Knights of Rebellion
Chapter 5
I'm so sorry to those who were waiting for the next chapter of this. But I was stuck for a so long on how to get the next part of the story and my other stories took my attention. But now I can move onto the next part of this story and war. So on with the show.
(No POV)
Addy groaned while faintly hearing Ernie's voice. 'No it's not just his voice. I think… I smell Ernie too!' the girl thinks while shaking the cobwebs out of her head. When she opens her eyes, Addy does confirm that she could see Ernie right next to her.
"ERNIE! Oh I knew I'd find you! C'mon! We need to get back to the Order!" she said while hugging him happily. But the silver haired boy doesn't seem like he wants to. Or rather. "Yeah we're not going to be able to get back Addy. Not where we're stuck."
The taller girl shakes her head before looking around to see that they were in a cell. "So…. That actually did happen. I did get beat," she thought aloud while looking at her hands. "You did indeed girl. You shouldn't have overestimated yourself and underestimated me."
Han says this while walking into the cells. Addy gave him a pouting glare before claiming he was bullying those younger than him. "Yeah not so much Addy. After all, this guy is younger than both of us." Ernie said slightly bitterly.
The girl looked back and forth between Han and Ernie before shouting, "he's like an anti-Ernie!" Han snorted before saying, "I suppose that's one way to look at it. You should get comfortable. You're not getting out of here."
With that, he leaves the pair to stew in their thoughts. Han meets with Aihe and Eddy to ask for an update on the remains of the Silhouette Gear. "We haven't figured out everything, but I believe we can make a copy of it for the scouts." Eddy reported before getting back to work.
Aihe meanwhile noted that she had more people watching all of the trails and various ways through the wilds of Pakanga. "I'm worried about these allies the Homeland forces have pulled in. It was one thing to deal with them, but these others could be more trouble. Especially if they have more like that knight you fought."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that. After fighting and talking with him, I can tell how Silver Hair thinks. He's not only selfish, but he's not one for really teaching. I wouldn't bet any of their forces can fly unless its on one of those ships."
Han confidence at this puts Aihe at ease for now. But there is a still a new matter to attend with. While Fort Gātahi was a major symbolic point, there were other forts that were still held by the Guerrabesti forces. And they had been resupplied by the knight runners from Fremavia.
"That means our main targets are stocked and strong. There's not a lot of ways we can get to them." Andrea noted before asking if her Roccaforte unit was finished. Eddy reported that it was all set up and ready for combat. "But even with that, it still won't be quite enough to take the forts."
Ezio hums before noting, "it may be about time for us to unleash the Halius and the carriers. We've got one ship done. Maybe it's time we show what we can do." Han has a complicated look on his face at this suggestion.
'Given my soul's past history. But if we use it to get our people in instead, that's a bit better I guess,' he thought before sighing and agreeing with Ezio. "But no bombing runs. We use the carrier to drop in the Halius units and your Kuti." Ezio smiles at this before going to check on the unit in question.
Taking a bit of inspiration from the knight riders of the Silver Phoenix and from Fenyx itself, they had created a unit for Ezio that could easily shift from air combat to ground combat. The golden brown machine's wing sections could fold into the body after landing, but not before uncoupling the arms from said wings.
The claws and bomb drop sections could also be shifted into more armor for the legs. Or act as short swords to engage on the ground. While still also having shoulder cannon articulation sections to fire in the air and on the ground. It was lighter armored compared to other command units, but that was to compliment it's flight capabilities.
"Time for these fliers to show more of what we can do!" Ezio says before loading into his Knight and loading it up in the airship carrier. It was a bit larger than the Zaloudek machines that Guerrabesti had traded for. But that also came with the compliment of how it could launch it's knights.
On the top where the normal wind magic blowers would usually be, a flat surface was there instead. This would allow the Halius units to launch from above as well as below. The latter being more of an emergency option compared to take off from the deck. It was less armed with magic blasting power, but that was supplemented by the support ships.
Two airships of smaller design were faster and had more anti-air power, as well as medium ship that had some heavier magic cannons in case it was needed. "This'll make up our first taskforce. And I'll be coming along." Han said in the command deck of the main ship.
The chosen captain agreed and reported that they were ready to move at any time. "But one thing before we go sir. What do we call the ship?" Han thought for a moment before remembering a famous ship from his old world. And the name that would be it's counterpart in this world.
