BL-01: The Royal Palace of Blanche, 21st day of the month of Crystallum, year 2347

It was rare indeed that Empress Regina of Blanche would be lucid for an entire day, but here she was, peacefully having tea with her only daughter.

Perhaps it was a gift from the heavens, but the Empress had never been a religious person. Nevertheless, she was truly grateful for this chance. She had been bedridden because of this accursed disease for so long and her Ekaterina had been so busy these past days...

And of course, there was the matter of that which loomed over them. Setting down her cup and cursing her shaking hands, the Empress looked at her daughter, an unreadable expression on her face.

"So, your first military command is coming soon, yes?"

Regina's expression softened. "I cannot tell you proud I am of you, and I am sure that your father would say the same. You are so brave, so dutiful.."

She shook her head. "But you are so young...not even twenty and alteady leading armies..I feel like such a failure for putting you in this position. But enough about me. What are your feelings about this? What kind of mission will it be?"

City of Kadyl: The Black Manor, 21/12/2347

There was a loud crash as a young man smashed into the floor of the ancient manor's training room.

Lowering his weapon and grinning at his nephew, Lord Gawain waited for the prince to get to his feet.

"That was a lot sloppier than usual, Wil. What, are you too distracted by the upcoming battle?"

Lord Gawaine studied his nephew, scrutinizing the young man before him. "Your aunt says that you aren't ready, but that's bullshit in my opinion. There's no finer lad in the army than you."

"Now, if you weren't so damn soft. But I guess this is what this mission is for, am I right? Toughening you up!"

Gawaine clapped his nephew's shoulders, laughing heartily. "You'll make us all proud, I know it. Maybe you'll take down those tyrants once and for all..."

The Battle of Vinadel: Situation Log, 26/12/2347

The trade city of Vinadel, nestled in between mountains, had long been one of Noire's vital territories. After all, it was home to one of the planet's richest mines.

But it had fallen, seized by Blanche during the reign of Emperor Magnus-Blanche's greatest victory in twenty years.

Lord Gawaine thought that it was high time to get it back. Increased activity of the Noire troops had worried Blanche, and so Princess Ekaterina was sent to guard the city in her first major command. Meanwhile, Prince Wilhem was sent to Vinadel by his uncle as well....to capture the city.

Both royals arrived on the morning of Crystallum 22, and for four days an eerie silence stretched between the two sides...and then, on the morning of the day after midwinter, the fighting began.

Ten hours of hard fighting later, the two armies agreed to a ceasefire. The city itself still had not been breached by Noire. Aside from the natural barriers and the men of Blanche, this year's winter had been unnaturally cold. Snow fell on the battlefield, the white dyed red with blood. But the Empire of Light had its own problem. Due to problems in other areas, reinforcement would not be coming anytime soon. They were on their own.

Now, as the time alloted for the ceasefire ticked down, these two armies prepared for another hard battle...

Blanche HQ, city of Vinadel

"Milady, it is almost time. They will come soon." The speaker was a young woman, newly graduated from the Royal Military Academy. She was still fresh, naive. "And, um, I would just like to say....it is a great honor to serve under you. Ordine vitae est, milady. So, um, your orders?"

Noire Camp, south of Vinadel

"The boys are ready to move, milord. The damn snow's stopped falling. This might be the day we get Vinadel back...or we die horribly. Whatever comes first." The man was a grizzled veteran. He spoke frankly to the prince. He was annoyed that he had to take orders from an untested youth, but he didn't waste time complaining.

"Orders?"

The Battle of Vinadel, 10:00 PM. Ceasefire over.

The fields outside Vinadel city, 9:55 PM

Amidst the bodies and wreckage strewn about from the previous engagement, two Noire army scouts lay in concealment among the impromptu mass grave; observing the enemy salvage and engineering crews do their work. As the seconds fly by and the snowfall begins to quickly die out, one of the scouts' radios comes to life and after getting lightly smacked on the head by his partner for not having the device's volume set to the lowest possible setting, which totally wasn't the trooper's fault since a grenade exploded right above the his head a few months ago on his previous tour of duty; rupturing his eardrums but little else miraculously. Grumbling at the abuse, he hands the device over to the trooper who didn't have to deal any hearing problems in his life.

"This is Nightjar over... The ceasefire's been called off? About time too. Roger wilco."

"What now?"

