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WolfLord7777

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He ducked inside the low door, hanging his rifle on one of the racks on either side as he did.
Inside the small space five men were seated. They were the captains of the Armoured Marine Companies two to six. Normally the first company would lead the assault, itself led by Colonel Snake, when he wasn’t protecting Derk. However it was still far to low in fighting strength, with barely 40 men left fit for battle.
The five grizzled veterans looked up as he entered, scarred faces and wary eyes scanning him in an instant. They varied wildly in appearance, from the short and well-muscled Captain Doric to the long and thin Captain Nemyer, who appeared to be weak and breakable but who could face the best swordsman in any other kingdom with just his knife and come out on top, without taking a scratch and grinning the whole time.
“We’re landing in a few minutes. Make sure you’re men are ready, if they’re not already. Remember: second and third company lead the first assault before splitting and letting fourth fifth and sixth companies drive through the gap, defeating any remaining resistance, although its unlikely any will survive the first strike, there being so few of them. Then the rest of the force sets up a wide perimeter and then drives toward their command position. It will take a few days, a week at most, but we should have enough numbers to defeat any hastily organized resistance. I know you know the plan, but better safe than sorry,” Derk said, hands behind his back as he always did when he gave a speech, short as it was.
The five men nodded indulgently and then began talking leisurely into their headphones, as Derk was sure they had been doing before he came in.
Derk fumed silently at the silent implication against his commanding ability.

18-Jan-2011 01:15:03 - Last edited on 06-Feb-2011 08:51:01 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

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He sat down heavily in the seat next to door, swiveling round to use the newly installed custom command console built into the wall. On it was a small section of map glowing green, divided into squares. Swarming just off shore was three large dots, on representing his ship and the other two representing the other two ships transporting the advance party of 600 Armoured Marines. He pressed a button on the side marked with a magnifying glass with a minus sign next to it. The screen zoomed out, the area shown before just one square of 25 on the screen. On the edge of the screen was a cluster of more dots which appeared to continue. Derk zoomed out again, and the few small dots became a large cluster of about 800 ships about 10 kilometres off the coast.
Derk pressed another button and the screen changed from a map to a screen listing all the communication channels his attack force was using, from the squads channel to his own private channel. Then he plugged the console to his helmet, then he selected one under Command and spoke into his helmet mike.
“Colonel, move your regiments ships to the front of the fleet. Then head in towards the landing as soon as possible. I know it goes against the plan, but I have a feeling that we’ll be needing the extra firepower your tanks can bring,”
“Yes sir, but are you sure that its wise? We had a lengthy discussion about why I should bring the support in later,” said the voice of Colonel Selim, the commander of the tank regiment who would be providing support for Derks assault.
“I know Selim, but I have a feeling that its necessary. I don’t know why, but I don’t think this assault is going to go well. In fact it’ll go very badly indeed,” Derk replied, before cutting off the transmission.
***
Troy stood in the command room of the submarine, surrounded by people hurrying around him, making the last preparations for the upcoming assault.

18-Jan-2011 01:16:42 - Last edited on 12-Feb-2011 04:29:28 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Captain, we have a good line on the target now. It’ll be another 20 minutes before we have another clean line, so if you want to get there soon, now is the time,” the submarine command said from Troy’s right.
Troy hesitated. His men were still preparing, and after the first strike he would only have a few minutes to be in position. If his men weren’t fully prepared by the time they had to go, he would very likely get them all killed. However, the longer they stayed the more likely they were to be discovered. Also, if they delayed too long the rest of the flotilla of transport boats would arrive, and he would have to be in a good position inside by the time they arrived. 20 minutes would be far too late. All this passed through Troy’s head in the space of a few seconds.
“Do it,” he said.
***
Outside the submarine dark water flowed swiftly past the dark metal hulk.
On the snub-nose of the hull 12 hatches opened, revealing large, oddly-shaped torpedoes. Each one was very long and very thick, with a large bulbous tip. Each was filled with the most powerful explosives known to the ScapeRune army.
All 12 shot out as one, shooting out into the river with a shower of bubbles. 50 metres out from the submarine they split up into clusters of three.
Several seconds later an explosion shattered the dark water.
Water boiled in an instant, roiling in a seething mass. An explosion of steam hissed into the air as flames licked the surface of the water.
Above the water the target of the explosions was shattered into a thousand chunks of reinforced masonry and steel. The target was the reinforced gate which allowed the water to exit the city. Acting like a giant sluice gate, several gates stopped any boats from entering the city.
Although the huge torpedoes each had the power to break through most any fortress wall, the whole salvo barely broke through the three huge gates.

