Chapter 25: My Gun is Bigger than Yours
Character: Johnson
Johnson and Throon were both standing outside of one of their factories admiring their latest creation. A towering metal man stood before them, capable of destroying vast armies in minutes.
"Well that is something," Johnson muttered.
"Which one do you want," Throon asked.
"Well we would both be good at controlling either," Johnson said, "Flip a coin?"
"Sure."
"Heads for the AAC."
"And tails for the Krogoth."
The coin flipped and Johnson got heads, "Guess I'm the Commander and your the Krogoth."
"Sounds good," Throon said, "Now lets fight our way out of this little blockade we have going on here and show Delta our newest weapons."
"Against these things even the ash Brumacks and Corpsers won't be able to hurt us," Johnson remarked as they started to climb up the two giants.
"Hey I can see my house from here," Throon said as they reached the top.
Johnson laughed as he entered the head and slid into the command chair. "Initiating up-link, everything looks good, how bout you?"
"Green here too," Throon replied through the inter-unit comm system.
"Now remember most of these systems are self determining so you think it and it happens," Johnson advised as he drove the Commander unit out towards the water.
"Hey you remembered to make this one with the submersible upgrade right," Throon said as he joined Johnson over by the ocean edge.
"Blarg yeah," Johnson replied, "and I added torpedoes and AA, just in case."
"Seems you're sporting those upgrades as well," Throon pointed out, "Good. If the undead plague spreads to the ocean..."
"Yeah I'm trying not to think about it," Johnson said, "Even if it does we should have a chance against some of those sea monsters with these. Opening a comm channel to Fenix I'll tell him to expect company."
"Sup my techno fans," Cole answered, "have you wiped the undead off my planet yet?"
"Not yet Cole," Johnson answered, "But we got some new toys to show you guys before we go on the warpath, figured we'd let you in on the fun."
"Appreciate it," Cole said, "I'll tell Fenix your on your way out here."
The walk out to the ships was short due to the massive size of the units that Johnson and Throon were driving. Delta was waiting for them on the deck of the carrier along with an astonished assembly of Gears and Locust.
"Wow," Baird said, "Now that is a mech."
"Sure one ups the silverbacks," Anya added.
"Looks like your ready for the attack," Marcus said, "how many units do you have total?"
"Besides these two and the navy there," Johnson mused, "About a thousand flamethrower units, figured they could eat through undead like crazy."
"A thousand," Fenix replied, "That's it?"
"Should be all we need," Throon countered, "Each one is twenty feet tall, I honestly don't see how the undead will be able to stop us."
"Well if its a fight these creatures want then its a fight they will get," Lurbruk said, "Ravalon and me have been itching to smash something."
"Well there is plenty of smashing to be done," Marcus growled, "Lets get these ship on the land time to take back our homes for good."
Throon led them towards the shore while Johnson coordinated the movement of the Pyro units to intercept with their course and act as a trail blazer for their outward push. They had decided that since the city of Char was where the undead mess started that was where the answer to this would be, so that was where they were headed. Only issue with that was there were about a trillion undead of all shapes and sizes between where they currently were and Char, thus the robots. They were all nearing the main gates when Baird turned loose the gunships and bombers that were docked in the carrier, the Pyros then filled out into the clearing that the planes had made in the ever pressing hoard of undead, and started to widen the gap as swaths of undead were incinerated in the inferno of the flamethrowers. Then Throon walked the Krogoth outside and started firing. Each shot decimated the undead numbers whether it be a missile, plasma or laser weapon. The ships started their bombardment and Ravalon and Lurbruk waded into the fray leaving Johnson enough room to construct support guns and resources as they went.
Their progress started off slow but sped up as Johnson built more and more turrets to help keep the undead back also Throon seemed to pickup speed and ability as he continued to navigate the Krogoth through the undead, stomping on them as he went. Delta on the ships was also reeking havoc with Marcus leading a good ten to twelve people at the front of the carrier, two of which were locust, who were raining down energy bolts into the masses of foes that they were being carried through. The additional support of the other battle ships' main guns was nice too. As they neared Char Johnson started setting up a a base, with the addition of the plentiful resources that he had built during their trip the forward base was at advanced tech in no time and pumping out more Pyros.
