Some Furling Conventional Operations infantry-elves just a short distance on the Furling-held side from the middle section of the field crouched down for cover behind their durium emplacements. They raised their medium-bulk repeater rifles at the approaching metal-clad enemies, focusing and waiting for the order to open fire.

Terrestrialelf Ilrias didn't feel so impressed with this new enemy's fighting skill. He realized their handweapons' firepower was quite impressive-even on a par with his people's own, a rarity. This enemy had ridiculously made their firearms in the image of a technologically primitive medieval-era staff, so it was harder for their foot-soldiers to utilise. Ilrias didn't mind; he liked that his side possessed much better tactical doctrine, allowing them to react and turn the tide even when they might be densely outnumbered by these medieval-looking.

His friend Ulyias broke the silence. "So what are you really thinking, Ilrias?"

Ilrias looked his friend straight in the face. "I think we have agood chance of defeating them without incurring any major casualties if they only swnd forth those Footmen-Looking soldiers."

Ulyias nodded. "But if they send more skilled soldiers?"

Ilrias sighed. "Then we'd better use every ounce of our natural Furling aptitude for fighting and hope we have enough to at least hold them back until Admiral Aelerothi reinforces us."

Ilrias rested his his mid-weight-repeater rifle on top of the emplacement, aiming right into a squad of the footsoldiers at the front of the charging regiment, attempting to gain glory for themselves in the process. He seized the opportunity, since each enlisted infantry was now firing at-will, to target the chest area of the first footsoldier within his range of fire. The burst entered through the footsoldier's body and entered two more, until landing to be disbursed by the extra-thick armor plating of an Ori Knight.

This Knight had been using those footmen for human shielding. Since the Knight was the next available target in his line of fire, Ilrias aimed his next shots right for the man-on-super-steroids's helmet, hitting him right where his forehead would be. Ilrias could swear he actually noticed the Knight back up by one millimeter, most likely due to his well-aimed rifle-class plasma stream.

*Not too badly for a terrestrial-elf regular* the relatively new-to-soldiering Senior Enlistee evaluated of his own performance.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something he disapproved of. Ilrias quickly turned to his left used both of his hands to pull down a brave but foolhardy fellow terrestrial infantryelf who'd become both stress-induced-irrational AND developed an insanely unrealistic hero-complex. The elf had stayed standing straight up, firing two shots at every single Ori footman anouncing how glorious he was and how he was going to slaughter every pathetic one of them he came across. He'd successfully hit several witless footmen and downed them where they'd stood, but acting this recklessly was going to get him killed prematurely. Ilrias kept the struggling terrestrial-elf down, muttering a quick sincere apology. He removed the elf's helmet and clocked him just hard enough to knock him out cold.

His Knight opponent wasn't giving up that easily. Ilrias thought he even heard the Knight growl mightily with anger at being even somewhat effected by who he'd probably seen as an inferior enemy combatant. The insulted Knight was raising his short-rifle right in Ilrias's exact direction. Ilrias knew this was so when the Knight pointed his finger right at him and then clenched his fist extra hard seeming to convey he was planning on putting an end to the elf's heroics.

No sooner had he done this, when Ilrias noticed the T.K. making a straight line right for him, firing his gun in the air with his left hand and brandishing a five-foot long saber with a menacing thick, very metallurigically-advanced wide blade. Ilrias pulled out his sidearm, unclipped his energy-longsword, and also unclippedan infantry light-grenade. He aimed straight for the already-damaged region of the helmet, blasting away fifteen successfully-reaching shots to impact it, to no immediate effect. The seemingly unaffected Knight only sped up his sprinting and yelled out, "You've truly hastened your death now!" Ilrias could be certain he did hear the armor-clad brute's mouth making noise this time.

Ilrias's squad's Supervising-Enlistee, who was two feet away from him now, shouted out an urgent-sounding order to his fireteam. "Fireteam Twenty-One, we must immediately-"

His fireteam never heard the elfman's intended rest of his sentence, as he'd now taken forty Ori staff-weapon bursts, which both depleted his battle-armor's built-in shielding and shattered his body-armor. The impact of the energy projectiles felled him backwards five feet, eliciting an air-piercing, menacingly painfull groan which got the attention of all his horrified fellow land soldiers nearby.

Ilrias, feeling great remorse for not having saved his friend still had to dispatch that incoming Terror-Knight. He hurled his grenade using all the skill he'd acquired as a poleball player during his college days. The Knight swatted the arrived projectile with his large sword, sending it over the heads of several Regulars and landing near a platoon of Ori Footmen, barely missing the whole lot. Ilrias braced himself for the trickily difficult feat of dodging the Knight's incoming saber-swings.

The capable enlistee thought very quickly and intensely and then unclipped the rest three of his grenades. He activated each grenade's standard nano-magnetic force, linked them together, timed them to go off at exactly the same time, and tossed it to land atop the careening belligerent's helmet.

This Ori elite was only a few feet away from his intended next victim, when a Warrior terrestrial Captain lying on the ground and in his way sat up suddenly and two-handedly swung his plasma sword in a slash which caused his greenish-blue shield to flicker consistently.

The Knight, though, simply grabbed the Ranger's sword-arm and lifted his foot, bringing it quickly down on the elfman's helmet, causing a loud, very unpleasant metal-shattering noise. Then he steadily continued toward his target. Ilrias continued to desperately pelt plasma pulses at the Knight's neck area, while the Knight pulled out a long, huge-single-barreled rifle. Ignoring the bursts that made contact with his neck, the managed to nearly hit Ilrias's head except Ilrias narrowly swerved to the side and dodged the near-traveling burst.