"What do you think Tuco? Stay here and freeze our balls off while we keep tabs on the enemy. The fucking usual of course."

"Join the Recon Element they said, It'll be relaxing they said..."

Nightjar just snorts at his partner's complaints before training his binoculars towards the city gates, where the Blanche engineering and salvage teams were hurrying back into the city walls before the shelling starts.

Noire war camp Tank Depot, 10:00PM

Casually sitting on top of a tank's turret, a bald and heavy set cyborg blankly stares at the PA as the commander in charge of the operation- His Royal Highness, Prince Wilhelm declares an end to the temporary cease fire; while the news is met with quiet resignation from most of the soldiers, with the mechanics and tank crews redoubling their efforts to get their machines up and running for the coming battle. The Cyborg just smirked hungrily at the resumption of hostilities.

"About damn time."

Whistling loudly towards the mechanics servicing the tank he was on, an unspoken order for them to get to it ASAP; the Cyborg then jumps off the vehicle and saunters over towards the armory to go fetch the tools of his trade. Ignoring- no feeding off the nasty stares that more than a few of his fellow soldiers were giving him, knowing perfectly well that the moment they give him any shit; he can quite easily shove that shit down their skinny little throats, which only causes his smirk to grow, causing the stares to grow uglier in response.

edited 13th Oct '14 11:25:21 PM by Questor

So, it was time, now.

The Empress passes the torch of command to the daughter. I have yet to meet this Princess, so this should be an illuminating occasion. I must ensure that she carries the will of Emperor Magnus...we must defeat Noire, for the sake of Order in our time.

Unlike most other nobles, Serrick had no delusions of Blanchean superiority or ethnocentrism. He did this for very personal reasons, and on a larger scale, because it was quite simply the only way to proceed. Noire had proven themselves dangerous, and worse, they had struck down the Emperor, for that, the highest punishment would be applied.

He had already prepared the plans of the nobles, and apparently a number of them seemed rather anxious over this new command being implemented, and the fact that this may mean that their influence may be lessened. However, Serrick was still in command, and he still had his Airship Bahamut, meaning that he could still play a large role. Hence, he found their worries quaint and without substance. Now if the young princess harboured any foolish ideals of peace...then he saw reason for worry.

And so, for now, the young Lord waited for Ekaterina to be done meeting with her mother, so as that they could proceed. He saw some very telling signs recently about Vinadel, so he hoped that they could get moving soon enough to deflect any Noirean ambitions for the place. Well, regardless, they could not lose Vinadel, not when that band of brutes was so close at hand, so close...so capable of being crushed in the Heios Leamonde's claws.

Even during the brief ceasefire life around Vinadel was at no shortage of activity nor suffering, nowhere better reflecting this than the makeshift hospital in Noire's outpost. Zia purposefully pushed and weaved her way through the stream of injured and sleepless medical officers chasing after them, only just off the battlefield herself. Seeing the dead and dying faces of her comrades in arms was somehow worse than being in the middle of no man's land, amid the snow and blood and bullets. She had never gotten used to the killing and didn't particularly want to but, to save her people, the young woman didn't feel there was a real choice in the matter. Hence, no point complaining.

However, Zia was in the hospital to find Sudhir and Bhim, two of her elder brothers, and was scared of finding their faces amongst the injured. A soldier from their regimen had directed her here after checking their barracks but hadn't specified why they were there - She didn't stick around to ask, tired as she was. The Corporal finally saw the familiar beard of Sudhir as she passed a nearly empty room - he took so much pride in growing one, as if to remind she and Bhim that he was second eldest. Zia stopped for a moment but seeing he was having an intimate discussion with a pretty young nurse, walked on trying to suppress a relieved giggle. By chance, Bhim's voice came from the end of the room, "Zia!" He waved, standing by an occupied bed and she jogged up to meet him then promptly smacked him in the solar plexus.

"Bhim! What are you doing here? Have you gotten yourself hurt, again, before I got the chance?" Zia interrogated the young man, looking over him as he clutched his stomach to see him unharmed. She hugged him suddenly which Bhim returned with an annoyed but equally relieved expression, "Why are you always looking for me in the hospital first?" He inquired, prompting a light whack to the back of his head before pushing him away, "Because I'm usually right. Sudhir was here too but for, uh, well you know him ... Why are you here?"