"Johnson," Anya called on the radio, "Have Throon lead us down into the crater and send Ravalon and Lurbruk with us, we've got an idea."
"Sure thing, no hold up I've picked up something on the scanners and its big," Johnson replied.
"Johnson its the Lambent," Fenix said, "Throon the Lambent are undead."
"I assume you got that," Johnson radioed to Throon.
"Yes...I... if the Lambent are undead then the entire planet will soon turn against us," Throon replied, "Forget finding out why or how, we have to get off this planet."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Sam asked as the Carrier pulled up next to the AAC.
"With a gate," Johnson said, "Everyone defend the perimeter. This might get hairy."
As his units fanned out Johnson started constructing the gate device. He called in the aircraft construction units from the base to assist with it and shuttled in the ground based ones, additionally he ordered the factories to start mass producing the biggest units available and send them to reinforce the perimeter. About a third of the way through the build Throon reported a noticeable increase in the complexity of the undeads' movements and the increasing population of larger undead like Corpsers and Brumacks. Johnson wasn't concerned mainly cause Throon and Delta were not concerned yet, but he still found himself thinking that the build could go faster. As the Pyros started to fall under the higher punishment from the now armed undead, the bigger units arrived and the stale mate was reached once again, the combination of basically a large variety of mounted guns to lasers, missiles, fire breath, and even gravity claws the uber units were able to push back the undead at least until the very ground started to send up tentacles to drop reinforcements off in the middle of their base.
"Johnson how much longer on that gate," Baird asked, "These stalks are getting pretty bad, one even smashed into the ship after it dropped its cargo on us."
"Just a few more seconds then I can calibrate it, that usually takes a few minutes though," Johnson replied.
"No time," Marcus said, "See if it has any preset destinations."
"Only one," Johnson replied, "Tamrile."
"Then get the ships through with our people on them," Throon said, "We'll cover you."
The battle ships with the last few thousand survivors of Serra clanked through the gate as more stalks erupted out of the ground. Johnson blasted some of them with his lasers, and Throon finished off the rest but then a huge tree like stalk burst up knocking the legs off of one side of the Carrier.
"Ravalon guard me," Lurbruk roared as he tore away stalks and charged past Johnson, "Johnson get through that portal. Now."
Johnson ordered his units to tighten up the perimeter and make a path for Lurbruk to drag the Carrier through. Ravalon was spitting acid at anything that got in their way and the uber units provided enough cover that the explosive gunk that was being hurled at them was not landing on the two demons.
"Throon get through the gate, we may need a big gun on the other side," Johnson said as he positioned himself near the gate for a quick escape. Throon grabbed the other side of the Carrier and helped drag it through the gate with Lurbruk, then Ravalon followed and then Johnson ducked through just as a giant fissure started making its way towards the forwards base. They came out at the foot of a mountain range and east of a small walled town on a large hill. The grass was tall and woody for grass, and animal life scattered as they appeared. There was snow on the ground and a lone jester with a broken down cart on the road ahead of them.
"Blarg that was close," Dom radioed, "Everyone ok?"
"I think so," Hoffman replied from the civilian ships.
"We're good here," Lurbruk said, "Marcus your ship's a bit broken though."
"Johnson you can repair this thing right," Fenix asked.
"Once I have metal and energy to do so yes," Johnson replied, "For now lets see where we are."
Character Grishnake
"Well I must say," Grish said to Lydia as they walked along the terraces that lined the upper levels of the reconstructed Warfang, "It has been nice to take a break."
"True, but we are needed elsewhere," Lydia said, "We've got to go back home Samuel is in trouble I just know that something has changed."
"Fine but how do we get back," Grish asked.
"Serana has a portal that can get us back to her castle," Lydia said, "Perks of being a vampire."
"Ok but we can't just leave these people here they've come to rely on us," Grish said, "We've got to ensure some system of government is in place before we go... Orthino I'm sure would love to fill that roll." Grish looked out over the city, the sun reflecting off the buildings giving them a golden light, he sighed then rolled his shoulders. "Ok lets go find them, maybe we can get some of them to help us."