The cold-colored burst did hit one of Ilrias's co-combatants, an ELW , neatly in the chest, just missing her heart. About to go out of commission for the rest of the battle, the Supervising-Enlistee squeezed her gun's trigger hard and mailed a twelve blasts to her intended address. That Knight's shield flickered seemed then just faded into nothing, it seemed. Ilrias seized this opportunity to hurl his plasma dagger horizontally at the Knight's throat. The stunned Knight paused, lifted his left hand there, and pulled it out, revealing a dent where the knife had been and some blood trickling down. The Knight clutched his throat with his left hand, right hand gunning, continuing to send out wild blasts in Ilrias's direction. Ilrias leaped up and aimed a long volley at the helmet. The shots connected, but didn't seem to do any damage. Ilrias made one last attempt to vanquish this one. He picked up his energy sword, bent his back slightly backwards, and hurled the bladed weapon as hard as he could decisively at the fiend's chest. The blade pierced all the way through. The Knight screamed mightily in shock and agony, losing his balance and falling backwards with his hand stil on the trigger of his plasma shotgun. Several shotgun shells flew darted behind him, taking down twelve footmen before his hand went limp.

Ilrias slumped down and sighed a long sigh. But then he noticed a Knight rather far away point at him and run quicker. * Please, oh please, not another one so soon.* he commented to himself.

On a more isolated part of the field, female ELW Adjuter Ellin and her two subordinate officers, stared down two lust-crazed Battalion-Majors and their equally lust-crazed subordinate officers and enlistees. She'd purposely engaged this larger group of Ori soldiers to prevent them from reinforcing the already-higher-numbered Ori masses. Her immediate superior officer Commander she was serving under had fallen due to traumatizing injuries sustained during their firefighting and meleeing. leaving her in command of his regiment. Now, only she was in commision since every single one of her subordinate officers enlistees had also been put out of commission.

These Ori warriors had been away from their home for a tour of duty lasting several months, with absolutely no female companionship. If they'd been currently assigned to another Upper-Prior's army, they would've been executed for 'behavior inappropriate for a subject of the Ori'. However, they'd noticed this individual Upper Prior who commanding them to be looser enforcing the rules of conduct.

The two subordinates had taken all of the firepower they could withstand. Ellin's helmet had overheated dangerously and she'd been forced to remove it, making good use of it by by hurling it square at the chest of a Terror-Knight Battalion Commander, where it promptly caused the armor's electrical circuitry explode and injured the Knight so severely he let out a voluble howl of pain. The Ori Knights still standing and in good condition noticed she was a female, and actually quite an attractive one despite the Ori Crusader stereotype of female soldiers being ugly, shouted out admonitions of feeling attraction.

"Whoa, a female serving in combat? And as an officer ? How blasphemously wrong! They are only worthy to be serving us males, the superior gender, in the bed and in the kitchen. That is, provided they perform sufficiently in both places. Huh huh! This only shows what an inferior race you are, and why you deserve to succumb to the great Ori Nation"

"We have an equal-opportunity society in the Furling republic, you supreme pack of vulgar swine!" Ellin retorted with an obvious tone of great anger.

"Well, well, such a sharp mouth! So unbecoming of a female!" Perhaps we should wash her filthy mouth out with the most bitter soap, then take her over our knee and spank her on her bare..."

Ellin shouted out the worst curse-phrase she knew in Furliyan and hurled a plasma dagger right through the offending Battalion-Baron's thick chest-plate. He responded to this unexpected sudden injurious move by shrieking for a few seconds, clutching and pulling mightily at the dagger's handle, and then finally falling face forward with an armor-banging impact noise to lie flat cold on the ground.

"Bitch! You'll pay for harming our superior officer like this! The other T.K. Company-Captain swore furiously. He

Lekilis ,a few hours before, wondered how well the highest-ranking Ori Commander present on this battlefield understood tactics. Deciding not to take any chances, he'd ordered the command bunker's tactical-officer to immediately raise the shields the rest of the way up to full power at an increased speed. He didn't want to risk the Ori command base firing a volley at his base which would incapacitate their command center and/or injure the personnel inside. Now, at the beginning of the battle, was when it was logistically a good idea to for one side to destroy destroy the high-command, leaving Furling forces without central leadership, and the Ori would absolutely do that if they had the ability to think like him. He made a mental note to see to it that despite the Furlings being ludicrously outnumbered by their adversaries on the ground, they would win with a very minimal number of casualties. Every single brave enlistee who hadn't deserted this battlefield ( and that was every single one present at the beginning) in his opinion deserved a medal and his utmost support to stay in good physical and mental health on this sanity-destroying dangerous.

On a more isolated part of

Inside Lekilis' administrative fortification, everyone was on full alert to respond in the best way they could to the Ori adminstrativefortress targeting them first. "Tri-layer shielding activated...continuously raising...has enveloped base entirely, operating at 97.5% power...increasing...full power!"the base's technical officer announced.

"Excellent. Thank you Captain. We should now be at enough strength to withstand at least eight direct hits from their fortress's main defense-cannon, even if they do hit our shield's most vulnerable spot."

