The Second Dark Age

[Monk]

part xix
Siege of Solace

The black storm clouds that had broken the peaceful night sky at Tartarus and helped throw the city into chaos now floated on heavy winds moving toward Solace. The sun above was slowly losing its sway over the sky as slowly; a roar of thunder echoed across the earth. Yet when the boom rolled its way into the city it found itself thrown back and put to shame by the cries of humanity. Gunfire the likes of which not seen in years echoed throughout the streets of the city; sounding loudly like weapons of the gods themselves. Then the screams of frightened humans as their souls were ripped from their bodies would rise above all else; flesh was torn and thrown aside as the creatures advanced.

Intersection – 24th and Main Str
13:02 hours, first encounter +7
Hour three of the assault

Bethor threw himself against the cracked stone of the building on the corner; he could feel the strength draining from him as he held his overheating las-gun in his hands. Steam rose from within the chamber and the energy cell making the air he drew in even harder to process. Each time he drew breath he felt his throat being cut it seemed dry; it had been hours since he’d gotten water. His mind flashed to an hour before when he had consumed the last of his drink; how he cursed himself now. The soldier’s armor was ripped in many places; its green surface that reflected the pride within his heart was in tatters after heavy combat with the creatures.

In the distance Bethor could hear the sound of battle raging, countless weapons discharging as artillery shells exploded breaking the streets of Solace. Screams of both human and inhuman origin echoed through the buildings, rising and meshing together in a horrible chorus singing the song of the city’s destruction. For a brief moment his thoughts dwelled upon the civilians within the city limits. He could nearly see the images of a creature bursting through a door to some random home; screaming in some alien language and rushing forward with its claws glistening in the sun shinning through the window.

An exploding shell hitting only a single street away shook Bethor from his vision. He looked around himself to see only the bodies of fallen soldiers and dead creatures lining the road. The blood of the slain ran together and fell into the sewer. Before him laid the remnants of his squad; memories were now burned into his skull of their attempt to fall back to the palace. Now only he remained, and he had not the strength to even make the trip to save his own life. He could feel his weapon slowly cooling down in his hands. “Just a bit more” he said in a forced whisper to himself. “Don’t give up on me now.”

Bethor looked around the corner and gazed down the street. Not a soul or soulless being walked in his sight. “Alright Bethor” his mind spoke for him; words seemed meaningless at this point. “You can do it.” He pushed his body to move and was about to round the corner when suddenly a creature burst through a nearby wall. With lightning speed it slammed an object into the opposite wall across the street; it moved so quick the stone debris from the broken wall had not even hit the ground. Bethor stopped in his tracks as he saw it; the thing was only ten meters away and yet it had not spotted him. Then as his eyes turned to the object pinned in its grasp he understood why. With a sharp talon buried into its shoulder, blood was gushing down the body of a Solician soldier. His armor was sliced through like paper as he struggled and groaned in pain trying to get free. Bethor looked down at his las-gun hoping to lend a hand; the indicator still displayed it was too hot to fire. His grip tightened on his weapon as he felt helplessness wash over him.

The Soldier grabbed onto the talon like arms of the creature and shouted in pure agony. As if responding in sick enjoyment the creature pushed its arm further through him. Bethor watched as more and more of its arm disappeared into the man’s flesh and through the wall behind him. The soldier replied, he shouted as pain traced its way through his body and into his voice. Again Bethor looked down but the same words were displayed on his rifle’s energy cell; “Cell overheated”. He mashed his teeth together in frustration; his comrade was being murdered and he could do nothing!

The creature began to remove its arm; believing its prey all but dead. Slowly and with a sickening slide it removed its sharp talon from the flesh of its human kill, letting the man slide down to a sitting position on the ground. In his place on the wall was a huge impact mark; covered in his scarlet blood. Bethor hung his head, defeated in spirit as his brother in arms seemed to pass from this realm. The creature let out scream of delight and turned to seek out another kill. Yet as it turned the eyes of the soldier opened; drawing to him every ounce of strength in his body he drew his combat knife and hurled himself forward. A red mist followed his movement as he plunged the blade deep within what would be the creature’s skull; green blood sprayed freely from the wound as the creature screamed and turned quickly. Slicing the man in two as its arms came around.

Bethor watched in complete shock as the man was cloven in two; yet as his eyes turned to the creature as it too fell to the ground. No more did it scream or move, the life fled from it and ceased to be. He flattened his back against the wall and sighed; another hero of Solicous made and slain before his very eyes. As he stood in silence his communications headset crackled to life and a voice filtered through the static.

“All…nits” he could barely make it out; the static seemed all consuming as the voice continued. “be ..advi…ed…Berserker...” the transmission cut out suddenly. Bethor smiled even though he had not gotten the entire message; he knew what it meant. At that exact moment five aircraft flew overhead, rocking the buildings below and causing the creatures in the city to scream. His eyes wandered into the sky, the sun reflected off the metal of the f-24 “dragon II ”s as the passed over the urban zone. At that exact moment Bethor felt hope filling his heart once more, for he knew that now that truly the Berserkers had arrived.

Yet even as his hopes were rising, his ears heard the sound he had been dreading. The sound that can only be made by a thousand limbs pounding all at once; as he looked down the street passed the bodies of his squad mates he saw them. The creatures had organized and were attacking again; they filled the street and seemed to even topple themselves they were so numerous. He could not count the rows of teeth they thrust before themselves as they moved at an ungodly speed toward him.

Bethor could feel fear grip his muscles; yet even so he knew if he ran there was no guarantee he’d live another moment in this hell of a city. He glanced down at his las-rifle; finally the energy cell had cooled down completely. He raised it to his shoulder and stared down the rifle pointing directly into the eyes of his enemies. Bethor drew in a deep breath of the dry stale air about him and held his weapon tightly. His eyes closed as he pulled the trigger and a bright stream of energy flew from the barrel. He didn’t witness his shot slice through the brain of a charging creature sending it to the ground. After all, enough horrible memories were now his forever to treasure.

As his eyes opened the creatures were close and ready to spring upon him; as they drew ready their claws he felt his anger explode from him suddenly. Where none had been before now there was a torrent of rage; the memories of all the dead flushed into his mind as he fired his weapon in quick succession sending many creatures to the ground. Their blood splattered on the ground as their brethren hurtled their bodies and leapt into the air ready to rip the lone soldier to pieces. Bethor’s eyes remained open the entire time, awaiting the death blow, but none came.

From behind him came a loud and menacing sound; like that of gunfire but repeating so fast it sounded like one continuous shot. A huge spray of bullets swept through the creatures throwing their bodies back into the air like rag dolls and slaughtering them as they advanced. The entire line of creatures was torn apart in moments as the line of fire engulfed them.

As the weary and slightly confused soldier turned he saw standing some distance away what looked like a pillar of metal. Yet as his eyes adjusted he saw what he had longed to see for many hours; an Odin battlemech of the Berserker Dominion. A mech whose arms were nothing but large weapon platforms; it stood proudly with a huge cannon extending out from the main body on its back. Steam slowly rose from its arms where it had fired. Bethor smiled but suddenly felt pain course through his veins. It overcame him quickly and caused him to fall to his knees; as his eyes moved to his chest he saw a large cut tracing his torso. He could feel his blood leaking from him at an enormous rate. He dropped his weapon and lifted his tired arms up to his wound; he inserted a finger inside his own body and felt deep inside him was lodged a sharp piece of hide. He closed his eyes; the image of a creature’s arm being blown off its body ran through his mind. And then the memory came, the image of that very arm slicing into his chest. With a final look toward the berserker mech he took a deep breath for a final time and fell to the ground.


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Holy crap! i go away for a little bit and this thing gets over 1k views wow...thanks to everybody who's been reading this!

@Sigurd Fafnesbane: Patience is a virtue my friend. i do apologise for taking so long... glad you like it.

@Shadow: glad you're enjoying this still.

@Alexander the Pretty Good: why thank you. i'm glad you like it

[Shadow]

@Shadow: glad you're enjoying this still.