Lydia nipped him on the shoulder as he lifted her off the ground and walked back inside. She was even more feisty after becoming a vampire and she was quite energetic before, now though she could keep up with him when he went all wolf-orc on everything. Grish loved it and wondered why they hadn't thought of this solution to their differing lifespans ages ago. Lydia pushed off of Grish to flop back on their bed, "I will miss the accommodations though."
"What not happy with our houses," Grish said, "Could always see if Jinx will sell us hers. Come on Orthino will probably be in the palace and who knows where Bad Co, is."
"Good point," Lydia remarked as she got off the feathery bed and went to change her night gown for her heavy armor that she, like Grish, simply didn't feel complete without. As he handed her the various pieces of her armor he admired Lydia's physique, her toned musculature, smooth but angular face, and her eyes, now red with the blood lust of a vampire but so kindred to his own kind's eyes. Add to that the fact that she would remain the same forever due to being a vampire, like he would being a werewolf and he couldn't think of a better wife he could have.
"Where is Serana," Grish asked, "I would assume we would need her to cast this spell."
"Yeah she said she would be with Chris and Ve last night so I assume she is still with them." Lydia replied as she donned her helmet.
"Then lets start with them, any luck and we might run across Hadriel or Flyn or someone who knows where Redford and his squad are," Grish stated, "Lets go."
They descended to the street level of the Tower, where they encountered Malcolm and informed the Cheetah Commander of their need to leave Avalar.
"Well I'm sorry but I can not go with you," Malcolm said, "However I believe that Chris and Veronica are within the Library with Orthino, however I am unaware of the whereabouts of Bad Co. or their flying friends."
"Thanks Mal," Lydia said as they continued on now with their course set for the Library. Originally an impressive building the new version was even more so, at ten stories tall and with a Colosseum type build the Library was an entire city block all to itself. Around the structure were moles, cheetahs, dragons, dragonflies, and many other inhabitants of the world that were coming back out now that the years of war were over. Orthino was easy to find, seeing as he took up most of the middle of the library.
"Ah hello my friends, what brings you my way a problem back home perhaps," Orthino said as the elder dragon caught sight of them.
"I assume you know then," Grish said, "Serana's doing?"
"Aye she is clever that one," Orthino said, "She wanted you to meet her out where she and Lydia arrived here, Chris and Ve will be there too. I believe they went in search of Bad Co. however and might be a little late."
"And you will look after things here," Grish asked.
"I did before, thousands... no millions of years ago, I can do so again," Orthino replied, "Grishnake, Lydia, take care of each other its been ages since... well you know, its just so much harder going on alone."
"You won't be alone," Hadriel said as the angle came over to them, "I've attached the celestial Library to this one through a portal as its guardian I will be available quite often to help you."
"I understand why you need to stay," Grish said, "Too bad though we might have need of one with your skills."
"Ha you've got Flyn and his flying fortress," Hadriel replied, "You'll be fine."
Grish and Lyd said their goodbyes to the two and headed for the east gate, where Serana was waiting for them and was the apparent destination for three airborne figures.
Serana waved them over as they approached the plain outside the east gate, with her were Bad Co., Flyn, Chris and Veronica. "Glad you made it," Serana said, "I've got everything ready to go."
"Well lets go then," Flyn said, "I've been itching to see a new world."
"Chris, Ve, you two are coming with us," Grishnake asked, genuinely humbled that the pair would leave their home to help him.
"And why not," Ve replied, "After all you did almost single-handedly defend the city until K showed up with Spyro and Cynder."
"Besides it seems that this quiet life isn't for any of us," Redford added, "Yeah the fishing is great but... well as long as there is a fight to be had then we'll help you fight it."
Grish looked them over once then turned to Serana asking, "Where will we end up exactly?"
"Outside my castle where else," Serana replied as she channeled the portal into existence, "Now come on, I've been gone for some time the others might be troubled at my extended absence." Serana stepped through the greenish portal, followed by Lydia. Grish checked to make sure he had all his weapons as he walked through. In a flash he was standing on an old but well kept, stonework bridge with Lydia and Serana in front of him and the others appearing behind him and all of them surrounded by gargoyles. "Peace," Serana cooed to one of the gargoyles as though it were a harmless pet, which to her it actually was.
With a prumm the gargoyles settled back down, their vigil over the approach to the mass of rising masonry on the other end of the bridge renewed. Serana's castle was massive to say the least, with rooms and halls that had not been walked in for centuries left to be reoccupied at a later time.