"Uh sir, this is- our sensors detect that the Ori command post is raising is raising its intended output to an astronomical level-almost full power! Our outer-layer shields at one hundred percent by the way. This specific power-emission pattern is, I believe, indicative of a kind of plasma-cannon power-up!"

Lekilis walked to his personal console and issued a base alert."Aelerothi here, compatriots. Be alert, everyone! Prepare for a possible massive one-shot weaponfire impact." Stand in your designated interior-grids-shields area shield and utilise your personal shields too. We take no chances."

No sooner had he issued this warning, then every technician in the operations room shouted some phrase about a searing white mass of energy streaming through the air right in their direction.

"Fourteen seconds until impact."

The command room's personnel were scuttling towards their designated shield grids. The personnel inside the command post but outside the command room also hurriedly scuttled toward their designated positions.

Fourteen seconds later, everyone inside the base wondered if the first Ori giant-bolt had missed them or hit them but been completely absorbed/deflected.

"Damage report, if you please, Captain?" Lekilis requested curtly of the technical officer.

"The Ori emission, upon impact, released an energy output measuring at a Furling-Scale Level 2, indicating the Ori are a truly formidable enemy technologically. They've expended 10% of their command base's total power but only knocked our shield down by less than 1%-exactly .09%. Surprisingly, they have not raised their shields yet as of this moment. We can sustain more than another one hundred of these assaults on our base. Ori base now sourcing-power once again to its main cannon."

"I see. Alright then. Let us power up our main cannon, then wait for ten minutes, before using it to commence volleying a total of ten beams."

Ten minutes later, the Ori command fortress personnel witnessed a sparkling light-green solid-looking plasma beam speeding ever forwards about to impact their re-raised shields. Every Ori follower inside the protection of this bunker felt absolutely no fear, only unshakable faith in their thought-to-be-almighty gods dwelling away from their reach in the ascended plane, sometimes visiting the corporeal plains by taking the body of the Doci. They awaited to feel the expected, thrilling, faith-sustaining and/or enhancing effect of a non-damaging beam of energy attempt to strike through their shield the Ori gods themselves had gifted them with. Surprisingly to them, they didn't experience this result. They heard a loud loud initial KAAABBBOOOMMM." and then several more explosions.

An hour and a half later, on approximately the middle section of the battlefield, the Terror Knights were just about to gain control over an area of vital ground on this fiercely-contested land expanse¸ enlistees had been and continued to courageously and aggressively fighting off one hundred and twenty squad detachments of crusader enlistees. The Rangers, emotionally fueled by their deep conviction to defend the universe from those who would threaten the rightful free will of it's inhabitants, shot their heavy-repeaters (similar in firepower and bullet velocity to Earth sub-machine-guns) at the necks of these armored berserkers, who were fueled to fight ferociously by their faith in and their gratitude to the Ori, for genetically enhancing their bodies to possess superhuman abilities.

Each Ori Knight held what looked rather like an Earth 1500's era short-rifle, except, instead of firing that era's sphere-shaped bullets plasma bursts of a similar size and speed such as a sub-machine-gun would. At this particular moment, the Rangers were winning against the Knights because they were utilising more advanced (and thus more effective) combat tactics against them. Some Terror-Knights were fighting their counterparts using the very primitive tactic of standing in a wide-open space to take slow, decisive aim at their enemies. Some of them chose to sprint right up, coverless, towards the nearest Ranger, who would opportunely pick them off swiftly with deadly accuracy. Judging by the way they were conducting themselves, it really seemed these elite soldiers wished to commit suicide for what they believed to be a noble goal. Or perhaps they believed that having faith in the gods of their Origin religion eventually rendered them invincible and omnipotent on the corporeal plain.

The Furling Elite Land Warrior Squad-Leaders leading the enlisted elite soldiers displayed exemplary leadership. They personally engaged the Ori Squad-Commanders who were focusing on trying to exterminate the particular Furling squads whose leaders had already sustained severe casualties. Attender Aldir was the most battle-capable squad-leader in terms of strategy, tactics, gunning skill, and personal hand-to-hand-combat. leapt forward, dodging two Knight Squad Leaders who aimed at him, displaying their above-average marksmanship. Unfortunately for them, this wouldn't be sufficient enough to halt Aldir for even a few seconds. He brought his wooden sparring staff upwards and, as if about to leap at them and directly strike them, at the last minute changing his grip to throw his weapon horizontally forward like he was throwing a frisby, aiming for the heads of the two continually charging blood-lusting Ori officers who were underestimating his abilities.

Those two Orisian officers suddenly froze, as they saw a whirling wooden object speeding towards them at a frankly amazing rate. They then realized that this officer they'd just laughed off as a beyond-help lunatic suffering from battlefield stress, embarking on a crazed suicidal attack, was acting much more capably then they'd originally had thrown his blunt striking weapon to hit both the Ori leaders in succession. The whirling stick of impending injury struck one squad-commander in the front of his helmet, knocking him back staggering, attempting to remain in balance, but all too easily falling backwards to he ground to create a loud "THUD!" sound, knocking them out of commission for probably the duration of rest of this intense battle. It continued towards his comrade, who leaped nimbly sideways, just slightly out of the path of the spinning projectile. The dodging Knight felt very relieved and congratulated himself mentally for uvring the long twirling object meant to strike him on the helmet.

Aldir was one of the few Squadors in all the Ranger Regiments with such high psionic ability for his rank and he'd used it to his great advantage.