"Hinonga. This ship's name is Hinonga." The captain nodded before reporting to the other two ships to stand by. With the smallest ones being named Ritternato and Malta. And the medium ship was called Tūmanako. So with that, the ships launched and prepared to assault Fort Geogia. Named after the queen who was pushing for this war.
Back in Veineta, the Silver Phoenix was discussing matters with Scuderio and a few other generals. "So your sister hasn't reported back yet?" he asked with a look to Kid. Who just sighs before saying, "we kept telling her to wait. But she's just as stubborn as I am."
"Not to mention her obsession with Silver Hair. But at least you're ready for the next fight given we finished the Tzendolin. Let's just hope you'll be able to really make the most of it." David said before the conversation shifted once more.
This time discussing matters involving reinforcing the forts the Guerrabesti forces had built in the last few years. "I think the big one they'll be targeting, is this one," a general said before pointing to one a distance away from Fort Geogia.
He noted that it was a major transport hub and relay station for all the forces in the area. Edgar brought up that they could be targeting Geogia as it seemed to hold some greater value. "They wouldn't dare. It's the most well-fortified point. Even with that burning knight, the Rebel forces would have a long siege ahead. And we could step in at any time to take them from behind."
The elder knights of the Silver Phoenix agreed and said they'd head for the opposite zone. "Actually, Miss Helvi. Do you mind taking a few of your units to reinforce and resupply Geogia? Even if they won't be attacking there, it would be best to keep it at the ready." Scuderio asks.
Kid offers to go as well to test out his new unit. "Dietrich and Edgar can take care of the matters at the other fort. Besides, a little extra firepower never hurt." Helvi gave Archid a smile before rubbing his head and agreeing. "Alright Silver Phoenix! Move out!" Edgar exclaimed when the meeting ended.
Helvi and her group made their way to Fort Geogia with some extra supplies. While Kid in his Tzendolin was keeping a watch on the area around them. "Something wrong?" Helvi asked after picking up on his nervous actions.
"I don't know. Somethings just off. Its like I've got this feeling that we're walking into the line of fire," Kid explained while adjusting the blasting sub arms of his unit. Helvi hummed before telling him to stay sharp. "Your hunches have been right before."
Once they reach the fort, the Fremavian knights are impressed by the impressive scale of the fort. But less impressed by the way the knights and soldiers inside carried themselves. "Ah what do we have to worry about? No one could take this position! Gātahi may have been the most symbolic fortress, but this is the strongest outside of the main cities."
Helvi and Kid shared a look before helping finish the moving of materials. Though the latter had an angry eye directed at the airships circling above. "Archid. Relax. A tool can be good or evil depending on it's user remember. And those ships are on our side." Helvi lightly chastised.
"I know. But…. I still can't forget or forgive the role the ships played in the fall of Kuspercha. And what fell on Eleonora's shoulders." The elder knight sighed before focusing back to unloading materials. And as night was falling, they took a moment to rest their troops for the trip back.
But that trip was never to come. With the rising of the sun, the fort was assaulted from above. Not by airships as most suspected. But the Halius units with the Kuti taking the lead. They fired shot after shot from their magic cannons and some dove close enough to pick up or cut down enemy knights.
"It's like an attack by flying magic beasts!" one soldier cried before magic blasts were rained down on his and his fellows position. Kid and Helvi were shocked by what they were seeing. But it didn't compare to what came next and eliminated their allied airships.
From just above the cloud line and lost in the dim light of the morning, the task force from Tūmanako had arrived. With a few heavy shots, the medium ship blasted away at the defending airships and brought them to the ground.
Kid was wide eyed upon seeing this and could barely register Helvi shaking him. "Get to your knight! We have to try and defend this fort!" she said before running to her own Tzendolimble and ordered her men to get the javelins ready.
The Silver Phoenix members fire off their anti-air attacks but they don't get close to hitting the airborne enemies. Mostly because the airships themselves were staying a fair distance away and the Halius units were more maneuverable than they had been expecting.
Ezio saw these attacks and decided it was his time to show what his unit could do. "Take over the air assault! I'll deal with those command units!" he ordered before divebombing at the Geogia commander's Tirato. Catching it in the claws before dragging the enemy on the ground.
Helvi and Kid saw this and brandished their own weapons at what they thought might be an enemy out of its element. "Take this!" they shout while thrusting their lances at the Kuti. Only to be shocked by arms coming from the wings and knocking their blades away.
The wings fold in and the two Fremevians were unsettled by the stance and build to their enemy before seeing it rapidly engage a few of the other enemy units. Cutting five down before anyone could put up a resistance.
