main index Narrative
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Prologue: In Media Res
The gunfire ripped through the empty streets, flashes of light and roars of sound echoing along the city of Rio Azul. Minovski particle weaponry had been proving to be much different than what their training taught. Sgt. Mathias Watkins and Sgt. Tenchi Yamanaka ran for the cover of a wrecked car in the street while Cpl. Daniel remained back at the corner they came from. Aiming their E-3 Assault rifles downrange they fired off a six shot burst each. Six cracks sounded from each weapon as they sent out deadly bolts of Minovski particles at the Preyaran Lancers defending the street corner. Scattering from their positions, the opposing Lancers ran for cover from against the incoming fire. However this only gave pause for a moment and then the Lancers returned fire again. Both Mat and Tenchi knew they had to break through the blockade on the street heading towards the University. Daniel remained firing his E-6 Ascendant Battle Rifle and hit several Preyaran Lancers without missing a shot as Mat and Tenchi moved from the car towards a building across the street. They stopped at a second car on the side of the road. Just then, a Traser combat vehicle appeared from behind a building, came up the street, stopped at the corner the Lancers held and let rip at the three with its four 25mm autocannons. Shots from the vehicle impacted all over the road tearing chunks out of the ground and holes in what remained of the car. Realizing he needed to get out of the street, he looked over to Daniel. “Daniel! Get your ass over here!” he shouted to the young sniper. Daniel ran as fast as he could past small-arms Minovski fire and vehicle autocannon, entering the building where Mat and Tenchi had just holed up. Just then the side of the building broke and collapsed right next to where the three hid. The killzone behind them vanished as the battle now shifted into the building they now occupied. Immediately behind them were assorted weapons scattered across what remained of a Republican Guard stockpile. Mat quickly eyed something on a table. He moved over to it as the gunfire outside quieted down. He picked up the weapon, an LAW-4 60mm light anti-tank weapon and searched immediately for ammunition. Fortunately this one was loaded already. Outside, the opposing Lancers had taken positions outside the building as the Traser had its now silenced guns trained on the building. “Get to a good spot to cover me!” Mat said. “I’ll deal with that vehicle, you guys just watch my back.” Daniel immediately moved to a window while Tenchi knelt down and covered an open doorway out. Mat then stood next to Daniel lined up the L.A.W. against the unknowing Traser. The Lancers outside were waiting on the three’s next move, a mistake that would cost them dearly. Mat flipped up the safety switch, steadied his aim and pulled the trigger. With a rush the rocket ignited and launched out towards the enemy vehicle. It slammed into its side and exploded. The result was clear, the Traser was now out of action permanently. As the fumes cleared from the backblast, Mat got a sense of satisfaction from this victory. At the same moment Tenchi opened fire from his rifle just as Daniel lined up a shot. Two Lancers were immediately hit and brought down while Daniel lined up his rifle and dropped a third with another well placed shot. At that moment, Mat dropped the expended L.A.W. tube and raised his own rifle out the window. For the next five minutes the two groups traded fire with each other, and Mat’s team gradually wore down what was left of the blockade until the last Lancer fell. With the battle here concluded, a silence fell upon this street corner of Rio Azul. Though the sounds of heavy fighting could still be heard in the distance including those of fighter aircraft, their location was now secure. “Street clear!” Tenchi announced. “He’s right.” Daniel confirmed. “Let’s go, we gotta keep pushing to the University!” Mat said as the three emerged from the building. There was still a ways to go and more fights to happen, but fortunately battle came naturally to Mat, Tenchi and Daniel. But this was not the only thing they knew. There was a simpler time back before the Endless Conflict had brewed into open war, before the shooting, before the sword…
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