Having completed this feat, Aldir ran backwards toward the relatively small boulder where his squad was fighting from. As he ran backwards, his remarkable psychic ability allowed hims to sense that a few of the Ori foot-soldiers were in his immediate grid, reinforcing the already-outnumbering Knights. Delivering bursts of neon-blue plasma continuously forward at the oncoming Ori Knights, he first pelted one square in the chest, sending him falling face-down on the ground, knocked unconscious. Continuing to run backward while facing forward, Aldir stuck out his left arm straight to the side, at a soldier he'd detected with his extra-sensory perception, he collided his armored arm onto the man's helmeted head, causing him to go unconscious, falling face down.

Aldir scavenged the fallen soldier's staff weapon, picking it up with his left hand. Noticing a high-ranking Ori officer within his range, who appeared to be a Company-Commander, he hurled it at the Knight's groin. The staff-weapon impacted right on that spot, causing the Knight to feel no pain due to his special armor, but impacted him so much he involutarily fell into a sitting position.

Behind the sitting Knight, another officer, who looked to be a Platoon-Commander to Aldir, angrily shook his weapon and pointed at Aldir, shouting some drivel which Aldir couldn't make out. Mocking the Platoon-Commander, Aldir gestured with his hand that he couldn't hear or understand his speaking very well, gesturing to him to speak clearer. The enraged officer jogged towards Aldir, who jogged backwards while shooting a few plasma pulses which barely missed him. The enraged Knight, not thinking too rationally, continued o his oath and accidentally kneed the siting Company-Commander, knocking him in the back of the head, and being sent hurtling forward himself, his short-rifle slinking out of his right hand and flying forwards.

The insanely bold risk-taking officer continued to run backwards, having caught the Knight's rifle which was soaring close to him. He dual-wielded two guns, his own heavier-rapid-repeater and the Knight's continuous-fire shortrifle. An extra weapon wih extra ammunition would go a long way on this particular battefield.

Back behind the cover of his designated boulder, Aldir's second-in-command of his squad, Dirik clapped him on the shoulder as soon as Aldirwas safely behind its protection . "Excellent stunt out there, action-elf Aldir, earning the upkeep for owning your distinguished nickname!" he heartily praised, reciting Aldir'swell-earned nickname. "However, we have a serious matter here to address. The companior and platoonor commanding our squads have temporarily fallen. We've been trying to decide a course of action."

"Thanks in significant part to my comrades-in-arms providing excellent cover-fire for my falling-back, Aldir heartily applauded in return. He was very pleased and proud that all sixteen non-officer enlisted elves in his sqaud had managed to stay alive, all the while continuing to down Ori soldiers directly moving forward on a path . They often credited his training and leaderhsip for their great achievements when he'd praised them for their performance on the battlefield in the past.

The Warriors defending against the Ori onslaught seemed to be experiencing a longer momentary victory now, combining their great skill with great luck at this point. Il'ras sighed in great relief. He had started his military career millenia ago serving as as a Platoonor in one of the elite Special Warfare Combat's terrestrial regiments, the Land Elite-Most Warriors ( aka LEW), also know as the 'Silver-Helmet Warriors. They had always fought right on the frontlines of land-based battles, where they were needed to slow the enemy's advance.

Il'ras was suddenly shaken from this feeling of great relief though when he caught sight of several squadors all struck by some outlet of energy which looked like an Ori staff-weapon's plasma burst except it was longer, wider, and thicker. He saw the same size and type of beam hit another squador close by. Looking closer, he saw these bursts to be zooming out from the tip of a regiment-commander's lance-like weapon.

The Rangers all turned their aim right to the Regimentor and shot tens of neon-blue plasma bursts, which impacted in flashes on his extra-thick officer's armor, but seemed to cause absolutely no injury. However, the commander had now shot two more squadors. No reinforcements seemed to be coming to the aid the needy ever-valiant Rangers have been holding their ground against overwhelming odds, the high-consul thought. But they can't hold out much longer if that head-knight keeps striking their commanding officers down.

A second Knight Regiment-Commander charged into the fray, approaching a squador, and the sqaudor two feet to the side with his lance held out ready to do some damage.

*This dire situation can only get unneccesarily worse* Il'ras thought. While Il'ras was rather safe in his present lunar location, he cared very much about the well-being of every single one of his citizens and wouldn't just sit idly by to observe the particular group of Rangers meeting what would be their ultimate their doom.

"Superior-Admiral Alesar, please continue to be watchful aboard this station while I'm gone," the consul requested politely, before turning to the high-ranking SIGN officer and base commander, who had also been watching the screen with much concern.

"May I ask where are you going at this point High-Consul?"

"Down there to the battlefield where I can and need to make a difference." Ilras pointed his finger at the right-most screen."

"But Consul, you can't just go right down there, even if it's just to stay at our command base. If we comply and let you go, we risk your safety and our nation's safety due to suddenly losing its highest leader."

"Not to worry admiral-I'm much more capable of defending myself than I look." Il'ras looked at the admiral with hinting gleam in his eye and nodded confidently. He ran towards the direction of the fighter-bay.

Alesar realized right away what he meant. He sometimes forgot, due to Ilras's modesty, how physically powerful the elfmale was.

The Regiment-Commander had started enjoying effectively executing the many considered infidels in front of him. He relaxed, looking scornfully and pitilessly at the Ranger he planned to make his next victim. "Those ignorant sinners who choose reject the path of Origin must pay for this great offense of graceless refusal and their attempt to corrupt the untainted!"