Bhim indicated the soldier lying unconscious in the cot nearby, "Hank got hit in the gut, I wanted to see he was ok. The ceasefire isn't for long, you really need to take a break from pestering us." Zia crossed her arms, "Only if you stop getting into trouble..." She wandered towards the exit, "You're no fun!" Bhim called and she replied by poking out a tongue.

The Corporal had tried to sleep after getting to the barracks but somehow the thought of it being interrupted by enemy shells made it difficult and instead had spent the time noodling on her violin. She had changed into her snow uniform under her superior's orders and was now in position to advance out as soon as the ceasefire ended. Zia idly checked her rifle and re-secured 'David' on her back, feeling a familiar touch of anxiety as she waited.

Noire Camp Command Center, South of Vinadel, 7:00PM, 26/12/2347
"Damn it people, I need those sitreps," Harry said to the various advisers and underlings in the command center. He grunted in frustration as he analyzed whatever scraps of data were available and glanced at any incoming reports. "Going in by the seat of our pants, flying blind, and half-assing a solution that gets most of our men killed is how Blanche operates, and last time I checked, we weren't those bastards."

He pointed around the room at the various officers in charge of various aspects of the war. "You, process our reconnaissance reports," he said to one of them, before quickly looking over to another. "You, figure out the engineering situation." He kept pointing out the various personnel in the area. "Supplies and supply chain. Logistics. Medical. Manpower. Heavy weapons. Air support. Satellites."

He clapped his hands. "Now, people."

edited 13th Oct '14 6:17:00 PM by nman

BL-01: The Royal Palace of Blanche, 21st day of the month of Crystallum, year 2347

"I am nervous, of course... However, I have all you and father have granted me, mother. Nobody can ever be truly ready for war, but I trust your training, your wisdom and your lessons. I am not a little girl anymore... and besides, I have the support of our generals, our statesmen, the nobles, our soldiers... and of course, of all of Blanche" says Ekaterina, face serene and composed, bright blue eyes looking deep into those of her mother... expressing warmth and confidence in the coming storm "That is what we fight for, no? It is the legacy I have been granted... from you, father and our ancestors. All working as one"

"As for the mission, don't worry, mother. Leave it to me... and to the Blanche you and father created" says Ekaterina, gently holding the hand of her ailing mother now that she had put down her tea cup. Her gentle smile and warm eyes hid well the pain she felt looking at her mother like this. Such a bright and strong woman... crippled, in both body and mind. Her most shining example in life, now unable to tell the age of her very daughter... and this was one of her better days.

Still... she was still her mother. And in her most lucid moments she remained one of the keenest minds in all of the planet. Not to mention that this illness had done little to diminish Ekaterina's love for her mother. The pain which these visit brought was a given... but that Ekaterina would try to avoid them was unthinkable. For as long as her mother drew breath, the Princess would be there to hold her hand and converse.

Even if afterwards she had the tendency to require a time alone, after which she would be found sleeping with her head on her work desk, some ruined, smudged pages lying underneath. Fortunately, it would be a few days until it was time for the battle... more than enough for Ekaterina to gather her strength and focus and prepare for her first battle.

Blanche HQ, city of Vinadel

"Pleasure is mine, Lady Madeleine Blair, right? Ordine vitae est" says Princess Ekaterina, a friendly and serene smile on her face as she looks at the recent graduate "Top of your class in the academy if I'm not mistaken. I'll be needing your strength and wits in this battle... as well as that of all of Blanche here. It's my first time in command, however my teachers and the Empress have given me good advice. We ought to trust our instincts and the lessons we learned at the Academy, but never keep a mind closed. The battlefield will be a new and harsh instructor to us all"

"As for orders... We can't afford to be too reckless in the current conditions. Reinforcements won't be here to salvage the situation if we mess up. We have strengths which we have to play into. We have a fortified position and the strength of our resilient machinery. Artillery and Anti Air should dig in and prepare for the incoming battle. Similar instructions to the rest of the army, we have a strong defensible base, let them crash into our shield. Everyone should be arranged in an orderly manner, communications prepared. The men know how to act quickly on orders and act on the field. Scouts keep their eyes peeled, radars and intel keep their eyes peeled. As soon as Noire moves I want to know where they are coming from. We counter them here"

"However... have a regiment prepared for another kind of engagement. I need a competent group ready to move and fast. I shall lead the regiment in case Noire has a surprise prepared for us. The shall hang back as a sort of reserve... in case of extended siege we patch up wherever the city is weakest. However, if Noire comes through with something unexpected, we shall go out and meet them with full force"