Of course! It’s just that I was busy with my assignments and semester exam so I didn’t visit the forum in awhile. Who won’t want to know the ending for such a great story

[Monk]

part xx
The Lord of All

Caliban Dr. – only remaining road to the Citadel Gates
14:20 hours, first encounter +7
Hour four of the assault

Commissar Czevak stared down the street littered with debris and fallen bodies. As he inhaled deeply the stench of death assaulted his nostrils. The scent of burning flesh, over heating weapons and smoke meshed together into a torturous nightmare for the senses. He sighed as he looked upon the mounds of dead human fighters; scattered across the hot pavement like paper on parade day. Yet before them, passed a number of abandoned sandbag positions lay a wall of creatures. All of them dead, the life sapped from their horrible bodies. Their limbs were twisted and mingled together; one creature inseparable from another. Many blown apart from close fighting, many more drenched in Human blood.

Czevak held his pistol up, the energy within pulsed through the sides, causing a purple aura to shine softly from within the chamber. The assault had stopped but he knew the peace wouldn’t last, already he could hear the thunderous guns of the nearly arrived berserkers echoing through the buildings around him. Wings of fighters flew overhead; their jets screaming as they thundered by the buildings. Their guns opening up in a cry equal to that of a deity; strafing city streets and slaughtering the creatures. Yet somehow, the Commissar knew it wasn’t enough. He and the 14th Guard division were standing in the center of the only road leading to the citadel gates; the buildings along the side of the road packed so tightly it turned the street into a half-mile corridor. Yet even so, they had suffered terrible loses.

“Sir.” a voice rolled on the air behind Czevak, he bothered not to even look upon who spoke at first. The voice was hard and deep, it could only be his second in command. “What are your orders?” it asked him plainly. The commissar turned to see his lieutenant saluting him. The black armor of the Guard regiment he wore was torn to shreds, huge claw marks were ripped into it where below now white bandages could be seen. Czevak couldn’t help but smile as he glanced over his remaining troops; not one of the survivors was without wound or mark of battle. Yet they all stood proudly, ready for service. The old veteran for the first time in many years showed emotion; his scarred face reflected his pride in both his soldiers and nation.

“Redeploy here.” he said finally, his voice was deep and slightly menacing. The kind you’d expect a man of his stature to have. He gazed down the street, looking toward the pile of creature corpses. “They cannot reach the Citadel. No matter what…” Even though he was aging, his mind still grasped the tactical situation. If the street fell, the creatures would break through the gate, and the palace would fall.

The troops obeyed his order and began to set up make-shift defenses. Even though they went about their task without protest; the commissar knew better than to assume they were strong in their resolve. He could see the fear moving beneath the surface of their eyes; like a snake waiting to attack their fear slithered in their hearts. Czevak could not deny his own fear; these creatures were like nothing he had ever combated before. They moved forward without fear no matter how strong the defense; showing no emotion, no joy or hatred in their kills or casualties. It was as if they cared not whether they lived or died; as long as they served some purpose.

Only those alone, not following the mobs, showed any emotion at all. The commissar could not help but feel sickened when he realized how much the loners looked like humans. Their faces, while twisted and horrible to behold, held a human quality and shape. Their arms while thin and oddly shaped like the others; held knife like fingers. He had seen them rip apart many men easily; ambushing squads and striking before any reaction could be taken.

Czevak took out his canteen and unscrewed the top, he placed the container to his lips as a cool and refreshing liquid filled his mouth. It was strange how something with no taste could give one such a vibrant feeling. He tilted his head back until he felt the last drops rush down his throat, with a sigh the commissar threw down his canteen and kicked it down the street. No sense in keeping it now that it’s empty after all.

The empty container bounced off the street a number of rimes and fell to its side with a slightly louder than normal crash. It rolled on its side for some distance before coming to a stop finally; rocking back and forth as it tried to find a balance. The old commissar stared at it as it moved on its sides, unable to stop in its own momentum. He slowly turned and was about to aid his men in the building of a defense. Yet as he took a single step, the concrete under the canteen suddenly cracked. The pavement was split quickly as the cracks traveled out in all directions; causing the ground to grunt and cry as if in pain. Czevak turned quickly; with a loud crash a circle of cracks appeared on the street. The ground shook violently as if something had hit it, but there was nothing in site.

Again a thunderous quake shook the ground, sending men to their knees. Eyes looked abroad for any sign of what was doing this; minds became colored with fear as hope sank. Then a low and ominous sound filled the air, it was the snarl of a beast. It twisted on the air; so deep and menacing even the old commissar felt fear grip his muscles. A feeling unlike any he had known before washed over his body; pure terror. His eyes traced down to the cracking pavement, he knew what was coming in an instant. “Gods help us.” He whispered to himself.

A scream louder than a thousand crashes of thunder rose up; throwing down every human within the city and causing them to shout in fear. The scream was so shrill and terrible that to behold it was nearly painful. The commissar held his ears and closed his eyes, not wanting to open them to see what made such a sound. The ground was overcome by a sudden rumble as the entire city seemed to shake. Without warning; the area of pavement that had been cracking suddenly broke and shattered in a huge explosion of rock, dirt, and dust. Another horrible scream filled the air; this one more clear than that of the first. The men of the 14th div shouted in agony as they held their ears; it felt like sharp objects were being plunged into their skulls. Countless rocks and pieces of pavement slammed into the ground as a deep and chilling snarl filled the air.

The old commissar opened his eyes, but at that very moment he wished by the four gods he had kept them shut. For before his was the sum of all his terrors; the greatest and most terrifying thing he had ever laid eyes on in his life. Three times as high as he stood a creature that had no eyes; an elongated head on top of a snake like body that had scales and jagged bones like that of a spinal cord. Its entire head seemed to be a huge mouth; wherein countless rows of teeth resided; all sharp and jagged. Powerful enough to rip a mech to pieces. Below its hideous mouth were two huge arms like that of scythes. Below those two more arms, slightly smaller but no less menacing. The creature’s chest was dark and stained with red, it appear much like a human’s chest cavity only much larger. Its entire body seemed to stem from it.

It screamed again and swung its mighty arms; Czevak turned and could only watch in horror as in one swift attack the creature slaughtered his men. Their bodies were cut so easily on the arms of the creature. As it withdrew its arms it slammed them into buildings, throwing rubble about as if they were not even there.

Czevak stood in awe of its sheer power as it towered over him. The eyeless abomination seemed to wait for him to move, to strike him down and end his existence once and for all. The commissar drew his power sword from his side; quickly blue waves of energy pulsed through it. His fear was overwhelming, but so too was his rage. All his men were now dead, and behind him his king was in the palace. “I will not let this daemon pass” he breathed in silence. He gathered every ounce of strength he still had in his aging body and looked upon it, it was so great and so terrifying he could feel his arms shaking. “I failed you once Solicous.” his eyes closed before a moment, remembering the civil war of days gone by. Suddenly his eyes darted open as he set his sights on the creature. His hatred displayed for all to see in his dark green eyes; burning brightly like a fire in the night. “..Not…Again!”

“Do you hear me!?” he shouted loudly; his voice rose up above all else in the street and echoed back toward him. He could feel his strength pulsing through his veins; this was it. Before his gods and his king he’d make one last stand. “You end here!” he slammed his sword into the ground with a shout; his blade pierced deep into the pavement sending cracks in all directions. The creature used its senses and located the commissar; it swung its arm around to destroy the human commander.

Czevak quickly leapt onto the hilt of the sword and jumped with all his might into the air. Just as his feet left the edge of his sword the creature sliced it in two; the bands of energy ceased to flow as the metal fell onto the ground with a cold sound. The commissar drew his pistol on level with his eye and pulled the trigger in rapid succession. The chamber threw itself back as beams of energy flew toward the creature and found their mark; slicing its flesh and bringing forth a green blood.