The Regiment-Commander smirked sadistically and shook his head, laughing condescendingly at the stubborn humanoid creature. "You should perhaps pray to your supposed gods if it will comfort you in this moment of your annihilation. "He pointed his energy-lance methodically at the Squador and jammed his thumb down on the release button, eagerly anticipating the pointblank kill. A voice interrupted his sadistic thinking though.

"You there! Yes, you, the important-looking gentleman clad in that thick piece of costly-looking armor! Are you the leader of this particular sub-pack of genocidal vermin?"

The Regiment-Commander turned to see who it was that was daring to insult him so boldly. He saw a well-dressed humanoid being, dressed impeccably in what looked like an important outfit of public office.

Regiment-Leader Windel looked taken aback by this new arrival's looking out-of-place on a battlefield. "Ah, but we are not genocidal vermin. We are one of the elite-soldier types of the army of holy soldiers seeking to enlighten the ignorant masses of your galaxy to the glorious salvation the one true religion of Origin bestows. We have no intention to eliminate any race from the face of the universe simply because we don't like their looks. We only wish for them to accept the offerings the Ori, offered because of their immeasurable goodwill to save the doomed souls inhabiting this vast universe."

"That propaganda about your quest may sound appealing, until you start massacring entire races just for politely disagreeing about taking your proposed path to salvation."

Windel smiled again, patronizingly. "It is the only true path to salvation. Those who will notaccept this truth must be removed from existence in the corporeal plain , lest they harmfully sway those already following the path. The deniers of this great and only truth are leading pointless and pathetic lives in truth as well and so we are only doing them a favor putting them out of their insignificant lives."

"If only you knew the truth, Knight-Regiment-Commander. You are committing atrocities on a planetary scale, all in the name of a group of all-powerful beings you follow whose mission statment for their religion is blitheringly a criminal lie! Have you ever attempted to evaluated the validity of the Ori's grand-sounding claims? In fact, you may have friends who have died for this mistaken cause. Since they've fulfilled their obligations for being able to ascend by."

"Those who wish to travel the path of enlightenment as its ultimate purpose need only fervently trust the teachings of the Ori."

Il'ras sighed the deepest he had during this whole battle and placed his palm over the top of his forehead. As many of their allies(and enemies too) observed, Furlings generally had a remarkable overall character, but one genetic flaw was that they were able to sometimes easily become too emotional, which really, really caused problems when they were very negatively emotional. When they felt this kind of searing passion to such a degree, situations could become rather unpleasant. *I'm going to enjoy taking down this hate-mogering scum.*

The commander could only make matters worse when he added, "And you, youare an unforgivable blasphemer, at least I consider you to be! I would like to torture you as slowly as I have time enough to do, then execute you in the most humiliating way in front of an arena packed full with people. But I see you are an important leader of your pathetic anti-religious 'republic' as you call it. Kneel down and beg the Ori watching us, to show you mercy for your blasphemy, call off your warrior forces, officially surrender, promise to do all you are able to convert your foolish people to Origin. The Ori are surprisingly magnanimous to even their greatest enemies."

*I have succeeded in not acting out on my high level rage.* the High-Consul congratulated himself.

"Not from what I know of them!" the High-Consul rebuked. We know their much more moderate brethren, the Alterrans, and I know from them quite in-depth just how 'magnanimous' your so-called gods really are, unbeknown to you."

The senior Knight-commander furiously lifted up his lance and compulsively pushed down the circular button to send out what he thought would be certain doom at Il'ras. The Ori regulars and elites gathered near him all shot blasts at around the same time from their weapons. Il'ras calmly shook his head like he always did in the past on a on the battlefield, absolutely not impressed by his enemy's concerted combined firepower and crossed his arms. The Ori ground troops suddenly felt lighter-had they lost some of thier battle gear? They next felt an intense pain throught their helmets. They realized their longswords had somehow decided to leave their hilts and strike them with much impact on the head. Ori Knights realized their Even more perplexing to them, their just-fired-out energy pulses somehow never even reached their well-dressed target and had stopped moving forwards like they were supposed to assuming no force stopped their momentum.

Nearby, Commander Tomin, leader of the Orisian Footsoldier First Battallion found himself feeling perplexed as he never had been before in his life. His invincible, infallible gods, the Ori, had gifted all their TerrorKnights with weapons and powers which they should've been able to inflict their righteous wrath so easily on these infidels. He had been having some doubts as to the gods of his sacred Origin teachings' intentions, and now he naturally experienced doubts about their supposed omnipresence adn their infinite degree of intervening to protect their servants. He wondered if his subordinate officers Firstman, Secondman, Thirdman, and Fourthman, were also thinking the same treasonous thought. Tomin was so glad the Lower-Prior in front of him was too preoccupied being stupified by what this humanoid being with powers perhaps even equal to that of the Doci had just performed, to even detect him thinking these thoughts which the Ori would consider treachery.

The High-Consul, on the other hand had predicted the brainwashed Knight would doggedly deny the possibility his gods weren't omnipresent " Your attempt to back up your threatening of me has not been effective at all, Mr. Regiment-Commander. So as you have seen again, we Furling are not without some impressive defenses to make your masters think a few hundred times before deciding to continue foolishly and unethically attacking us and our allies and the would-be victims of your unjustifiably zealous crusade."

"The Ori have perhaps decided to physically stop our magical projectiles from making contact with your pathetic hide to test how fervent our belief in them truly is. And all the Ori do is ethical. They are infallible and we as lowly mortals must notdare to even attempt to try judging them."