"Well I guess there is no doubt as to whether we can come in," Chris said, "This place is as big as some of the public buildings in Warfang."
"Serana," A black haired, red eyed, elderly looking dark elf said as he approached them, "It has been some time, and I see you have some strange variant of dragons with you,... good the others will need to see you are still the most powerful of us before they will consent to keep the peace about your... trips."
"Garan," Serana greeted, "Out of all of us you're probably the only one I miss when I'm out and about. So straight forward, no ambition for yourself just a desire that things continue. I'll see what I can do about sorting out this rabble. Vingalmo and Orthjolf at it again I assume?"
"Indeed, much appreciated," Garan replied as he led the way inside, "Lydia, Grishnake, good to have you back, you haven't run into Jinx recently have you?"
"No," Grish replied, "I have been away for some time."
"Yes almost as long as Jinx has been gone," Garan said as they entered the main hall where two vampires were having a shouting match with each other. Vingalmo, a high elf with gray hair and black eyes and garbed in a gray robe similar to the one that Garan was wearing, was in an all out argument with Orthjolf, a brawny human with orange hair and red leather armor. The other vampires, which Grish and Lydia had gotten to know due to their relationship with Serana and Jinx were watching curiously to see the outcome.
"Enough," Serana hissed in a voice so low that it cut right through the two's argument and caught theirs and the onlookers attention. The arguing pair both turned towards them with violence in their eyes but quickly another look covered their faces as Chris and Veronica stepped into the room. "If it weren't the case that there were so few of us and that when you two are not at each others throats you are both extremely helpful and can sometimes be down right friendly on the rare occasion, I'd have Chris and Ve eat the both of you," Serana continued, "But since there are only twelve of us left, and since you are both instrumental in the up keep of this place, and since you've been friendly towards everyone except each other, I am disinclined to use that solution at this time. So you two tell me how should I handle this?"
"Your father would have had them both killed," Fura, a female human with brown hair and red leather armor over a black robe commented.
"And he would have needed to," Serana replied, "I am more powerful than he though and do not need to diminish our numbers just to stay in power, hell I don't even need to be here to retain power it seems since the two of you are still alive then neither has taken the throne for himself meaning I'm still queen, now get out of my sight the both of you!" Serana dismissed them with a flick of her hand.
As the two reluctantly left the argument, undoubtedly to be settled at a later time, and went to separate areas of the castle, Valerica, Serana's mother approached them. She was elderly in appearance but her eyes were powerful and old... very, very old. The vampire matron was garbed in a red tunic and black trousers with black satin boots and her black hair done up in a bun. She and Serana embraced before the questions started flowing. Who are these people you've brought here, what sort of dragons are those, where did you go, etc. etc. Grish tuned out the mother daughter conversation instead to focus on which of the vampires followed either Vingalmo or Orthjolf. Fura, followed neither instead heading back to her armory, Ronthin and Feran followed Vingalmo, Modhan and Namasur followed Orthjolf and Rargal ignored the whole event as he tended to one of the thralls.
"An even split," Lydia remarked, "I wonder if the balance will hold."
"Even if it doesn't any one of us is powerful enough to take out this lot," Preston said, "But right now we got more interesting news, Johnson is on the radio with Fenix,we can't send them a message from here but we can pick up bits of their conversation."
"Should only be a couple of days, why don't you head to that city over on that big hill and see where we are," Johnson said.
"Ok, I'll take Anya and Dom with me Coal also, everyone else stay back until we figure out where we stand with these people, they might not like seeing demons and mechs appearing just out of range of their walls," Fenix replied.
"That could be any number of cities," Grish said, "but Solitude and Windhelm are the two that best match that description."
"You two know the area and we can fly," Ve said, "we could go see where they are at."
"Dragons set people around here on edge," Lydia replied, "Probably not the best idea."
"Solitude is on the way to Windhelm," Grish said, "We could head out for Windhelm and stop by Whiterun on the way. We will need to get a ride on a carriage though its a long ways to Whiterun from here."
"Where do we get a carriage," Redford asked.
"Solitude," Serana replied, "Chris and Ve will need to remain here though for the time being, I might need them to settle a dispute that has been going on for several hundred years now."