The creature screamed in anger and drew up another of its arms; it stabbed forward in an attempt to skewer the commissar. Czevak felt its hard and sharp talon cut through his stomach, traveling through his body and out his lower back. He cried out in pain as a red cloud of blood surrounded him. His hang slowly let go of his pistol as the weapon sailed through the air, moving toward the ground. Yet before his weapon could even reach the street the creature drew its arm up then jerked it forcefully downward. Freeing the commissar from grasp but sending him screaming into the ground. His bones shattered as he hit the pavement, blood flowing from his large wound. The eyes of the commissar were still open as his lifeless body lay on the ground; his pistol dropped by his side as smoke rose from the chamber.

The huge creature let out a scream as it reared its head back; calling to it brethren to follow it. The gate had fallen, only one goal remained; the palace.

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and he's back! sorry guys. was busy with school work mostly, this took low priority as my creativeness had to go toward other things. But here you are!

@shadow: yeah i know how that can be.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Hey! Thanks Monk! I was wondering if I'd ever know what happened to the poor human defenders... it doesn't look too good for them!

[Monk]

part xxi
Death of a Lord

Intersection – 1st and 3rd streets
14:56 hours, first encounter +7
Hour four of the assault

Marcus coughed violently again as he lay on his back; his stomach convulsing and compressing in on itself as he tried to draw breathe. Suddenly his lungs seized up as he threw his body back onto the hard, hot pavement. So much pain was coursing through his body; each breath he took turned into a nightmare that he was forced to live over again. He could smell it all around him; the undeniable smell only created when human flesh is burned. The disgusting scent was all around him and he had not the strength to stand, it was a miracle he yet still lived.

The wounded soldier’s hand slowly moved; it felt numb as he laid it gently on his chest. There running from a large hole in his once thick armor he could feel a cold liquid; his near lifeless hand twitched slightly as he forced the near dead muscles to act. Slowly his arm moved up and he for a split second held his hand before his eyes. No sooner had he got it there he let it fall, the strain of lifting his limb to much to bear. Even through his now blurring vision he knew that liquid’s site, its smell. The scarlet life-force of all humans was slowly leaving him, and with it he could feel his nerves slowly dying. A slight tingle filled his chest, slowly moving through his arms before trickling down to his legs. Marcus’ bottom lip began to tremble lightly as he blinked; his dark green eyes looking off into the sky above.

His throat was drying quickly as he tried to move again, yet this time he could not even lift a finger. The tingling feeling he felt in his body slowly began to cease, and where it had been there was nothing now. Marcus felt not even the slightest breeze from the gentle wind. The tingling was traveling up his neck as he felt his lungs close suddenly, he tried to draw breath but found he couldn’t. A slight panic overtook him as he struggled to grasp life even as it faded from him. There was so much he had to live for, so many things left to do. This couldn’t be the end! A tear fell from his still open eyes as his vision blackened, he gasped again for air but could find none. Without even the strength to give a parting cry, darkness claimed him at last.

Even as life faded from Marcus a sound took to the air; like the beating of echoing drums the sound of running feet pounded upon the broken blacktop. A soldier quickly rounded the corner and ran as fast as his feet could take him down Third Street; sweat dropping from his brow as he knew he couldn’t escape his fate. His green armor appeared ripped open in many places, blood taking the path down unto his skin. His pant legs were covered in energy burns and a red liquid both mingled now together until one was inseparable from the other.

Leaping over the lifeless Marcus he turned quickly, doing a complete 180. He pulled his pistol up to his eye level and pointing it down the street. His shoulders moved up and down with his heavy breathing, making aiming a near impossibility. He swallowed hard, feeling a growing dehydration as he starred back at the intersection. There was nothing there. The wind picked up and gave a soft, gentle whistle as it passed through the breaking buildings around. An old shop sign made of wood rocked back and forth a few feet from him.

The soldier’s lungs opened up as he drew to him a deep breath; slowly his pistol lowered as a slight feeling of security washed over his mind. Yet even so his head felt light as a feather. His eyes half closed and he had to catch himself from stumbling. As he breathed in the air around he could smell battle, in the distance the sounds of war still echoed, but seemed so far away to him.

As the soldier tried to gather himself a scream filled the air. His eyes shot open as he looked around him, his pistol pointing all over as he tried to find the source of the noise. His feeling of security was in an instant burned and splintered into pieces. Panic overtook him as his eyes darted all around, he himself turning quickly from direction to direction searching for an enemy. His eyes settled on the buildings, he’d seen them burst from them before. Not this time! He thought.

Yet the threat came from below, not the side. The ground suddenly burst open with a slight cry and a sharp, sword like talon came rushing forth. The soldier had not the time to even bring his pistol down before the strange limp cut into his soft flesh; cutting past the tattered remnants of his armor like it was not even there. It moved with ungodly speed yet the soldier felt no pain as the talon cut into him. The nerves around the wound were all dead. Even so he felt his strength leaving him almost at once. The talon lifted him up as a number of creatures began to spill forth from the hole; he rose into the air as a creature emerged holding him high for all to see.

Blood began to sprinkle down over and around the creature. Running down its arm like a river before it threw down the lifeless defender of humanity. More creatures appeared from the hole in the street when suddenly a huge and ominous snarl took the air. As the final creature appeared from the hole a scream louder than any one single creature can make overtook their senses; and forth from the street burst the Lord of All. He made his own way through the highway of man; cutting through the road and pushing himself through with ease. Debris filled the air as he came into view and looked around, sensing the landscape.

Suddenly an axe flew out of a shadow; the blade of which glowing red as it sailed through the air and found its mark on the skull of a creature. The sound of its bone splitting filled the air as it fell to the ground, leaving behind a mist of greed blood. The creatures turned, their black coal eyes settling upon the alleyway from which it came. Not even they could protect themselves from a feeling of complete shock when from it came a number of warriors. They burst forth from the darkness with amazing speed, all of them wielding axes whose blades glowed with an inner light. They were human but much taller than the Solicians; wearing almost no armor they charged forth screaming at the top of their lungs. The warrior’s eyes were overcome with rage and yet, a strange look of joy at the same time. They were berserkers…

The Lord of All ordered his creatures to charge them, and with single minded obedience they did so. The creatures let out a scream and charged forth, brandishing their teeth and claws that were now covered with Human blood. Yet they saw no change in the berserkers, it was as if the fact these creatures had slaughtered countless humans did not affect them. If anything it made them charge faster. The two sides collided as a berserker smashed his two handed axe into the chest of a creature; cutting the abomination down easily. The creatures attacked with a ferocity not commonly seen, yet so did the berserkers. They matched their close combat skills, and then topped them. Poweraxes swung through the air, rending bow and mutated flesh without problem. Green blood shot from numerous creatures as they were being overpowered quickly. They tried to push their way through the band of berserkers but without luck. Each time they came close the berserkers became of whirlwind of death; their axes swinging through the air as they moved forward, cutting down anything that attacked.

Creature by creature dropped to the ground before them, the berserkers stepped over them as they pushed them back. Cutting through arms, chests, and decapitating at will. They pushed them back as the Lord of All watched, not caring his minions were being annihilated methodically. Yet when the last fell he struck; two of his arms came around as he tried to butcher the berserkers with one swing. Coming to their senses the many of them took cover, save two. Turning to run they found themselves to slow, and were cut down without problem.

Their bodies found a resting place on the ground as their life force flowed upon the blacktop. They moved no more, the Lord of All let out a deep growl that signified its own amusement. It sensed the ground and felt nothing moving, it believed it had killed them all. Confident in victory it began to snake its way back into the sewers below when it picked up a single human.

Toradir stepped out from behind a ruinous building. His deep brown beard catching the warmth of the sun as it reappeared in the sky. His eyes were ablaze with his furry as he starred at the Lord of All, gripping his power axe tightly in his right hand. A bright red glow took to the blade as he looked at the creature’s head; there were no eyes to look into after all. “You killed my men.” Toradir spoke in a menacing voice; his tone was very deep as his fiery blue eyes were like raging gales. Anger flowed from his soul as the Lord of All straightened its snake like body, extending to its full height over him. However instead of fear; all Toradir felt was rage. He looked up at it, his eyes watching every movement it made as he took his battle stance. The poweraxe in his hand was glowing brightly, still dripping with the green blood of his kills. “Make your move!” he shouted demandingly.

