First Strike

The cool, crisp air filled the field as the scent of blood started to contaminate it. It was mid-afternoon and the battalions were having a rough time with the constant bombardment of artillery at their bunkers.

“Judoc, they be closing in on us!” cautioned Bricius, urgently peering over the firing gallery. Piercing plasma arrows seemed to take the place of the light as they soared into the bright orange sun hindering the vision of the squad. Through the barrage, sleek reptilian figures could be seen picking their way across the no man's land separating the two armies, their many spikes and scales the epitome of nightmare.

“Sergeant Bricius, take Herodotos and Seti and flank up there!” the rugged Ursian captain commanded, nodding to the right. Then suddenly, he ducked aside with a curse as a steaming plasma arrow buried itself in the concrete where his head had been seconds before.

Thumping his chest in response to the command, Bricius started up the right side of the hill, gesturing for the Gervian Herodotos to scout ahead while he followed with the rest of his squad members in tow. The blinding glare provided by the enemy’s line of fire was just enough for the small group to sneak past the enemy picket line.

Herodotos spotted some guards nearby and gestured for silence with a confident wave of his hand and a nod towards the enemy. Bricius mimicked the gesture and sank down into a crouch, confident without looking around that the others would do the same.

Herodotos slunk over to the group of enemies while the others sat back and watched. He crept up behind one, then releasing a jet of flame from his palms, liberally doused his victim. Before the Urix could scream out in pain, he grabbed the neck and twisted it hard in silence, breaking it. As soon as Herodotos had struck, Bricius rose. Bowing his head, he charged ferociously at two more victims with his arms stretched out at their neck lines. His great bulk connected and both guards flipped over blacking out from the impact.

Seti was the stealthiest of the group and dispatched his own target with a swift knife across the throat. The final defender was quickly dropped by a blow to the skull from Herodotos' pistol grip. With a nod to Bricius to show his success, the Gervian gestured the squad forward up the hill.

Across the battlefield, Judoc led a platoon up the left flank, hoping to break through the enemy lines in order to surround the enemy and leave them no escape. This left few defenders in the trenches at the centre to throw off the enemy. The Urix attackers pushed forward towards the bloody lines of Concordium soldiers. Judoc allowed himself to grin with the thought that his enemy were unaware that he was about to pull tight the noose around their position. The Urix continued to blindly pick their way down the hill through the debris, barbed wire and dense air, continuing to strike at the harried defenders unaware of the imminent threat to themselves.

Waving an arm, Judoc ordered his followers to hunker down into cover. As he did so, he formulated a plan, and began to tap on his data pad. He could just imagine the invisible signals hastening back to headquarters.

Back on the other flank, Seti called out and tapped his head. His squad-mates understood the gesture and made for cover. Seti followed their instinct and crouched behind a broken wall. Confident of his protection, he closed his eyes and allowed the Tuleonetian Apestel to enter his mind.

An image formed behind his eyelids and he was suddenly looking through the eyes of another. The scene was a dark bunker with a massive table set in the centre, a hologram of the battlefield flickering on it. A large, tall Gervian stepped into view, his face dominated by a huge hooked nose, and his chest sparked with a myriad of medals.

^"Is this thing on?"^ The officer quizzed, his hand reaching out to tap the unseen Tuleonetian on the head. A furred paw lashed out, knocking the hand away.

^"I am not a thing!"^ The Apestel’s voice returned, the sound thunderous in Seti's mind.

^"Yes, well. This is lieutenant colonel Fulonius, your commanding officer,"^ the Gervian continued with a look of disdain, wiping unseen dirt on his trouser leg. As he spoke, he turned towards the table and started gesturing at various points on the map.

^"Now, listen up. Make your way to the top of Jurnom Hill. Intelligence reports that the Urix have committed their full force to this assault and that their trenches are vacant. Take the height advantage and look down at our positions. Signal for orbital bombardment when our own people withdraw. This Apestel Prime will relay co-ordinates to our firing computers. Additionally, please deliver these new orders to your commander. Keep your Tuleonetian alive so that he can target. Understood?"^

Seti sent a note through the Meld that he had understood and a moment later the scene bobbed as the Apestel nodded his answer to the colonel.