"Oh yeah! Take this!" Kid announced before firing his sub arms at the bird like knight. But it throws him off again by taking to the air similar to the Toybox for a moment. The Kuti then turns and fires a few shots at Kid and Helvi.
While the Tzendolin could counter and block a few of the shots, Helvi and some of the others were less capable. And the third unit's commander screams as the enemy unit dives at her Tzendolimble and crashes the knight to the ground and into the wall of the fort.
"Helvi!" Kid shouts before switching to swords and engaging the Kuti once more. This time he doesn't rush forward but gets close to strike out as rapidly as possible. Pushing the air command unit back with the greater mass and strength that his Tzendolin had.
Ezio grunted before saying, "you've definitely got power! But…. all that power is too straightforward!" Right as he says this, the Kuti adjusts the movement of the Tzendolin's blades to slide past it. With the Kuti quickly cutting along the side of the machine and crippling one of the arms.
But Kid makes him pay for it slightly. Adjusting the angle of his sub arms to fire shots behind him and knock his opponent away slightly. Kid turns his machine to continue the attacks, and sees that there would be no winning this battle.
First because a few more aerial units were coming from the largest ship. Second, from a destroyed wall he could see another group of knights coming. With Andrea's Roccoforte leading the group. And the final nail; he could see a crimson light coming from the largest airship. "The Burning Knight!" one of the Guerrabesti knights exclaimed in fear.
Helvi wakes up and uses the last bit of strength her unit has to charge the Kuti. "Archid! Get out of here! We can't win as we are! I'll try to slow them down!" she shouts before Ezio uses his wings to slice off the arms of the Tzendolimble.
Kid grits his teeth before telling the soldiers to retreat. With the few remaining members of the third company loading up as many soldiers as they could. They make for Veinta while Helvi with a few others try to hold off the Rebel knights.
That doesn't last long. Mostly thanks to the arrival of Fenyx and it's brutal style and sets of attacks. Helvi though doesn't let this stop her and puts her machine in between the red knight and the fleeing troops. "I may not be able to well anymore. But I can still keep you in place."
Han stops at this and folds his wings in as the airships circle above. "Don't follow them. Let's focus on what we need to do here," he orders before getting out of his unit. Han puts on his gauntlets while walking up to the Tzendolimble.
Helvi gulps a bit but still tries to do anything to stop the red-haired teen. Mostly by knocking rocks at the young man. But it doesn't deter him and instead he uses the magic focuses to blast some of the stones before sprinting at the mostly disabled knight.
He dodges a few more rocks before first using wind magic to push him upward and then explosive magic to get up on the back of the centaur like machine. Han uses another push of wind before getting to the front cockpit of the machine.
"There eh? Coming in!" he says before casting some strengthening magic on himself and blasting some of the weak points around the hatch. Until he rips off the hatch to get at the knight inside.
But Helvi refuses to go down easy. Right as she heard the blasts and saw the top being ripped off, she pulled out her sword and charged at Han as the hatch was opened. Stabbing him in the side. "If I can at least take one of you down that -guck!"
She started to talk about her resolve, but Han pushed through and gave her a solid headbutt to interrupt. It's not enough to get her to let go of the sword though, so the younger teen decides to go arm for arm in a sense.
He tightens his grip on her sword hand before laying into her with some punches. "I'm not going to go down that easy!" she sputters out with a black eye, bloody nose, and a few broken ribs. Han smirks and respects the tenacity and knocks her out with some respect.
"Heh. She didn't even let go once she was out cold. But this is done." Han says before pulling out the sword from his side. A few others from Andrea's company start patching him and others up. While also taking the remaining Silver Phoenix and Guerrabesti troops captive.
Archid though was furious with himself at who was left behind and that even with his new unit, he couldn't do enough. "What's the point of having this machine if I can't defeat an enemy like that?!" he exclaims while he and the rest retreat.
"That's probably not the best way to look at it Kid. The truth is, we're really outclassed. Even if we had Ernesti, I'm not sure we could really win. Look at what they built. Just from junk and scraps most likely," one of the Tzendolimble pilots said while they were on the road.
Kid sighs before slightly agreeing. And then thinking, 'if only we had more actual airborne knights. But Ernie was the only one we had. And that was destroyed. If that's the case, then we may not be able to win this war.' As if to match his mood, rain starts to fall over the group.
I know it may not be exactly what some of you were waiting for, but I'm going somewhere with this. And you'll see more of it later. This time though, I'll try to get back to it before it's been almost a year. Sorry again and please review.