The Lord of All wasted no time and brought one of its arms up high, and then brought it straight down in an attempted to kill him in one strike. The sharp, scythe-like limb was easy for Toradir dodge. He jumped aside as it punched through the street down into the sewers. A cloud of dust filled the air as the street collapsed around the section of the impact. Toradir needed not wait long before the creature made another move; it swung another arm around on level with him to cut him in two. The strike sailed through the air and would have killed the berserker if he had not jumped forward at the last moment. The Lord of All instead smashed his arm into a building, destroying its base and sending it crashing down onto its limb. Brick and mortar tumbled down, crushing its arm and causing the creature to howl in pain. “Now’s my chance!” Toradir pushed his body forward, running as fast as he could. A cloud of dust, dirt and debris rose up around the buried limb, into which the berserker warrior disappeared.


The huge creature was too preoccupied to notice Toradir was gone until it felt something moving upon its arm, it turned its head and sensed him moving up its arm. The berserker had climbed upon the trapped limb and was climbing up to his head. For the first time in its existence the Lord of All showed panic, it screamed in fear as two limbs were now trapped. It brought around one of its only arms not used in the fight, sending it straight at his enemy. Toradir smiled as he leapt from the body of the large creature; just in time to miss being killed he fell to the ground. Hitting it he rolled and looked up, ending up back where he started. The creature sliced deep into its arm and cried the loudest it ever had; pain filling its scream. It slumped forward and lowered its head almost onto the street as blood flowed easily from the huge self inflicted wound. The berserker rushed forward as it began to draw its head back. Quickly he grabbed onto the base of one of its mighty teeth, as the Lord of All lifted its head it also unknowingly lifted Toradir.

The berserker held onto the tooth with one hand and his axe in the other, quickly the Lord of All realized what was happening and jerked its head back. Its attempt to shake Toradir succeeded as he was thrown up, but quickly turned from success into failure when the berserker landed on the top of the creature’s head. Toradir found balance on the moving creature as he held high his axe, his remaining men watched as he brought it down into the side of the creature’s skull. Its head flew to the right, reeling in pain. With a cry of anger the warrior lifted it and brought it back around, slamming it into the right side of the creature’s head. Blood flowed easily as with each swing Toradir’s poweraxe cut through the Lord of All’s bones. The berserker then lifted his axe and brought it around one last time, smashing it into the front of the creature’s head as deep as he could. Toradir felt his weapon punch deep, passed the skull and into the brain. The huge creature let out a horrible cry as it lost balance and began falling to the ground. Toradir used his axe, which was deep inside the creature’s head as an anchor to keep his balance. He held on tightly as the creature fell to the ground, hitting the street with a rumble causing the earth to shake. Blood flowed from it like a river; its green sight was satisfaction to the berserkers who had lost two friends.

The Berserker removed his axe as he jumped from the dead creature; his breathing heavy and every muscle in his body exhausted. Suddenly as he did so every creature in the city cried out in anguish. Their minds felt ravaged as their suppressed emotions returned. They felt their Lord’s demise and the fear it had felt overcame their minds. They screamed into the air, searching for their leader vainly. It became clear to them all in an instant their leader was dead, but there was one who could still lead them. Shrill cries filled the air as slowly they began to leave the city, leaving behind a horrible toll of death and destruction.


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"if ya hate Final Exams, give me a hell yea!" j/k

Sorry guys. Been studying for finals cuz i REALLY need to do good to pass. Here's something though, I hope you enjoy it.

AtPG: was you expecting this?

also added A warning to the start of the thread, i've noticed this thing is really violent and bloody

[Shadow]

I can see it now
Human wins Creature loses

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

"if ya hate Final Exams, give me a hell yea!" j/k

Sorry guys. Been studying for finals cuz i REALLY need to do good to pass. Here's something though, I hope you enjoy it.

AtPG: was you expecting this?

also added A warning to the start of the thread, i've noticed this thing is really violent and bloody

hell yea!

Hehe. I figured it would be down to the wire for good ole humanity. But I suspect it isn't over...

Yeah, it is pretty bloody. Bloody good!

[Monk]

part xxii
No Escape

5 kilometers south of Solace
00:42, first encounter +8

The sky above flashed with lightning as a low rumble took to the land. Thunder rolled upon the air, rising higher in sound before falling into humble silence that left the world without noise. A mist formed upon the wind as the dark clouds above began to let their rain fall. Slowly the mist formed into rain and before long lighting streaked across the sky as water pounded into the earth. A crackle of thunder rand another streak of lighting flashed across the sky, revealing something that had gone unnoticed by the spirits of the world. Down upon the ground, gliding silently like a black ocean of despair, a mass of creatures moved with great speed away from Solace. Their hides punctured, ripped and cut open; many spilling their life force upon the earth they so desired to burn. Yet they were changed. No longer did they scream out in their anger and hate, no longer did they feel a buried sense of pride floating in their twisted minds. They could feel it when their Lord was slain, like a bursting dam emotion flooded into their minds. Emotion that had lain buried before.

They were so angry, so full of hate for humanity. Never did a being feel such malice toward another as they felt at this moment. Yet, for all the rage burning inside each of them; there was something else they felt. Hidden behind the veil of hate and failure was fear, wrenching their hearts and coloring their minds. Overtaking their actions and causing them to run from their hated enemy. They knew they had failed, and he would surely punish them. They had to prove themselves before their lives were ended.

Suddenly the wind seemed to draw back and like a huge explosion a great blast of sound entered all their minds at once. It overloaded their senses causing them to lose control of themselves. All of the creatures fell upon the earth at once, falling face first into the mud as their open wounds were filled with water and dirt. Others tripped over their fallen comrades, having no time to stop. The sound was sudden and like none they had ever felt before, for it was not heard, but felt. Slowly creature by creature staggered to their twisted feet; their eyes searching the landscape for what had caused such confusion. A thick layer of confusion settled upon them as they could not even find the courage to speak in their horrid language.

Their eyes soon went wide as they felt the sensations they dreaded. Whispers crawled in their skulls, as if someone was speaking to them but no one was there. Shivers traveled up their spines as the wind picked up slightly. Their skin crawled as they knew what this meant, he was near! For the first time in many hours they cried out, shouting into the air their shrill screams echoed back to them over the landscape. They were begging. Their scream died away, but not of their choice. They could feel something hushing them, a voice in their mind at the edge of hearing yet somehow controlling them. Fear dripped from their corrupted souls, and they hated the feeling.

Slowly they could feel the voice changing, first from a distant statement to a whisper, and then hearing it clearly. It spoke directly into each of their minds; ravaged by hatred it was the single voice they did not wish to hear. “So…” its words slithered through their minds like a snake. Try as they might, nothing they could do would shut it out. “You failed your master” The wind died away and the world became quiet. “Solace was in your grasp, yet you fled…” Where was this voice coming from? They cared not; all they wanted was it to stop.

“You may have failed” a laugh overcame the voice as it spoke, “but now I control all of my true brothers. Except you!” Screams echoed out from every direction, the mass of creatures looking all around. They could not comprehend what was happening. “This will soon be corrected” The voice stop as a low rumble took to the earth; the creatures could feel the vibrations echoing through the soaking wet mud. Something was coming, yet it was not human. Their black eyes settled on the horizon as figures appeared in the distance; moving at high speed they could see them perfectly despite their great distance.

Countless figures whose hides were a mix of black and a brownish color raced toward them. Moving not on all fours to obtain great speed, they ran upon their hind legs like a human. Their bodies were thick and covered in what appeared to them a tougher exoskeleton than even their own. They stood hunched over; their heads holding what looked like scales doubling as a thick armor. Their faces were elongated and they held rows of teeth that all appeared sharp. Hanging from their mouths was a large tongue that almost begged for subsistence. Their legs were shorter but only aided in propelling them further as they moved, their arms were long and their fingers thin but sharp as knives. They appeared like the human creatures, only more…advanced.