"The rest is par the course for the Blanche Military. I trust everyone to do their jobs to the utmost and support each other in this hard time. Ordine vitae est. Lady Madeleine, if you have any advice or disagree with some part of the plan, I'd like to hear it know. If not, pass on the orders and if the generals have problems with it, I'd like to hear those as well" says Ekaterina "For those wanting to meet them, I'll be over at my chambers suiting up for the combat. If those from Noire give me time I'll address the soldiers on my armor after the meetings in my room"

City of Kadyl: The Black Manor, 21/12/2347

"Just didn't want to hurt you, Old Man," Wilhelm replied with his trademark cheer. "A broken hip might impede your duties of keeping my throne warm. And it's so hard to find good help these days. And as a wise man once said, 'true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.'"

Wilhelm's warmth was a well-practiced front. His smile moved his cheeks, his chuckles moved his shoulders, and he tilted his head to give his uncle a jokingly severe glance. All signs of his usual jesting self.

Inside, he felt little. Little except anticipation and impatience.

It was strange, loving someone but knowing they were a threat. He'd raised Wilhelm after his father died, almost as if he were his own, but his belief in Noire's supremacy and his lust for war were liabilities. Obstacles to peace. How long had this war gone? How many, like Wilhelm's father, had died for it? And yet he wanted to keep it going. He'd lost his own brother to the war, and he wanted to continue it, rather than petitioning for peace.

And you've gotten me wrapped up in it, too, he thought bitterly.

"Just a warning. If I meet their princess and she proves amiable enough, I might just have to abdicate and marry her. It's about the only thing that will get Vitoria off my back at this point." Though he said it with a laugh, he glared pointedly at his uncle. She'd never left him alone after their initial introduction, and Wilhelm had likewise never forgiven his uncle for setting that she-devil of a suitress on him.

Noire Camp, south of Vinadel

"Their defenses are too strong to break with a direct, all-out attack. But there's more than one way to slice a loaf. Have recon give us coordinates on their A.A. emplacements and target them for artillery bombardment. Try to punch a hole in their air defenses. Get any surface-to-air weapons we have and get them ready in case their aircraft try to interrupt our artillery. Whittle them down, then scramble our own air forces to finish them off, but keep our boys safe from the remaining gun emplacements. If they try to meet us directly, we use the mountains to lead them into killing lanes where their numbers count for nothing and we use our strongest to put them through a meat-grinder until they wise up. Have charges set at several passes for extra effect. Rocks fall, everyone dies or has to back up the rest of the column... Set up some snipers, too. If you see any recon for their side, shoot them."

Blanche HQ - City of Vinadel

Following the meeting with her highness the Queen, it had been announced that forces would move to the city of Vinadel. And unlike most nobles, Serrick moved with them, taking with him the plans and battle strategies thought up by the other nobles. Behind the scenes, there was another war being fought. And one could say Serrick was its avatar on the frontlines. He knew that there would probably be an ambush just going by the terrain - such obscured vision lent itself well to a night raid or some manner of sneak attack.

It was a common strategy in battle - use the surroundings as a weapon, and bring your victory to the fore.

So, with the Airship Bahamut resting slightly behind the Vinadel City line, Serrick now entered the city himself to assess the Princess. And right now, he saw her chatting with one of the soldiers. He started to walk over, the soldier easily capable of noticing the fact another High Command was present. However, aside from walking up, he did not say anything.

Dressed in his military uniform, numerous decorations evident, Serrick looked over his Princess. Yes, this was the first time he had met the young Princess. He had hoped to meet her at the palace, but alas, events conspired. Right now, the noble gave off the impression of a slightly stoic man, and though he smiled, there wasn't much emotion in the smile.

The noble was likewise flanked by his personal troops, each decorated with the Rubengal family crest on their shoulder plate.

edited 13th Oct '14 9:11:48 PM by NickTheSwing

Blanche Camp: City of Vinadel

Lady Madeleine bowed to the princess. "I have nothing more to add, milady. It is a sound plan. If you will excuse me."

As the other noble entered, Madeleine gave him a small bow as well, before leaving.

She made straight for the main bulk of the army, relaying the orders.

Noire camp

The old general nodded, a slight smirk on his face. Perhaps this youth knew some things after all...