18-Jan-2011 01:16:48 - Last edited on 12-Feb-2011 04:29:55 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The huge submarine glided through the seething water like some sort of giant shark, its armoured plating not even warming in the huge heat produced from the massive explosions.
***
Troy strode down the narrow steel corridors of the submarine, Lucien and the other three members of Troy’s command squad shadowing him. Each one was fully armed and armoured, with assault rifles, shotguns and pistols. Each one had a grim set to the small part of their face that wasn’t covered by the lowered visors attached to their faces. They did what they had to because that was their job, but they did*’t have to like it.
“Captain, we’re coming up to the drop zone. If you want to be part of the assault, you have about a minute,” a voice came over his helmet.
Troy started and signaled to the other men, then started running down the narrow corridor.
As he ran Troy checked his assault large pump-action shotgun for the 5th time. It his own weapon, given to him as a reward for bravery during the 50 Days War, after his assault on Yanille, where he led his platoon through the war-torn ruins after the captain was killed and avoided capture by enemy forces for almost a week, before being rescued. Its pump-handle had an under-slung grenade launcher in it, and each shot was capable of penetrating two feet of brick wall and still be able to kill.
Troy and his men burst out of the tunnel into a large docking bay. At the other end of space was a large open cargo door, showing a stretch of muddy bank slipping past with surprising speed.
“Captain, you have about 5 seconds before I have to turn around. If you want to go, go now,* the voice came over his earpiece again.

18-Jan-2011 01:16:56 - Last edited on 12-Feb-2011 04:30:14 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Troy realised that the others were already halfway across the open space. He started, and sprinted forward. His legs pumped up and down and his twin pistols in their thigh holsters bounced off his thighs. He pulled the knot tying his helmets chin strap to his belt and his helmet fell away. He grabbed it, fumbled and fell to the floor. He rolled, grabbed his helmet again and stumbled to his feet.
By this time the others were at the door, diving into the choppy water about a foot below the doorway. Lucien paused, then turned around and saw Troy running towards him. Troy waved him forward, and Lucien reluctantly jumped out.
Troy ran forward as fast as he could, strapping his helmet on his head and plugging it into his earpiece so he could use the helmets superior transmission. He fumbled in his pocket for his miniature air tank and almost fell over again. He pulled it out and got it to his mouth just as he reached the door.
He dived into the choppy blue water with his helmet askew and his air tank barely to his mouth. He rammed his visor down just as he hit the water.
The ice-cold of the water hit him like a physical blow. His eyes widened, surprised at the temperature, after all, they were in the tropics. He started as he realised that his ice-cold lungs weren’t breathing and drew a ragged breath. Then he started swimming through the choppy water with clumsy, simple strokes.
It only took him about 30 seconds to swim the 15 metres from the submarine to the bank, but it seemed like hours. He burst out of the water, drawing ragged breaths of warm night air. He stood there gasping for a few seconds before stumbling up the muddy slope. Mud clung to his boots and slimy ooze filled the gaps between his fingers with disgusting ooze. He grimaced but kept climbing.

18-Jan-2011 01:17:03 - Last edited on 12-Feb-2011 04:30:46 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

It took about a minute to climb the slope, by which time he was covered in mud and gunge. He reached the top and rested for a few moments before standing up and stepped onto the paving stones leading up to the edge of the bank, raising his gun in preparation for a fierce firefight.
What he saw was a hundred times worse than he ever imagined.

18-Jan-2011 01:18:21 - Last edited on 12-Feb-2011 04:31:00 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Chapter 4: Runescape Strikes Back
Sand crunched under the armoured tracks of Derks Tauros APC as it rolled up the beach.
"Captain Nemyer, please respond," Derk said into his helmet mike.
"Admiral, if they havn't reported by now then obviously something has gone wrong. I suggest-" Captain Doric replied, from where he was checking his gun.
"Captain, until I have confirmation of their demise, we have to assume they're alive and in need of help. So, I will continue with the plan. Now you do your job, and I'll do mine," Derk said fiercely.
"Aye Admiral," Doric replied.
"Captain Nemyer, please repond," Derk said turning back to his console.
"****ing pansy," Doric muttered so softly that Derk barely heard it.
Derks face heated with anger. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the pistol at his side in an attempt to stop himself from yelling. He would just enhance there contempt by doing that.
"Captain Nemyer, please respond," Derk said, more heatedly than he normally would.
"Adm-l!-Need-ext-ction-heavy-lties-eed-aid-immediately!"-epeat-ed-extract-heavy-cas-ies-aid-im-diately!" a garbled voice came back over his helmet", heavy with static.
"Repeat please,"Derk said, sitting straight up in his seat.
"Nemyer-ead-two-squ-ds-left-eigh-een-men-left-nee-" the sharp crack of machinegun fire cut off his voice in a scream of static.
"Doric, I want you to take your company and three infantry companies and do a sweep off the nearby terrain. Keep constant radio contact and be prepared for heavy resistance," Derk said, turning to face the other five men.
"We always are," Doric replied, hefting his large heavy machinegun which he wore cradled in a harness on his chest.