Among them at the head of their main thrust from the south was a single figure. He was tall and his skin was overcome with a green and brown mix of liquid and twisted skin. He walked upright like a human but appeared to be no such thing. His arms were thin and elongated like the creatures he led, but in his hand he held a great scythe that appeared to be made from the steel of a fallen building. They knew that man; even though they had never seen him in their life they knew him. It was Uriel.

These new creatures seemed to appear from every direction; and from their stance it was clear they wished to do battle. The mass of creatures that had run from Solace were surrounded and there was no escape no matter where they looked. Yet now it mattered not, they damned their fate and screamed loudly; breaking the ‘block’ Uriel had placed on them. Their fear evaporated in a mist of rage as they prepared themselves for the onrushing charge. Lightning flashed in the sky, reflecting in the red eyes of these new creatures. With a cry deeper and more horrid than older species they slammed into their hated brethren who had failed their task. They dug their claws into the creatures and ripped into them, releasing blood and cutting through them with ease.

The survivors of Solace tried to fight back, but these new creatures had tougher hide. As they thrust their hand and limbs forward they found they could not penetrate through. Pain would trace through their limbs before the creature they attacked ripped out their throat, or sliced through their chest. It was brutal, Uriel cut a swath through his former ‘brothers’; cutting them down as he saw fit and wiping clean their failure. They were superior in everyway to the old creatures, and they slaughtered them without mercy.

The last of the creatures that had attacked solace fell with a blood curdling scream, its chest ripped open and blood spraying upon its attacker. The deed was done, and Uriel smiled in sick delight. He turned to his newly bred creatures; they had performed better than he ever thought possible. Their eyes emitted a red glow, a strong contrast to the old creature’s black void. They let out a low rumble of praise to their victory, again very different from the previous creatures that had terrified their enemies. Uriel knew that now nothing could stop him, and he laughed.

Yet before he could even raise his scythe in victory he heard a strange sound. The wind being cut through like a knife as a jet engine thundered through the sky toward him. He turned around and looked up as the rain came down harder. This battle was far from over…

____________________

Finals be over! I'm off on that great release known as summer break. And thus updates will be much more frequent. I'd like to thank everyone who's stuck with me, i know it can be hard waiting for me to get my act together and write some. Really, it means a lot

@Shadow: maybe maybe not.

@Alexander the Pretty Good: thank you. very glad you like it

@Sigurd Fafnesbane: you honour me with your words. thank you.

[Monk]

part xxiii
Allies and Enemies

ORDER battleship, Upper Earth Orbit
01:32, first encounter +8

Nathaniel sighed as his back flattened against the worn down seat inside the cockpit of his mech. The green monitor before him was the only light within the confined space; he watched as line upon line of text displayed technical information. His right eye twitched as he blinked quickly, his only source of light was irritating his sight. As his eyes opened he looked up, the many switches around him were like home he’d been there so many times. Yet pushed between the metal panels, sitting beside the main power switch there resided a photo; a simple piece of paper upon which an image of great importance resided.

Yet it wasn’t of tactical information; some sort of military importance or anything. It was important to Nathaniel alone. Upon the paper a little girl smiled up toward the camera; her blond hair reflecting a ray of sunlight as she held a ball in her hands. It was his little girl; Nathaniel’s one and only child. His eyes slowly closed again as a smile etched across his weary face. He could almost hear her sweet voice when he was silent, calling out to her father. Only another three months and he’d be home for good.

The radio suddenly burst with activity as a voice came flooding through the speakers. “10 minutes to drop. Begin Equipment Checks” Nathaniel’s vision of his daughter was cut short at that moment; he watched her image flutter away and fade into the metal hull around him. Her voice was gone from his hearing; being driven back into his memories to reside. The soldier looked about him as he flipped a number of switches; the onboard computer reacted as it began the start up sequence. A near unnoticeable vibration began moving through the cockpit, one that is only felt by someone who has spent years inside it. It was subtle, but Nathaniel felt it. All too often he had known it. However, for the first time in his many years, he was uncertain about the day ahead of him. His fate seemed elusive, as did this new enemy.

A red window appeared upon his monitor as the onboard sensors came online. It was a message from his commander to all the mech units. The message displayed itself quickly on the screen and was simple. “Solician battle Net Intercepted, Battle progress available”. Following the sentence, a frequency was displayed. The message suggested that they tune in and give a listen. Nathaniel was not one to listen to fighting when he himself was not doing it; but something compelled him. The creatures were, after all, supposed to be ever changing. He needed all the information he could get. “Alright” he spoke in a whisper to himself. “Let’s see what we have here.” His arm slowly extended to the frequency tuner, but strangely he hesitated. A strange feeling traced through his body before residing in the pit of his stomach. He almost didn’t want to hear what may lie behind a simple button push. With a quick sigh he put his mind at ease and pressed the button, adjusting the frequency to that the ORDER was playing the Intercepted messages on.

Static came over the speakers at first; there was no sound that came to him but a slight crackle and a buzzing noise from interference. Yet soon enough sound exploded forth, filling Nathaniel’s mech as well as many others who listened at that moment. A sudden blast lasgun fire echoed out as a voice screamed into the radio “Contact lost: Squad nine!” the radio cut out with a sharp electrical noise as another voice came through “726 is down!” a thunderous boom followed his voice as an explosion sounded nearby. A sudden cry of pain came over the radio as another soldier pleaded for reinforcements on the right flank. Voices cluttered the air waves as many were cut down and their radios stopped receiving; screams of the dying filled every moment before a voice came through. “I’m hit! Losing Containment…Rea-” a high pitched screech cut off his voice and sent a cold chill down Nathaniel’s spine. Someone’s reactor core on their mech just went critical. “I don’t know how long we can last sir” a pain filled voice breathed into the frequency as a lasgun echoed in the background. “They’re everywhere!”

Nathaniel smashed the button on the radio and turned it off. He couldn’t stand to listen any longer. He knew well the battle was going against the Solicians. His eyes slowly moved to the picture of his daughter as he reached out, a single finger moving over her face. “I guess…I won’t be taking you on that trip after all.” He sighed sadly. A tear began to form in his eye as a voice sounded loudly in his mech. “Prepare to drop. Activate mechs… The Emperor protects…” The soldier’s eyes closed slowly as the tear escaped, running down his cheek. He weakly flipped the switch and all systems came online. “And may you’re mother protect you.” he spoke softly as he looked upon the picture of his daughter. A red light began to flash on the side panel, it was time. Nathaniel’s heart slowly began to beat faster as his hands rested on the controls; the tear upon his cheek fell from his face as he guided his mech into the drop pod.

5 kilometers south of Solace
01:55 hours, First encounter +8

The creatures charged again as a wave of purple energy shot forth from the human lines to meet them. Their hides cracking and breaking under the fire as blood spilled into the air, another orchestra of their deep screams calling out into the sky. Yet this time they did not stop their charge. Their red eyes glowing with their growing hate, their teeth covered in a thin layer of red from the kills they had already made. It was time to end the battle. The already overheating lasguns of the Solicians now refused to fire. Their eyes became wide with their fear as the creatures charged ever closer. Yet one by one a smile came across their faces. For just as the creatures were about to fall upon them, out from behind the Solicians came charging the berserkers; led by their Odin mechs.

The weapons of the berserker mechs opened fire into the creatures, ripping into their frontal charge and spraying their life force about as the counter attack burst from all around them. The berserkers holding high their poweraxes and driving them home. The already exhausted Solicians rose and drew their knives, charging in behind the berserkers. Yet even so these new creatures were a breed apart from the old. As the rallying forces of Humanity charged forward, they were met with heavy resistance. Countless creatures wre hemmed down by the close quarter skills of the berserkers, yet even so, against such odds even the best fall. Claws found their home in the chest cavities of many as they tried to hold back the time. Poweraxes dropped from hands and their light faded as their masters passed.