Outside in the snow, Nightjar and his partner were roused from their utter boredness when their comm devices activated.

"Up and at 'em, boys. You have an important job to do. Orders from Prince Wil himself. The sucess of this battle lies with you, you assholes."

The Front Line - Occupied Vinadel

Sergeant Foulke stalked the line, his helmet off so that all the grunts could see his glowering face as he moved up and down. Not that he was really angry; the time for yelling had long since passed and now 1st Platoon, C Company (Larraman's Lashers), 1st Battalion, 2nd Blanche Light Guards Regimental Combat Team was dug in to reinforced fighting positions all along the city outskirts. Under his careful eye, foxholes were dug and fresh-faced privates rushed up from the rear with a motley assortment of old-fashioned sandbags and more modern micro shield generators. The word had come down directly from Captain Larraman and First Sergeant Nils — in spite of the ceasefire there were no supplies or reinforcements coming. The Lashers were to reconsolidate and dig in, but they were on their own. No Paladins, no fliers, no word on when the tanks would be back from the motor pool, just the poor bloody infantry. As usual. No sign of the Lieutenant either. He had probably bought it in the last attack. Damn but those Noire troops were tough.

And the bitter bite of winter didn't help either.

Foulke's eyes passed over a pair of foxholes where his fire team was holed up. Miet had bought it too; caught a sniper's blast in the throat and choked on his own blood before the medics could get to him, which left them with three Gypsy Deuces and a Light Repeater whose operator wasn't trained up on it. At least, not to the level that Miet was. Sighing, he dropped back into his own foxhole with his number two man, Private First Class Hearne, who was dutifully scanning the horizon, staring daggers at the Noire positions that they could see but not touch. Not until the end of the ceasefire. Laying a hand on the young man's shoulder, Foulke pointed to a half eaten tube of ration paste he was carrying, duly "liberated" from the company stores. There was no need for words. Hearne nodded gratefully and took it. Foulke reached for where his helmet lay on the ground and slipped it over his head, cutting him off from the wind although not the cold.

Waiting was always the hardest part of combat. Just a few more hours.

The fields outside Vinadel, 10:05 PM

"We're on it sir."

Nightjar taps on Tuco's shoulder several times, telling him to get off his lazy ass before the two start stalking closer to the mountainside city. Several minutes of hiking later, the scout team manages to get to an elevated outcrop of rock, the two start searching for the AA emplacements, pillboxes and artillery guns as well as any potential weak spots in the defensive line.

"Pillbox. Pillbox. AA gun. Pillbox. Pillbox. AA gun... I know those Blanche asshats are fucking obsessed with order but do they have to make everything in some kind of sequence?"

"Shut it Tuco and look a bit to the pillbox by the creek."

Tuco listens to Nightjar's suggestion and finds that the said emplacement was sporting a rather nasty crack on its upper section.

"I see a pillbox that got KO'd by a direct hit from an arty shell... By the fucking creek."

"And why is that a problem?"

"The creek is too goddamn narrow, our hovertanks can only pass through it one or two at a time and with no room to dodge; they'd get eaten alive by ATGMs or even pieces of the goddamn masonry that the Blanchies will drop into the creek."

"See? You're learning!"

Tuco just slugs Nightjar on the shoulder in response before the two continue to observe.

"What do we have here..."

edited 14th Oct '14 7:18:39 AM by Questor

Blanche HQ - City of Vinadel

Ekaterina smiled to Madeleine as she retreated and then looked over her shoulder at the arrival of the new noble coming for an audience. She turned fully towards him and offered a small, proper bow of greeting "Lord Verrick Rubengal, it's an honor to meet you here. If you don't mind following me? We don't have much time until the battle and I must prepare for it"

The Noire scouts outside of the city would be able to device the location of a good number of artillery and AA emplacements outside of the city, set upon fortified positions and ready for long range fighting. However, their numbers were far too few to account for the size of the Blanche force, indicating that either there was a good number cleverly hidden from view, then most of the emplacements must be located behind the walls of the city itself.

edited 14th Oct '14 6:21:46 AM by daltar

"Looks like those northern Tyrants should have invested more in SPAAGs..."

"What?"

"Self-propelled AA guns you swamp orge. Look, you can clearly see that only a few of those things are actually deployed beyond the city walls and even though we obviously can't find every single asshole with a MANPADS-"

"In. Proper. English."