18-Jan-2011 01:18:28 - Last edited on 13-Mar-2011 09:24:00 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

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"Raldo, organise a perimeter around this beach and set up a base of operations. Once Doric has found the mysterious force that has apparantly taken out the scond company I want you to bring in another five companies of infantry to grind them into the sand. Then its back to the plan, but companies four and five will take place of two and three. Clear?" Derk said, looking around at the four other men in the room.
"Aye Sir," Raldo replied. A young man, atleast in comparison to the others, he had accepted Derks command easier than the others.
"Lets move it people! We could have ScapeRune forces moving down on us as we speak!" Derk yelled.
***
Roal coughed as another puff of dust blew into his face. Eyes smarting, he clambered along the narrow rocky tunnel to check on their progress.
Behind him was a very long and very narrow tunnel through which drilled through the soft volcanic dust of the upper tunnel system. Shortly before, it had been filled with rubbled placed there by Zogres.
Now however, most of the rubble had been removed and, according to Deothers map, there was only about two metres of rubble until they reached one of the main access tunnels.
Roal squeezed next to Fang.
"How's it going?" he asked.
Fang swallowed a mouthful of water before answering.
"Deother's almost through. I doubt they can block up one of the major tunnels, they're 50 metres wide and 30 high, so once we get there I doubt there'll be much trouble, just a few Zogres. They flood with lava so often only an idiot would go there,"
"We are," Roal countered.
"True," Fang grimaced, "but not by choice,"
"So what, thats five-ten minutes?" Roal asked.
"About that, yeah," Fang replied, slinging his canteen over his shoulder.
Roal flashed his light at the rubble ahead. Deother stood there, pulling away rocks that a human would struggle to lift with one hand. Every thirty seconds or so he shoved the rocks behind him further down the tunnel to avoid getting blocked up.

18-Jan-2011 01:18:35 - Last edited on 13-Mar-2011 09:24:47 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

"What about you?" Fang asked, "any more Zogres struggling to enter the tunnel?"
"Nah, I think they've learned their lesson. Not even I can miss a ten foot foot tall musceled hulk trying to enter a five foot tall passage," Roal replied.
"C'mon, you're not that bad a shot. Considering you've only had basic arms training," Fang replied.
Roal snorted derisively.
"Anyway, what do you think happened to the others?" Fang asked.
"No idea. They could be in the next tunnel or they could be in Ardougne for all I know. But if they have Dorn with them they shouldn't have much trouble," Roal replied.
Fang grimaced, as it always did, at the mention of Dorn.
"Seriously Fang, why do you hate Dorn so much?" Roal asked, "he's not that bad. Well okay, he is, but thats no reason to hate someone whos trying to help us."
"Help you, you mean. The only reason I'm still alive is because he believes I can in some way help you "restore the balance", whatever the **** that means," Fang replied angrily.
Roal opened his mouth to reply in kind when Deother called from ahead.
"We are through! Just a few rocks to go and we will be through."
Roal drew his pistol and clambered towards Deother.
***
Selvaria swung her rifle back on to her shoulder, wincing as the new bullet wound on her left arm flared with pain.
She strode out into the narrow, twisting to see if there was anything left to salvage.
~Shells are all well and good~ she thought, ~but not when you need something left to salvage~
In front of her was a large black circle where her first grenade had landed, and in it was several twisted, charred corpses. She walked past them, wincing as she heard a bone snap under her feet. She might be able to beat ten of these half-trained savages by herself, but she didn't have to like doing it.

18-Jan-2011 01:20:40 - Last edited on 14-Mar-2011 06:21:24 by WolfLord7777

WolfLord7777

Posts: 1,881 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Several metres past the blackened rock were three corpses, all of which were missing the top halves of their bodies, victims of her gas-tipped explosive rounds.
~Nothing worth salvaging~she thought.
Beyond them was sveral more corpses, with normal bullet wounds on their faces and chests. Selvaria had killed them with Hawks pistol as soon as she realised how much damage her pistol was doing to the corpses.
She crouched next to one of the corpses, with the double red stripe of a sergeant on his helmet and shoulder plates. His right hand was gripped around his pistols hand grip, and several shells lay around his body. Unlike the others, he had gone down fighting.
Selvaria took his pistol, checking the magazine for ammo. It was empty, so she chucked it aside. On his utility belt was several other magazines, as well as three anti-infantry grenades and a rations pack. Finally, there was a small knife and a water-bottle witha hole in it.
Dropping the useless water bottle, Selvaria tied the rest to her combat webbing and moved on to the next corpses.
All in all she managed to salvage four ration packs, two water-bottles, five grenades and three pistols. She had to discard all but one of the assault rifles, as they didn't have room to take much more.
A crunching sound came from behind her.
She spun, drawing to of her new pistols as she did so.
"Admirable, but unnecessary," Dorn said, striding over the blackened corpses without noticing the hideous sound his hard-soled boots made.
Behind him Hawk was walking gingerly, wincing with every sound from Dorn's footsteps.
"Dorn, doesn't killing bother you in the slightest?" Selvaria asked.

18-Jan-2011 01:20:47 - Last edited on 14-Mar-2011 06:22:41 by WolfLord7777

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