Toradir swung his axe around as hard as he could, breaking through the thick hide of a creature and sending it to the ground. He jerked his axe from its torn flesh as a trail of blood followed his axe’s movement. He turned around in place, bringing his axe around and slicing through many creatures as he created a three hundred and sixty degree range of attack, yet for all his efforts the berserker felt himself tiring. A berserker nearest to him slammed an axe through a creature’s chest, yet even as he did so a limb soared through the air toward him. As the berserker turned a hand of sharpened fingers sliced through his neck, releasing the scarlet liquid within him. Toradir turned just in time to see a creature driving its arm through his comrade.

Anger filled his face as he forsook his exhaustion; he slowly raised his power axe as its blade glowed brightly. Yet even before he could take the first step to charge he felt a sharp pain jab its way through him. The pain took to his veins as he screamed in agony. As he looked down his eyes caught sight of a jagged, scythe-like piece of rusted metal sticking through him; covered in blood that now made its way down his body. Slowly the blade withdrew as he heard a voice close to his ear. It was so full of hate and rage, like he’d never heard before.

“You’re turn to die” the words seethed through mashed teeth as Uriel Took his weapon from the berserkers body and let him fall to the earth. He smiled as he saw his legions advancing. Soon it’d all be his. He’d repay the suffering done to him ten fold, he and his brothers would make Humanity pay for their sins! Yet suddenly the creature attack slowed as a strange sound filled the air. It had gone unnoticed until it was practically upon them due to the battle. Their eyes looked to the heavens and to their horror they saw them coming. More black dots than they could count filled the air; it was the ORDER.

The drop pods came screaming through the atmosphere and smashed into the earth, causing impact craters wherever they hit. Countless pods hit all along the battleground, their smooth metal surfaces still steaming from the heat of re-entry. The creatures smiled sickly, they knew what to expect thanks to their brothers at Arcadia. Or at least, so they thought.

One by one the ramps came down, and to their shock what stepped forward were not members of the Deathwing or an infantry force, but mechs twice as tall as they. Their arms and shoulders covered with weapons and their armor appearing thicker than the mightiest rocks. Nathaniel surveyed the battlefield; it was as if time had stopped with their arrival. Yet that feeling did not last long; the creatures in a fit of rage threw themselves upon the ORDER mechs, yet they only received the full force of the guns of the ORDER as they opened up. Countless streams of energy and projectiles fired all at once at the creatures, ripping their bodies into pieces. However Uriel would not have defeat, he gripped his scythe and charged at the mechs even through they towered over him. His so called brothers rallied behind him, their screams of death filling the air as one by one they were killed following his charge. The bloodied berserkers and Solicians watched as the creatures threw themselves without thought against these mechs. They were ready to die to serve their one and only Lord.

Uriel brought his scythe up as he charged as hard as he could toward the closest mech, piloted by Nathaniel. His anger consumed him as he was ready to rip it apart with his now ungodly strength. Nathaniel was in a state of panic, he had to stop him. He pointed his weapons at him and got a lock, the screen flashed with the words “Target Acquired” and no sooner did he read that then he fire. A beam of blue energy streaked from his mech’s cannon and impacted the earth just in front of Uriel, throwing a veil of dust around the fallen guardian.

“Did I get him!?” Nathaniel asked out loud, a silence befell him and his mech as he listened for a moment and watched the monitor that displayed what was in front of him. All he saw was dust. That changed as suddenly out from the cloud of dirt came flying an object, thrown with such speed and force he had not the time to react. Nathaniel’s eyes opened wide as he watched a scythe slice through the center of his mech and into his cockpit, stopping only inches from his face. Fear took him fully as His systems failed and power began to drain from the controls. His hands moved to activate the auxiliary systems when a huge crash took his mech. Something just had slammed into the legs of his fighting machine and there was not a thing he could do. The mech could not withstand the force without main power and tipped back, falling like a tower and crashing into the ground. Nathaniel’s body was thrown about in the cockpit and his head smashed into a consol, his blood exited from a cut on his forehead and a little smeared on the picture of his daughter.

Nathaniel’s vision blurred as he looked over to a switch he never though he’d use in his life time. Under a plastic cover a red button labeled “self destruct” sat humbly. He reached out to it weakly as he heard footsteps upon the hull of his mech. He could hardly breath his fear was so thick, he knew who it was; he had to reach the button! He forced his battered body to react as the scythe was withdrawn and a pair of hands grasped onto the sliced metal.

Uriel grinned As he grunted, calling to him all his might and ripping the cockpit open. Tearing the metal with ease thanks to his strength. Yet as he did he could not believe what he saw; he swallowed hard as his eyes looked upon the ORDER soldier within whos finger was on the self destruct button and ready to push it. It was as if all his anger faded and became forgotten, being replaced by the highest level of fear a man can know. The fear of Death.

Nathaniel’s eyes looked up to the picture of his daughter one last time as Uriel in desperation clenched a fist and threw a punch toward him. Nathaniel closed his eyes tightly as he pushed the button. In an instant the mech induced a core breach on the mech’s nuclear reactor; and at that instant all sound was sucked from the world. Time itself stood still for a one thousandth of a second before a ball of fire erupted from the downed mech, consuming all in its path.

____________________________

*salute* brave men of the battle I salute thee...

[Sigurd]

IC:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Toradir (where did you get the name?), thy axe shall be remembered and revered until the Fenris Wolf consumes all at Ragnarok.
Until we meet again in the halls of Odin I shall shed a tear on this day.

OOC:
Your story has picked up an emotional quality not unlike the best of stories.
This is a trait of good story writers; the ability to let go of your favourite characters.

[Monk]

part xxvii
Hammer of the Gods

“Ahriman’s Point”, Old Solician Outpost.
North Mountain cluster, Solicous
11:32 hours, first encounter +25

The door burst open with a violent kick; a bone shattering echo of the wood splintering waded into the thick darkness ahead like a ripple in a pond. The door flew back on its hinges as it reared from the assault; and where it once stood thrust weapons as curious eyes peered from side to side. The darkness these eyes witnessed was all consuming; as was the silence that went with it. Like a creeping beast it snaked around their ears. A silent hiss reminding them not a soul could they see; and yet anything might be waiting behind the veil of shadow. “Lights!” a coarse voice barked. In an instant flashlights were engaged and slowly the darkness fled from the shining lights of a group of soldiers. Yet they were not ready for what they saw.

Sitting in a simple wooden chair, in the exact center of the room, was a single man. His shoulders slumped over and his eyes staring down at the ground; twitching slightly every other moment. The soldiers moved into the room keeping their weapons trained upon him; their hands gripping their rifles tightly and their hearts filled with uncertainty. The man made no move despite the soldiers walking toward him, he was breathing slowly and silently, as if nothing mattered anymore. “Hey” one of the soldiers spoke softly, trying to determine who this man was. “You alright?”

Suddenly the man threw his head back, his graying hair thrashed from side to side as his eyes widened and set their gaze upon the soldiers. His breathing was heavy and sweat dripped down his brow, fear had overtaken him. The soldiers jumped back, pointing their rifles at him and keeping a close eye on him. The sudden movement he had made was not expected.

His shoulders heaved up and down as if he was short of breath, yet he appeared to have been sitting within this room, alone in the dark for quite some time. Slowly his mouth opened to speak, yet no sound came from it. As if fate had robbed him of a voice the only noise was a slight hiss from the back of his throat. “Hey!” another soldier shouted, “What are you trying to say? Speak up!” his voiced seemed to bounce from the walls and ring in their ears. Yet the mysterious man said nothing still; his deep brown eyes trembling violently, and seeming to only become filled with more fear and disbelief as the moments ticked away.

Finally, he managed a word. Deep and mangled as it was, it made perfect sense to the soldiers. “Demons” he said, struggling to keep his sanity together. The soldiers, one by one, lowered their weapons. He was of no threat if he couldn’t even manage to speak from his fear.