Nightjar temporarily removes his eyes from his binocs to give his partner a look of utter incredulousness.

"...Didn't you fucking read the goddamn combat manual even once?"

Tuco just frowns harder.

"...We can't account for every soldier lugging around a portable SAM and they're only a threat to helicopters and low-flying aircraft; so when the AA guns and SAM sites outside the walls are downed by arty, we can send in the Aircav to clear out the enemy pillboxes and arty positions that the armor or mechanized infantry just can't reach without unacceptable casualties or delay, sure the flyboys will have to dance through missiles; but that's why most of our gunships have got Anti-missile systems and that it's easier to take out a soldier lugging a metal tube than an entrenched AA nest or a tank chassis with a rack of SAMs or a pair of Autocannons."

"Just one question. How the fuck are you in the recon element, partnered up with a supposed failure of a soldier like me if you know all this shit? Shouldn't you be in a tent or a command tank?"

"That's a secret."

Tuco just clenches his fist hard before deciding it wasn't worth it and then transmitting he and his partner's findings back to base.

edited 14th Oct '14 7:55:22 AM by Questor

Scout's position

Cat sighed when she caught a solid view of the two's faces.

These scouts have no bounties on them. Probably not even worth my time in the long-run. The bounty hunter got up to leave before reconsidering. But they're scouting the city for weak spots. Can't get paid if there's no one left to pay me.

Cat unslung her rifle and made sure to brush off the snow that had accumulated on her otherwise invisible form. She then moved quietly to a rock at an elevated position near the scouts. The hunter used the rock to provide herself a stable firing platform and aimed at the two. Make this worth my time gentlemen, I have larger prey to hunt.Cat thought to herself as she opened fire.

The Scouts had just packed up and were moving out after having reported their findings to their commanders up until a sniper round from out of nowhere floors Tuco after it hits him on his center of mass, sending him tumbling into a shallow crag and for Nightjar to dive behind a boulder.

"Of course we had to get ambushed just as we were packing up..."

Peeking out of the boulder as little as possible, Nightjar scans the general direction where the shot came from with his binoculars' thermal vision mode; while short-ranged and far from the most reliable method of finding enemies in concealment, it was better than playing it by ear.

BL-01 Paladin Hanger - Crystallum 21, 2347

Irana watched as the maintenance crew acted out their daily duties on her Paladin. Just another day in the capitol as battles raged beyond the city's walls. I wonder how things are going at Vinadel? The young pilot pondered as she sat down, the din of machinery around her so familiar to her ears that it was as if all was but silence. I wonder if me and the Fayth will be deployed any time soon... Course the terrain would make it difficult for this battle for me to come in with Fayth...

Scouting

Cat slid back into the cover of the rock after the first scout fell before scrambling to another nearby one and brushing the snow off herself again. When Nightjar looked with his thermals he would see the distorted but obvious outline of the bounty hunter's heat signature as well as a bright line that showed the trail of the energy shit straight back to it's point of origin.

"Gladly my Princess," Serrick stated, following along with the Princess, deciding to leave the issue of the name for the time. Misnaming him was small fry compared to what her mother did before, and while he didn't mind either, it put it in a different light, "So, my Princess, is there a plan for handling these Noirean forces? I am nearly entirely certain they plan on using the terrain to their advantage, so we must take this into account."

Some of the plans I have would call even for the sacrifice of inner integrity of the city, which would be the last plan I would want to use.

Even so, we must be willing to do anything to slay the commanders of Noire, for the sake of an end to the war that has Blanche victorious. For the Emperor, for the Order.

He actually hoped that the Lord of Darkness' brat would show himself at this battle, simply so he could make sure the Line died with him.

"Huh, a lot closer than expected. Must be an enemy scout."

Nightjar unslings his gauss assault rifle from his back before turning off its safety and popping out of cover to fire a few ranging shots at the hostile's location with the rifle, each 4.8mm ferrous slug blasting away at rock.

The Princess then led Serrick to a room that was temporarily made her prep room. There, a couple of assistants awaited as well as the blue white armored suit that would make her defense in the field of battle. Without waiting, the Princess stepped behind a protective screen to change into the under-suit necessary to step into the armor "There is. For the moment we hole up and count on our defenses to withstand their assault. We cannot chase them unwarily in this dangerous terrain. If they use their artillery on the city, we'll answer in kind based on their projectile trajectories and the reports of our scouts"

Cat dodged away from her rapidly disappearing cover, jumping into a snowbank behind another rock. Hmm, this one isn't half bad all things considered. This might just end up being some fun.