Character Zora
They had been wandering in the forest for a day now and Zora was getting thoroughly sick of it. Dragons like herself were meant for rocky mountains and vast open plains and skies not cramped forests.
"I think we are good an properly lost now," Pippin said, "Now to find that river."
"And avoid Old Man Willow," Merry added.
"And the Barrow Weights," Pippin continued, "I think it was east or north."
"It was south," Merry said, "That's the direction we were trying to go."
"I can smell water to the east of us," Zora said, "The river is most likely that way."
"Right then," Gimli said, "East it is." He then promptly turned south and started walking.
"That is south good Dwarf," Zora said, "East is this way... if you would all follow me I can lead you right to the water."
"I uh well I knew that just getting turned around was all," Gimli replied.
Gandalf coughed at that, Zora ignored it and led on while the others fell in line behind her. As they continued on the forest began to thin out a bit, Zora picked up speed wanting to get out from the trees as soon as she could. Behind her Merry and Pippin were shouting something, probably wanting her to slow down, but she continued on. Right out of the forest and into the Barrow Mounds. A shriek rose up from the mounds and shapes started stirring in the depths of the tomb entrances. As the others caught up to her Zora realized that the Hobbits had been trying to warn her of the weights. Well she was a dragon and lightning, she had found, was extremely effective against wraiths and the like. Before she got to zap the wraiths however a voice called out from across the mounds, the voice was of a man singing.
"Its Tom," Pippin said, "He almost always sings when he walks through the forest."
At the sound of the singing the wraiths dispersed, going back to their cursed sleep, and the forest was peaceful once again. The man singing came into view around one of the mounds, he had a blue fishing hat with a feather in it, cheery eyes above a big round nose and a delightful smile, below which was a big gray beard that reached to his hips and he was garbed in a bright green satin reminiscent of the green of the forest.
"Oh ho who walks my way this merry day, the most odd assortment of company," Tom said/sang in his strange voice. "Ah two hobbits I recall but the rest are foreign all."
"Tom Bombadil," Merry said, "These are some of our friends, they have a scroll we think you might be able to read for us."
"A scroll I can see but why to read it do you need me?"
"Spirit of old," Gandalf said, "We do not know the language in which it was written, old elvish I believe, but the scroll speaks to each person who reads it a different message. You however might be our only hope of reading it for this dragon, she is the link to those who we need to help."
"Hmm a doomed reign and a dragon dame," Tom contemplated, "I shall help the once again." Tom took the scroll and opened it. "Ah Goldberry almost has lunch done. But to see what the scroll says about this one. One that was and is again will bring thine own to the again."
"Thank you," Gandalf said as Tom gave him back the scroll with a smile and a nod, "Zora what do you make of it?"
"It means Ace came through, he is bringing DC here," Zora said. "But I sent that message out to him a while back... Kind Spirit where does the scroll say a dragon named Storm is?"
Gandalf passed Tom the scroll again who looked it over before replying, "Time's Seer adrift, heads towards mans' white cliffs."
"Man's white cliffs," Legolas remarked, "Gondor?"
"So it is and so must I home to go where lady fair sets food prepared before my chair," Tom said as he tipped his hat to them and headed on into the forest past them. Picking up his song once again.
"What a marvelous person," Gandalf said, "The scroll only told him it was time for lunch, he must be powerful beyond our understanding."
"Why is that," Qui-gon asked.
"Because the scroll tells of the thing that is most pertinent to the person," Legolas said, "If the most threatening thing for Tom is his lunch getting cold..."
"Ah," Qui-gon said understanding now, "That is impressive."
"We need to get to Gondor," Zora said, "Storm is heading there and I know Terrador wouldn't let her our of his sight, if they are going to be there then DC will be there."
"We should pick up Frodo first then," Qui-gon remarked, "He mentioned that he would like to go to Gondor with us."
"It took us a good day and a half to get this far in," Gimli said, "unless we can all fit on your back we wont be getting out any faster."
"Oh I wouldn't be so sure," Pippin said as he and Merry walked to the edge of the clearing, "Tom has a way with the world he helps it get you where you are needed." Then the two walked through some trees and were out of sight. Zora felt the oddest sensation like they had shifted position though they were in the same spot. She followed the two Hobbits and found herself on the hill above Bag End, Merry and Pippin laughing it up at her surprise.