Sindri sighed softly as he looked at him and surveyed the room, the darkness outside their flashlight beams seemed so thick. As he drew in a deep breath of the warm, stale air he felt hesitation creep through his mind. The hesitation to think this place was not as secure as intel had indicated. If this place had fallen it would be over, Solicous was in ruins, where could they go now? Bringing Sindri’s thoughts to an end the mysterious man led out a loud scream of terror, drawing the eyes of all near him. His back straightened as his fear seemed to seep into their souls. Slowly his cry ended and he frantically tried to draw breath,; his eyes scanning around him as if searching for something. Shocking the soldiers investigating the room he spoke, this time very clear. “I saw…I saw it.” The soldiers looked at him confusedly, their minds colored with their own senses of fear and unknowing.

“Saw what?” the leader of the soldiers said, stepping forward while keeping his rifle at the ready, he nodded to his second in command who in turn took two men to guard the door. Sindri looked at his commander and then at the strange man, his eyes finally adjusting to the blanket of shadows. What exactly was this man trying to say?

“It!” the man shouted frustrated. “I saw…the end”

“What?” the leader said uncertainly. “You’re not making sense.”

“Listen to me you fool!” the man shouted, his anger pushes his fear back into his mind, an anger that he knew not from where it appeared. “I saw the end... The end of us all!”

The leader of the soldiers just gave a slight laugh; taking a deep breath and clearing his mind his gaze set upon the man. “I’m the fool? Look who’s talking crazy.” Sindri could do nothing but watch as this conversation become stranger and stranger.

“Do you not care of our fate as a race?” the mysterious man asked, his strange anger still burning brightly for all to see.

“Yes I do!” shouted the leader right back, his own impatience and anger taking the better of him. “But you’re just taking crazy nonsense. ‘I saw the end’ Just what the hell does that mean!?”

The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clearing the troubled anger he felt rising within his soul for this man. “Please, just listen… what have you to lose?” his voice seemed overcome with serenity, the fear and anger no longer present. Sindri walked up to his commander, he knew this man must know something. The soldier was not sure why, but something within the pit of his soul told him to hear him out.

“Please, Captain,” Sindri said, making sure to keep his voice low enough so the man could not hear. “We’ve got orders to pursue any and all leads into stopping the creatures…making he can help?” The captain eyed Sindri, a dark glare setting into him and forcing Sindri to take a step back. He’d seen that look before; and it wasn’t a good idea to be near the captain when he got it. He shifted his gaze back upon the man and nodded.

“Go on then” he said, clearly not happy about it. “Tell us what you ‘saw’.” The mysterious man nodded, his eyes looking to Sindri and nodding in a strange gesture of thank you. He could tell whatever he said convinced his leader to hear the truth.

“I saw it” he said plainly. “The end of this war. I saw the enemy’s highest creature coming here, and I saw the king of Solicous coming here.” Slowly, every ear began to turn to this man. He had a strange hint of power in his voice that couldn’t be ignored, even if he was crazy. “You came here fleeing the creatures…yes?”

The captain couldn’t help but nod; his eyes were closed in disgust that he’d even considered listening to him. The man continued without stopping, as if his answer didn’t matter. “And, all of the Survivors of Solace are with you…yes?” Again, he was answered with a nod from the captain. Yet at this the man smiled strangely, a small light appearing within his right pupil. “I saw it all. I saw the hammer of the gods falling upon this land, striking it down and turning the land to ash. And I saw one more thing.”

The captain opened his eyes, looking upon the man with skeptical eyes. He now noticed a growing light in one of his eyes, the only side of his face not illuminated by a flashlight. Turning his curiosity inward he tried not to let on that he noticed, letting this man continue. With a strange laugh the man said “I saw fields of dead, their blood running like rivers into the earth which slowly devoured their broken bodies.” He seemed to take delight in using such graphic descriptions; and a smile was growing on his face. A mucles in his cheek suddenly twitched causing him to draw back a bit when his entire face fell into shadow. That is when the captain saw it and cruel realization dawned on him. Glowing in both eyes, deep in the pupil were whit lights. His face was overtaken by fear and went as wide as the rising sun. This man, he wasn’t human at all! He was…some sort of copy.

Realizing the captain had found him out, the man let out a maniacal laugh and grinned widely; his eyes being overcome with a strange sense of anger and joy meshed into one. With a sickening thud arms burst from his torso and he leaped upon the captain, tearing and clawing flesh as it struck. The soldiers jumped back in panic, the fear all consuming as they horrible truth was setting in. They would have no idea that the nuclear blast at solace had done more harm than good, the berserkers were right. It had meshed Human and creature DNA into a terrifying new organism.

Sindri shouted loudly in anger as he fired his lasgun; a bright stream of energy shot out into the darkness and slamming into the creature, only to have nothing happen. He watched his beam sink into the strange creature’s skin, absorbing it with ease. He fired again as his heart began to race. Yet nothing! Blood was flying from side to side of the room, staining the walls as the creature ripped their captain apart. Taking its time completely confident they could not kill it.

“Clear the room!” a voice shouted from the doorway. Sindri looked to see a huge man standing with what appeared to be a model-298-S-78, or as the Solician military knew it, the chaingun. E stood ready to fire, and the warning they were given was all the soldiers needed to get out of his way. The creature looked up from its kill as blood dripped from the skin that had burst from a human shell; multiple arms with flesh hanging from them still held power beyond a human could imagine. It shrieked with delight of the thought of another kill. Yet the soldier just mashed his teeth together, his finger waving over the trigger. “Yeah?! To hell with you too!” he squeezed the trigger and what followed can only be described as a whirlwind of destruction and fire, erupting from the spinning barrels hundreds of rounds ripped through the creature in an instant. Its body was shredded to pieces by his furious onslaught, leaving behind a mist of red blood, not green.

Sindri’s eyes were wide with fear, what else could go wrong he thought. Slowly he turned his gaze over to the man with the chaingun, the barrels still spinning with a smooth hum. The man looked at, his breathing heavy as he could barely believe what he had seen/ “get to the king” he said in-between his attempts to make sense of things. “we have an attack to prepare for…” Sindri needed to other order. He drew himself to his feet; he could still feel his heart beating like a drum in his chest. Walked to the door he looked at the dead bodies; giving his captain a final salute before running off down the corridor.

Arhiman’s Point
Main corridor
19:45 hours, first encounter +26

The sun was falling behind the western horizon as a shrill cry of hatred rose up. The sharp mountain peaks around the last base of the Solicians throwing the sound around a thousand times in an echo. Then another came, and to answer it a hundred more. They came from all around the only base of the Solicians left, they were coming to finish what was started at Solace.

Sindri shifted in place as he stood at the first barricade behind the main door. The images of hours earlier still burned into his mind. He had no doubt that the images he’d witnessed, these horrors too indescribable to repeat would be his forever to ‘cherish’. The sense of battle and death, the realization of creature evolution; it was all so unreal how could any person bare it for their life? The soldier sighed, feeling a deep and lasting depression that had no lifted since the afternoon. His heard seemed to be frozen in place.

Suddenly his head was thrown up and his eyes settled on the main doors as a huge crash overtook them. The mighty metal dented easily under the assault. Sindri Readied his rifle as did the others at his defense station; however he knew they’d be no good. Slowly he began to lower it as he wondered what the point was. The creatures were so strong, their physiology so adaptive. Even if the Solicians won here, how long was it until they were wiped out? Suddenly his rifle slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, at the same time another crash took to the door; it would fall any moment. Sindri was ready to abandon all hope; yet like a lightning flash his memory turned to the civilians. His eyes widened with guilt, they were below, defenseless. Could he really just leave them to die without lifting a finger?

Drawing a deep breath Sindri set his eyes on the door. He drew his power sword with the sound of sliding metal and watched as a blue light appeared within. If this was to be his end, then he’d spend it fighting, not cowering. Gripping the hilt of the sword tightly the light grew bright just as another crash took to the door, this time bashing it down and throwing it in. And in its place stepped a creature that was looked like a human meshed inside a creature. Its mouth had been elongated but the head was the shape of a humans. The body had been charred and thinned and the arms, the three sets of them, where tin and elongated, each seemed to hold a human quality. The soldiers opened fire but they killed nothing; the creatures entered the base slowly as if taking their time and enjoying it.