"Of course that is how you would think naturally, Mr. Prior, being so thoroughly brainwashed." Il'ras could have guessed these enemy soldiers would react this way when they suddenly found themselves surprisingly thwarted to continue fighting, while believing the whole time before , they'd been blessed by the invincible Ori.

"Hallowed are the Ori. Those who serve them devoutly and consistently in the face of would-be detractors such as this one, powerful as he may be, shall be richly rewarded by our divine masters beyond their greatest imagination."

The group of heavily-armored crusading soldiers instantly genuflected on the ground in response to the sudden arrival of a human with a very pale face, dressed in fancy regalia with a medieval look, brandishing a staff which looked to be religiously-oriented.

After exchanging the usual greetings of "Hallowed are the Ori", with the large group of knights, the newly-arrived Lower-Prior looked arrogantly overconfidently straight to Il'ras. The Prior, aiming to immediately dispel any possible future notions among the current Ori faithful that other than the 'evil Alterran gods', any type of beings in the universe could counter the powers of the Ori. The Ori allowed it to appear as if you could counter their powers, in order to test how faithful their followers present here would remain despite the illusion they witnessed. Now they have sent me to finally vanquish you, leader-humanoid.

He gestured with his hand, picking up an extremely large boulder and hurling it upwards and then downwards to land and smash Il'ras. Before he was able to even move the boulder halfway between himself and the Furling High-Consul, he felt an unseen force, exceedingly stronger than his own telekinetic powers, wrench the rock out of his psionic grip and hurl it back somehat in his direction. The airborne boulder landed twenty feet behind the bald priest of Origin and bowled over an advancing company of Ori Crusading-Knights, scattering, them in all sideways directions possible. The Prior's eyes widened. Are the Ori testing me now as well to see if I will still retain my faith in them? he troublingly wondered.

"Very well, Furling. You may have made a mockery of my admirable disciples the Regiment-Commander and the Lower-Prior. Now you will pay with your life, as I am done merely testing my abilitieswith you and will now be focusing my might in slaying you, infidel!"

"You know the name of my nationality? It would seem you people have better intelligence abilities than I thought-I'll admit that would seem to be so."

"The Ori know all here is to know in the universe. We, their followers, only need to-"

"Prior! I've had a very long day, so if you're going to continue boasting for your thrills, do me and yourself a favor and why not proceed finally annihilate me to achieve the high thrillsyou seek? And by the way, I allowed you to read that particular thought in my mind, just so we're both agree about what really happened." Il'ras lashed out. The Furlings' esteemed leader had dealt with the Erri too many times recently and had grown rather tired of their incomparably arrogant boasting and taunting. As a voluntarily-descended former ascended-being, he feared none of them and wished them to realize this fact sooner than later.

The Prior felt more than a bit uneasy inwardly. Outwardly though, he had to gather much of his willpower to look confident. as he started used all the energy he had left in him to channel a raw burst of searing yellowish-white-colored energy, which was about one hundred feet long,sixty feet wide and sixty feet high, straight in Il'ras's direction. The Ori and Furling soldiers in the immediate vicinity had already wisely and panickingly flung themselves out of the way of the massively-destructive field of death minutes ago.

Il'ras stood patiently waiting for the energy field to reach him, then walked forward to meet it head-on. He tapped it a bit with his finger to stop it in its tracks, then used the same finger to push it right back towards the spot where the Prior was watching from.

The Prior's jaw dropped and his heart started to beat a bit too quickly for his health, even considering his superhuman abilities. He summoned some of the energy he'd since regained to sprint the heck out of the radius of the returning energy-field. He ended up with diving as far as he could get, landing in a large pile of mud, mumbling," Merciful and caring are the Ori for allowing me to so narrowly escape this situation with my life." He then collapsed voluntarily into the mud to savor the knowledge that he'd survived a near-lethal assault by a rock and to await his fate. He'd never personally dealt with any enemies of his people who were this powerful. Those 'Alterran lackeys' were sure powerful-that was the most understated understatement in which he would ever evaluate their abilities. His divine emplyers hadn;t bothered to infomr him about the other races that were as powerful as the Ancients, so he

"First portion artillery, focus on Zone 4 "

"Second portion artillery, focus on Zone 6"

Lekilis sighed deeply in and out, smiled with great admiration at the sight of these Terrestrial Enagagement Service soldiers having held their ground, both the Conventional Operations soldiers and the Special Operations Elite Land Warriors. They'd just repelled the large wave of Ori soldiers attempting to cross well over the battlefield mid-point and overrun the third line of Furling defensive positions. And those same Furling Terrestrial soldiers, especially the infantry, now continued shooting off to incapacitate the retreating remainder of that Ori wave,

"I've developed only more and more respect for the elfmen and elfwomen of the Terrestrial Service Branch over time." he remarked to Hacathra, Al'vik, Eliphon, Joel Patterson, and the Furling staff officers ,who'd all also been mentally remarking on the phenomenal repelling they done to the enemy forces attempting to overwhelm them.

Al'vik um-hmmed him steadfastly. "One tends to quickly to attribute victories to generals and their staff enmeshed in the comfort of their command bunker. However, they should know that the commissioned, noncommissioned officers, and enlistees holding their ground courageously are the ones who allow these command plans to succeed. If they don't put their faith in what are sometimes insane-seeming ideas at the moment,

General Revven knew for the sake of General Peterson and Earth she should mention something about the capabilities of their new allies. She could definitely mention something positive and truthful.