^"Good, Fulonius out."^ Seti opened his eyes and relayed the commands to Bricius.

The squad moved further up the hill, Herodotos halting them as he scouted the Urix trenches ahead. On his return, he reported that the enemy lines were indeed empty and the group moved in to take up positions.

Seti found one of the observation posts and used the imaging equipment there to zoom in on their own lines. He watched as the Urix charged only to be mown down by return Concordium fire. The numbers were beginning to tell, however, and the enemy was managing to breach the line in places.

"Cover me, I am entering the Meld once again," Seti cautioned without taking his eyes off the scene. Behind him he heard movement as Herodotos and Bricius took up defensive positions.

It was unclear who were the more surprised, Bricius or the Urix reinforcements marching down the trench. A Urix soldier was first to react, and the only warning Bricius could get off was a sharp yelp as a plasma arrow buried itself into his arm. He yanked it out with a grunt of pain, wrinkling his snout at the smell of burnt flesh.

Bricius grabbed a grenade from his belt, primed it and threw it at the enemy. The Urix soldiers recovered quickly and jumped away. Bricius, however, had a different idea and wrenched his blade from its scabbard, thumbing the switch and hearing the hum of energy as it rippled to life with a faint blue light.

He sprang after the grenade, pausing only to crouch down against the blast from the explosion, then springing up after it before the Urix could recover. Unfortunately, once again they were quicker than the Ursian, and one leapt at him, knife in hand. The Urix's head exploded in a mist of gore as Herodotos's rifle roared to life.

The fight was short and bitter, leaving Bricius bleeding from a number of wounds, but if he felt pain he did not show it. He turned back towards his allies, and happened to see Herodotos's eyes widen.

The Gervian leapt forward, and dove at the Tuleonetian. Bricius thought the man had gone mad, and raised his blade, but lowered it again in stunned silence as Herodotos's body crashed to the ground, in front of him. Momentum turned him, and Bricius could see his friend had been pierced through by a plasma arrow.

Bricius stumbled back to Herodotos , tears already welling in his eyes with worry. He reached out a quivering paw for the shaft, and made ready to pull it out. A hand enclosed on his, and he looked up at the Gervian, who shook his head with a wince.

Herodotos then tried to rise, gasping for air. His strength had already ebbed, and he fell back. His body lay quivering slightly as blood dripped down his dark olive chin. Bricius slid down the side of the trench beside his friend, and pulled the Gervian’s body into his arms. A partial smile came upon the face of Herodotos as he faded away from life. Bricius set his comrade’s body down gently and the let out a fierce howl.

More Urix were crowding cautiously towards the trench, having been momentarily stunned by the vigor of the defenders. On seeing them, Bricius's vision went red and his movements were no longer his own. Dispassionately, as though watching his own body from above, he saw himself rise and dash over to a mounted energy cannon overlooking the battlefield. He knew it usually took four soldiers to carry, but he ripped it from its stand with ease. Holding it at his hip, he turned around and started to walk slowly towards the Urix, thumbing the trigger as he did so.

The Urix suddenly found themselves in a hail of energy shells which exploded all around them. The initial volley obliterated a number before they could react, and even as they dove for cover they found it being shattered around them, such was the power of the weapon.

A few braver souls let loose their own plasma arrows, but despite many burying themselves in the flesh of the Ursian, none could still his burning rage.

The remainder then turned and fled back to their second line.

Bricius kept firing at the retreating backs, still roaring in anger and anguish even when the weapon began to click as its firing chamber ran dry. He only woke from his rage at a soft touch which made him twitch around.

"It's time," Seti said gently, before returning to his equipment. Bricius let his weapon drop as his shoulders sagged in sudden exhaustion. He returned to Herodotos' body, bent down, and moved the corpse of his Gervian comrade into an upright position, so that he could watch the coming Armageddon.

(by Cameron Ames)