The huntress popped out of cover and fired off a trio of energy shots at her opponent before moving to another rock. If I can get close enough I can simply end this with my spear, send a report back to base and move on with my hunt.

Nightjar rolls away from his boulder before pulling something out of his hip- a flare gun and fires it at where the shots came from, hoping to set the shooter on fire or to blind and distract the bastard at the very least as he makes a sprint towards the crag where his partner fell into.

edited 15th Oct '14 3:17:25 AM by Questor

The Battle of Vinadel: Sometimes shit just happens

Steve was bored. And annoyed. He wished that those damn barbarians would just get it over with and attack.

He didn't want to spend any more time freezing his various body parts off.

Join the army, pop said. It will be exciting, mum said. Do your duty, gramps said.

Bullshit. He was stuck here guarding a damn AA laser gun, on top of a damn wall.

Maybe he should shoot it. Just to blow off some steam. He walked over to the gun, putting his hands on the trigger. He pressed a button.

Nothing.

Huh?

Steve sighed. Typical. The damn gun was broken. Wait...why did it feel so...warm?

Boom!

As Steve was consumed by fire, he vaguely noted that the Thermal Detonators he carried were flying towards the wall.

Damn.

Blanche HQ

Panicked footsteps echoed across the building, and the door to the room where the princess was burst open. Lady Madeleine returned to the room, a horrified expression on her face.

"Milady! Milady! There's been....been...an incident!"

Noire Orders

The old general's voice echoed from the coms. "Up and about, boys! Something's happened to those damn tyrants! They seemed to have blown themselves up, those idiots!"

"There's a sizable hole in their defense. The westernmost part of the wall has been completely blown to bits! We have our opening, ladies and gentlemen! Get over there and exploit the shit out of it! The Regi is on our side today!"

Noire Camp

A young man sat outside a tent, on the ground, inspecting his gun. It was a simple piece, a revolver-style weapon with modern implements. it looked well cared for, as if it's owner had spent hours upon hours cleaning it.

"And it damn well should!" the voice echoed in his head. "A Blackford always makes his gear shine!"

"Oh, pa, you always knew how t'be a good soldier. Don't you worry, then. I'll take good care of this here gun." Silas said, sighing, as he rubbed at the name "Blackford" scratched into the barrel. He liked to look at it sometimes, just to remember what his father said, all the advice, proverbs, all of it. Every word came to him when he held the revolver in his hand, infintely helpful when he was feeling doubtful. It gave him confidence, and all things considered, he'd need it to make it through the battle.

he stood, looking around. Were they mobilizing? He could see a bit of activity around him as he holstered his revolver and began walking. When the call came over the line that there was a breach in the Blanche's defenses, he jumped up.

"Yeee-haw! Looks like we got ourselves a battle!" He yelled, grinning, even though he really wasn't talking to anyone. "Oh, shoot. I need t'get mah other gun!" He slapped his forehead in frustration. Of course he'd forget it. When things were finally happening, he just had to forget. With a groan, he walked back to his squad's tent, which at this point was empty.

He looked around, and grabbed a small automatic weapon from his locker. It was almost as shiny as his revolver, and had a compact design. He then ran outside, yelling and grinning. "Alright! Let's get them sumbitches!" He then ran in the general direction of the advance.

Noire Army camp, 10:10 PM

As the young solider was too excited at the prospect of battle after all the boredom and anxiety of the ceasefire, he could not possibly notice the back of a large, heavily armored man with some sort of tool slung over his back who stands more than six feet tall that he was now running towards at max sprint. And so there was a thunderous collision of meat against meat and bone against bone along with a considerate amount of discomfort. But as the young solider regains his bearing he would realize a few things that don't add up: for one thing the large man was still standing and it seemed that he had not moved a single inch despite the young soldier's momentum, secondly; to the young solider, it felt like he had hit a brick wall rather than another person and lastly, when the man turned around to face the young soldier; he didn't look displeased, livid or even concerned... He simply grinned at the grunt as he talked in the manner of an adult giving a curious child a piece of candy...

"Well now, excited for some combat are we?"

edited 15th Oct '14 11:43:42 AM by Questor