"Say, Ryan." Hacathra got General Peterson's attention. Many Furling officers have read your reports of the heroic and self-sacrificing feats the fighting men and women of your country and others have accomplished over the years. Especially during your planet's armed conflicts World War One and World War Two, two wars which the Allied Powers couldn't have avoided fighting. We admire the dedication to putting your lives in harm's way for a just just cause that your people have shown in many battles. I can say I would feel my resolve strengthened when fighting alongside the Earthan soldiers."]]

"I can say no less." Eliphon seconded Hacathra's opinion. Knowing Eliphon wasn't prone to giving out too easy praise to soldiers, Jake Patterson took his words to heart.

Lekilis bowed his head in agreement also. "I feel truly greatly honor to be allied with such determined and hearty combatants as yourselves inhabiting the universe."

"Your high faith in the people of Earth's abilities is very much appreciated." Peterson nodded gratefully.

The ELW Platoon Leader stepped into the path of the Terror Knight Platoon Leader , parrying and . He intercepted the , headbutting

"We now need to determine how to neutralize those remaining two-thirds of the Orisian soldiers, very preferrably with no death casualties at all." Lekilis layed out the conditions for the next offensive or defensive maneuver.

"We now need to

" Right now we need the fallback if we want to survive and succeed any further." Al'vik anticipated the danger from the Ori forward maneuver seconds before anyone else realized it.

"Yes!" his colleagues agreed in a split-second.

"Colonel, pull back your Infantry battalions fourteen [feet], and do it in an orderly fashion so that you don't expose any soldiers to. The artillery behind you is prepared to provide covering fire for your falling back.

"Understand." Colonel made ready to comply

The highest-ranking Prior was moving giddily with a naïve glee, believing that this was the beginning of the Furling retreat completely off the mountain. "Ah. Finally, finally! The formerly bold foolish apostates have finally accepted that they simply can't withstand our fervor and strength displayed in devotion to our invincible gods. They change their minds too late though to receive any mercy. We shall show the noncompliant fools no quarter whatsoever. They shall never make it off this mountain or off this planet. Hallowed indeed are the Ori."

"We're now in safety for a while. But next they'll send in their cavalry to penetrate the defensive perimeter and dislodge our soldiers those. We don't have enough If we can lure their cavalry into trap which neutralizes its advantages, we might be able to. We may draw in their cavalry to our hiding infantry and then the infantry can spring at the "

"We'll pretend to argue amongst ourselves due to disagreeing whether or not we should stay and fight or retreat. At the argument's end, two of us will take some forces and retreat from this planet via the stargate. The two retreaters will dial the gate and. Then they'll return with their infantry forces and hide in the Mountain-Grass. When the Ori cavalry close in by enough distance, we'll attack them en masse. If they attempt to reinforce their infantry with more infantry units, we'll deploy our cavalry to attack their rear whiole our artillery suppresses them, reducing their numbers and prevents them from breaking out of our encirclement. Out infantry will be attacking their front at the same time, so we might doubly-envelope them."

"Attack!" Eliphon shouted at the top of his lungs.

Furling infantry, brandishing Plasmic Spears and Plasmic Swords sprang from their hiding spots, assaulting at the disadvantaged Ori cavalrymen. They tugged at some of the cavalrymen and dragged them THUDing onto the ground. Eliphon electronically manipulated one of the Cavalry 'Bikes' to. He then shoulder-knocked another of the Cavalrymen to crash him into two, causing a Domino Effect to take place and eliminating another [ ] from the Mountain Grass fight.

"NO! NO! NO! NOOOO!" "Prior Simonius howled out with disbelief, witnessing the inferior infidels had just beaten such daunting odds. They'd now effectively eliminated the entire force he was supposed to use to defeat them humiliatingly and teach them a physically and psychologically painful lesson about he consequences for daring to defy the will of the Ori.

Warfare Constables (WCs) stood over the disarmed and sprawled Ori footmen. Some of the WCs firing a stun-setting plasma bolt here and there to deal with a recalcitrant prisoner or two.

"General Aelerothi, scanning shows the Ori soldiers have rigged their command post's powers generator to overload and explode catastrophically." the tactical officer announced. 'We have at most fifteen minutes to extract the Prior and his group before it blows them into oblivion."

Lekilis nodded grimly. "Captain Halidar, I need to speak with you please."

The Ranger Captain appeared in no time and seemingly out nowhere too, displaying a skill the CGRS were renowned for. "How can I aid you this moment, General?" he offered.

"Captain, we wish to capture the Prior and his command officers for the purpose of gaining intelligence. If they know we're coming to stop them from detonating, they'll react more desperately. Let's attempt to stop them. Will you assist us?"

"Certainly, general. Feel the urge to accompany us" he answered and added a witty remark as well, being aware that Lekilis had served with the CGRs early in his youth as a commissioned officer, a Secondary Adjuter, and had established a reputation for being one of the historically highest-achieving Ranger the unit had ever had. "Of course, I didn't presume. He knew that the general was one of the high-ranking officers who possessed a great sense of humor and appreciated when his colleagues also showed. He was pretty certain that the general

Lekilis smirked.

"Well, then by your leave General Aelerothi, I go to obtain the captivity of those Orisian holdouts. Are you ready, Adjuter"

The Elite Land Warrior Adjuter saluted and followed. "Rangers, please guide the path!" He encouraged.

