TALE - The Second Son (Rough Draft)

[simison]

This particular worker, however, represented a unique danger. Through no intention of its own, it has the possibility of stopping the Imperial advance. “Execute,” Muniza commanded. “My warriors, let not pass.”

 

The order given, the Imperials changed the pace. The Rakurai rear ranks no longer supported the advance as they poured fire onto the lone target. The reduced firepower began to tell as the Scarans pressed against the Thin Lightning Bearer line. Muniza and his warriors fought furiously. To his right, a marine, Koto, had traded his pistol for his short blade, wielding two swords in the melee. Muniza would have to offer him praise later and wished he had used a sliver of his divination for his self.

[simison]

The thought had not finished when one Scaran slipped past Muniza. It combusted as the Rakurai first rank blazed at it, along wth any other Scarans who bypassed the Lightning Bearers.

 

[simison]

Seconds had passed, and the target was not dead. Lasfire struggled to find a hole among the worker's thick plates. Aim suffered due to the distance and the worker continous movement. Half of the shots landed, but the creature had been created to withstand great heat, giving it an impromptu resistance against their weapons.

 

The window before disaster shrunk in Muniza's eye. He resisted the urge to shout at the Rakurai. Even in the height of battle, he would not besmirch his dignity with such a display. He had given his order; he would leave his trust in the Rakurai to see it through.

 

One of the Rakurai screamed as the first Scaran slid through both blade and lasrifle. Human blood now occupied the chamber, Muniza thought to himself as he gutted a Scaran warrior form.

Edited December 25, 2019 by simison

[simison]

The Rakurai, at last, threw back failure. One of the dozens of las beams burned past the creature’s natural armor. Muniza could imagine it shriek as many of its kind did when wounded; the noise lost in the furious battle. It fell off the caldera’s edge into the bubbling, superheated liquid.

 

The first disaster would not come to be. The room would not be flooded with magma, destroying the Imperial assault.

 

Only now did Muniza turn his attention to the second would-be disaster. This one, however, remained in Muniza’s hands to deal with. “Prepare to withdraw ten paces,” he ordered over the vox. The Scarans retained their single-minded press, but their numbers slackened. It was a good thing as well. The number of bodies piled at the Lightning Bearers’ feet, making it more and more difficult to maneuver in close quarters.

 

“Execute.”

 

Moving as one, Rakurai and Lightning Bearer marched to the rear as they continued to fight off the shrinking Scaran force. Scarcely had they assumed their new position did an ear-piercing shriek pierce through the din of combat. A monstrous Scaran dropped from the ceiling.

 

Right where the Imperials had been a moment earlier.

 

“Bearers, concentrate your efforts on the new target. Rakurai, hold position and assist.” With sudden force, the Lightning Bearers sprang forward. The now-paltry Scaran assault shredded as the Bearers pushed through it.
 

Muniza sidestepped a large claw before he cut into the beast’s thorax. The creature’s size did not intimidate him in the least. The future held victory in outstretched hands towards him. He would accept it in a few more seconds.

Edited December 25, 2019 by simison

[simison]

Chapter 16: Behemoths of War

 

One by one, the orbiting titans of rock forming the Scaran defense network fell into the hands of humanity. Over a hundred magma cannons bled fire and fell cold. Through the freezing void came new titans of metal. Fearing no reprisal, the combined fleets of the First and Fifth Legion sailed through the asteroid belt.

 

Unhurried, the great warships of Man assumed thrones above the Scaran homeworld. Weapons steadily turned towards the surface, both cannon and something more dangerous.