"It really sent us for a loop the first time too," Merry said, "Don't know how he does it but Tom always gets you back faster than it took to get to him."
"See I knew not to trust trees," Gimli said as he stumbled out of the forest, "Oh. Well that is something."
"The Spirit controls the very space we occupy," Legolas observed.
"A sobering thought," Gandalf said, "Now I'm sure Frodo would be happier if we were not standing on his house."
"Ah back from meeting with Tom I see," Frodo said as he walked up the path to Bag End, "Come on in and tell me what you've learned, I'll bring food out for you Zora."
"Thank you," Zora said, "and you may want to pack some, we are heading to Gondor."
Frodo smiled as he dashed inside calling for his friends to come in.
Character Terrador
"Arie do the scans pick anything up?" Terrador asked the hacker as they came in to dock above Middle Earth.
"Scans are clear," Arie replied, "So we're good right?"
"What do you mean," Terrador asked.
"I mean you guys are cool with me being here and all," Arie expounded.
"Adam vouches for you, you've not tried anything foolish, and are good enough company," Terrador analyzed, "We are good with you."
"Agreed," Doug added.
The ever present Gravemind was both irritating and somewhat comforting to Terrador, just as Storm's time vision was, he did think that Doug's additional approval was well timed however. "Have Ace, Storm, and Blitz meet me in hangar bay four. We head for Gondor ASAP," Terrador said before heading off the bridge, passing Simmons and Caboose on the way out. "Simmons have Sarge prepare our suits we will escort the Pelican in them."
"On it sir," Simmons replied as he took off towards the comm system.
"Can I help to," Caboose asked, "I like helping."
"Go get Carolina she can drive," Terrador said. Caboose nodded and ran off down the corridor and Terrador continued on to the hangar. Storm joined up with him, she seemed down but before he could ask she said.
"Sorry I couldn't tell you. We could not have come any sooner and you knowing would have distracted you from our other missions."
"So you did know," Terrador remarked feeling both angry and sympathetic, "Would it have really been that bad to have at least told me?"
"Don't you think I wanted to see her sooner also," Storm answered, "No this was the easiest path for us all... well for all of you anyways."
Feeling guilty for his anger Terrador put a wing over his daughter before asking, "How long did you know?"
"Since my death," Storm replied.
"Twenty years," Terrador thought, "How would I have held up knowing that Zora was alive but out of reach for twenty years..."
"Not very well," Storm supplied, "Yes I knew what you were thinking."
They finished the walk in silence. Once at the hangar, he, Storm, Ace and Blitz got into their armor, Carolina started up the Pelican and they launched out into the upper atmosphere.
"Scanning the terrain below us," Carolina said over the radio, "Ok looks like we are north of your city, nice landscape though very rustic. Oh hold on got an object on an intercept vector lets see what it is."
"Its Zora," Storm said, "Continue to the city mom will meet us there."
"Whoa mom," Carolina asked, "Actually never mind."
"What don't want to get into family history there Carolina," Ace said, "Aren't Church and Allison your parents."
"Ace when we land I'm going to punch you," Carolina said sarcastically, "But yeah they are... or at least were, still not sure how to take the whole AI thing."
Terrador smiled at the conversation, glad that Ace was integrating so well with DC, anyone who could get along with Carolina was unique indeed. He soon felt the pull in his mind of his and Zora's mental link reactivating and thought to her, "I'll see you soon my lovely," as they descended towards Gondor where she had just landed. He got a, "You'd better," in response causing him to chuckle. Then Doug came on the radio.
"Terrador we have a situation," Doug said, "James has picked up signs of something big on the long range scanners. Normally this wouldn't bother us, but its the same tech that is on the Arc, its Forerunner and its heading this way with a rouge Covenant battle formation following it."
"Are our guns bigger than theirs," Terrador asked.
"Most likely," Doug replied, "I am calling for the fleet to form up, the Infinity, Arc, and Pestilence are the three largest ships in the universe, not to mention that Brian's fleet is ready to assist if we need it and My own vast army waits just out of the solar winds with Spark's Seraphim fleet."
"Ok let me know if anything changes," Terrador said, "Now I've got a reunion to be at."