The Conflict Grounds Rangers weren't done with meeting their objectives for the day though. They trotted off in careful formation to get their hands on the remaining Orisian defenders who weren't willing to surrender at all.

The wounded Orisian Light Footmen soldiers lay on very high-tech Furling 'portable beds'. They were demanding that the medics, whom they were addressing as 'unbelievers', attending to them, release them immediately. They also didn't refrain from showing their continued devotion to the Origin religion, also yelling out at the medical personnel around them about the beneficial virtues of following Origin and the malignant sins of rejecting Origin. To prevent the injured enemy soldiers from overexerting themselves and then further worsening their already dire injuries, a medic injected each of these battlefield patients with a sedative which forcefully relaxed them. The medics also benefited additionally from not having to listen to their unwilling patients spewing hate-filled speech anymore, despite the fact that these soldiers were only because they'd been brainwashed into believing what they believed and were expressing.

General Al'vik Tas'cil sprinted up besides Il'ras, followed by a few Regimentors helping him to cut through remaining pockets of Ori opposition.

Hello there-my greetings to you, High-Consul. I'd heard you were in the solar system today but didn't think you'd personally be all the way down here, on this particular planet helping us repel the crusading madmen attacking us. Couldn't resist joining the 'fun' down here and relive some of the excitement in your military career, I take it?"; Alvik joked to start the conversation-he knew the many Furling soldiers had suffered severe injuries and only an ignorant egotist safe in his or her command chair viewing the action would think so from.

"Well, I happened to be nearby to this calamitous event, and saw certain sectors of this field contained myriads of our soldiers about to be slaughtered, I realized they absolutely needed a hand."

"Kind, good-willed elf I've always you always thought you were, and still think you are, Consul." the general replied.

"Thank you general. It's my responsibility to caretake the citizens of our world and our allies, and I perform as I'm able to. By the way, you're not brownosing for promotion coincidentally, are you-huh hah heh, I jest only. I've been monitoring your performance during this brutal battle and you've shown exemplary tactical and inspirational leadership. Your judicious use of personel has significantly lowered the casualty rate of our soldiers to lower than the average. I know because of your affiliation with General Aelerothi that you brave been denied well-deserved promotion for too long. General Aelerothi has already submitted his request for your promotion, even jesting that he might resign his position if you weren't promoted in a timely manner. I'm adding mine too, and as Executor Aelerothishould be arriving too soon, he can actually bestow it immediately."

"Thank you, consul. Very much appreciate your personal efforts," Al'vikreplied with a very grateful-sounding tone. "I'm just glad to be able to make a difference in defending our alliance forces. You're not trying, by the way, to bribe me for my allegiance now, are you Consul? I jest also, as you've probably guessed."

"Goodness me, -no! I'm glad you are only jesting! I thought you were seriously alleging me to be engaging in corruption!" the High-Consul replied, played along with Alvik's jesting.

At that moment, they heard what sounded like thousands of footsteps behind him. Il'ras's extraordinary, off-the-Furling-charts psionic powers detected the brainwaves of Trand'il Aelerothi, Lekilis Aelerothi, and that of the commander of the mixed-elite forces of the Consular-Army.

Oh dear; Al'vik-I spot the Tertiary-General of the Consular-Army's first division-he won't be too pleased I just departed the lunar base without even informing him and ventured immediately into a hostile battlezone. I can sometimes be an exceedingly difficult protectee to protect!"The consul lowered his head sheepishly, staring down at the visually-pleasing green grass, waiting for the approaching military-grade commander

"High-Consul Aravansel! Relieved that you are safe and sound it appears! But you do realize though, that I , the Consular Army's third in command find doing my duty-which is to accompany you at all times virtually impossible when you suddenly vanish from the premises like that!"

Il'ras could only fumble slowly to respond like he did every time he caused an occurrence such as this one. "I...do...I do apologize general, I know...I know that I am apologizing now for the umpteenth time. I'll explain this occurenceto your immediate superiors and take the blame as it is solely mine to take."

Aldir the action-happy former Primary Attender, now suddenly promoted all the way up to Primary-Adjuter, stood crouched over the resting body of his recent love-interest and comrade-in-arms Ellin, his right hand gently gripping hers. "Now that I'm no longer potentially going to be under your command, miss, I'm going to take advantage of our new-foundopportunity to bond." he announced confidently to his fellow battalionor.

Ellin smiled back at him with a luminous sparkle in her eyes."I encourage that. In fact I'm going to insist you do your part in this bonding, or I'll be so upset I'll injure you as soon as I'm recovered sufficiently." She slid her hand which had been grasping his and squeezed his left shoulder. "You do know I would never actually use violence to coerce you to do something which a person must only do of their own free will."

Aldir smiled back at her too, using a jovial warm expression to express sincere reassurance. "I know, dear, believe me I do. Hopefully you won't be upset with me for indicating this fact but I know you're not the vicious female off the battlefield that people not acquainted so well with you believe you to be.

(FootNote1): The term Kaelaesar means 'general' in the Furling language.

Author's End-Note: Please leave a review. Even leaving a "Y" for Yes or "N" for No will suffice and doing so is much better than leaving no comment at all. I've been considering to stop posting my stopries altogether because I feel it's pointless that I post at all when so few people have even bothered to leave a review after so many readers and chapter clicks on just the first day I post a new chapter. Thank you in advance if you plan to do so.