Sindri became filled with rage as he saw how they acted toward their defense. Leaping the barricade he stood out from the soldiers, and without a word to his comrades charged the creatures. He cried t the top of his lungs as he rushed into his doom. Bringing up his power sword he slashed a creature across the chest, driving his sword through and cleaving it in two. A cloud of red appeared as a fountain of blood splashed around the room and onto Sindri, the scarlet liquid just like his own. The Creatures could not believe their eyes. The nerve of this human! In rage they charged Sindri who stood his ground.

Arhiman’s Point
Vehicle hanger
19:55 hours, first encounter +26

The creatures screamed in a fit of rage as they threw themselves upon the human defenders again, leaping the line of bodies left behind from their first wave they charged with a mission to avenge their brethren. Yet the Solicians of this area were determined not to fail. Like a sturdy rock they broke the wave of creatures, their swords slashing and stabbing as their rifles were all but useless. The creatures though, whose strength was great, were undeterred. A third wave raced through the broken hanger doors and slammed into the line of humans, this time causing the defender’s line to collapse in on itself. The Solicians however would not fall back. They stood their ground even as their number thinned. Fighting like demons they made the creatures pay for every man lost. The floor became as a sea of red…

With a shrill cry a creature buried its claw into the last defender, ripping his insides out while he still live it threw the weak and dieing human to the ground. Yet even as they had won this sector a strange noise filled the air, a silent hum trickled through the metal floor and through the walls; causing a layer of confusion to fall upon the creatures. Suddenly out from the walls and floor burst automated turrets. The creatures could do nothing but stand min horrified shock as they opened fire, ripping into their flesh and slaughtering them as they stood. Soon not a single remained alive.

With a grievous smile the king of Solicous appeared out of the doorway, his face and hands covered with that of his blood and his enemy’s. The price was high but the sector had been defended, he could feel pain in his arm from using his powersword. He dropped the blade for it was broken; he watched as the light faded and ceased to shine. Yet as he turned to leave a thunderous boom took to the ground, nearly causing him to fall on the floor. It was followed by another which seemed to shake the entire facility; it was all the King could do just to stand. He turned and looked at the hanger doors just in time to see them ripped completely open, from the very top to bottom by a huge scythe-like arm. Through the cut burst a single monstrous creature. It had all the signs of being a Lord of All, yet it was greater in size than all others reported; and it had three sets of arms where the last had two. This one, had eyes; and they glowed brightly like fiery suns. The creature had a larger back body, as it if could spawn others. It was the master creature, the first created.

The king set his eyes on the creature, the automated cannons were all out of munitions and he had no weapon. The fiery red gaze of the creature was hard to look into; as if it inspired fear at a whim. Opening its mouth the creature let out a deep and tremendous roar that shook the facility and caused the king to fall back it was so great. His eyes were wide with terror as he knew he couldn’t defeat it. The king steeled himself and drew his pistol; without hesitation he fired off a number of shots at the creature; yet he watched the streams of energy be absorbed. His one and only weapon were useless. The creature let out a strong laugh as it realized its prey had no chance; yet even as it was about to close in, the door behind the king opened.

With a smooth sliding sound the door receded and there standing with a glowing red axe in hand was the Wolf-General Digre. He wore the symbol of the berserkers, and he was the last surviving of their order left in Solicous As he set eyes on the carnage before him he drew a breath and began working himself into a deep, unstoppable rage. Yet even as he did so, the king stopped him.

“No!” the king cried as he extended his hand quickly. His voice was commanding and stopped the berserker in his rage. Digre looked upon him curiously. The berserker was ready to fight, why should he not help? “This is my battle!” the king’s body was already injured yet he held out a hand, asking for the berserker’s axe. “I want to fight him. please…I just need a weapon.”

The berserker stood up straight and studied him for a moment; the creature seemed to tower above them, just waiting for someone to fight it so it could test itself at last. Digre looked upon his axe, and then the face of the king who was on the ground begging for a weapon. As their eyes met the berserker got a glimpse into his soul, a look into terrible anguish at the slaughtering of one’s people. He saw a mighty fire burning within the young man’s heart, one set by war and could only be put out by death. The warrior nodded and tossed his great axe to the king. The king caught the weapon but could not stop it from slamming, blade first, into the ground. It was far heavier than it looked. Placing two hands upon the hilt he drew the strength to stand, and at last lift his weapon.

The axe seemed to glow bright like an evening star as he took hold of it. The weapon sensing his rage and hurt seemed to become amplified in power because of it. The king held the axe ready just as the creature screamed in rage; their eyes met and the hatred they held for one another seemed to pour from their souls. Drawing upon his emotions the king found strength within himself, letting out a great cry he charged at the creature. It was time to end it once and for all.

The great creature brought one of its scythe like arms down to cut the king in two, yet the king saw it coming and jumped back just in time to miss it. Not wasting a moment he brought the axe around and down upon what looked like a weak part in the arm. The bright glowing axe ripped through the flesh and severed the arm, sending it frying to the side and slamming into a wall.

The creature howled in pain as it thrust one of its human like arms at the king. Still trying to bring the axe around the king could not move out of the way in time and felt the sharp fingers of the hand slice through his flesh. Ripping into his stomach with ease and then out the back side; he could feel blood running freely. Yet his anger had taken control of him. Despite a wave of pain that flowed through him his spirit would not cease. He brought the axe down and sliced through the arm, cutting it off and leaving it sticking in his stomach.

The great creature screamed out again, backing up slightly and giving some ground. The king took a step to charge forward but the creature thrust its head at him, attempting to rip him into pieces with its teeth. The weakened king dove out of the way just in time, but in doing so dropped the axe. He fell upon the ground with a loud grunt of pain. His adrenaline dropping into nothingness and the pain he felt becoming all-consuming. The axe sat humbly a few away and slowly lost its glow; the creature could sense victory and cried a loud war cry, lunging at the fallen king.

The King could hear the creature coming, and summoning the last vintages of his strength he drew a knife he had hidden and slammed it into the eye of the creature; just as it was about to close its jaws upon him. Too shocked to simply finish the king off, the creature reared back; it could feel the cold steel dug in deeply. The king knew it was now or never, he rose to his feet and grabbed the axe. With single-minded survival on mid he readied himself as the creature lunged again. Just as it got close the King swung the axe, and buried the powerful weapon into the side of the creature’s skull. The great weapon punched deep into the skin; feeding on the king’s emotion and growing in power it didn’t stop until it was rending the creature’s brain. Scarlet blood sprayed from the cut as the creature let out a ear piercing screech. It lifted up and then back onto its back. Life draining from it.

The King fell onto his back at the same time, the axe falling from his grasp and his eyes drained of strength. He felt the hard impact of the ground and the discomfort of the metal. Yet somehow that didn’t mind now. A wave of pain ripped through his chest as he could feel his lungs starting to fail. Closing his eyes the king saw nothing but darkness, and for once, that wasn’t so bad…

Epilogue

The Solicians stand at Arhiman’s Point signaled the end of the Kingdom of Solicous. It’s people were scattered and disoriented at the loss of their king, and before any could make a difference the Creatures easily mopped up the pockets of resistance. The only survivors of the great legacy that was the once Kingdom were the civilians that survived at Arhiman. They were later rescued by ORDER and berserker task forces.

The war did not end there sadly, with Solicous in ruins the creatures wanted more. They expanded and slaughtered all in their way. Launching their invasion on Berserker Dominion and the ORDER; they succeeded in claiming vast tracks of the earth for their own. Yet the combined might of Humanity was enough to stop them, and soon the war bogged down into a bloody stalemate. Day by day the creatures assaulted the last bastions of human civilization, and time after time they failed. Seeing no winner, the creatures expanded in the other directions, and soon all the earth became there’s…all but the Berserker Dominion and the ORDER.

Both became fortress nations. Using their technology to stay one step ahead of the monstrous creatures, the humans were able to survive. For six long millennia, earth was overcome with this war, until one day…it stopped. Scout parties were sent out and found fields of dead creatures. Upon further examination it was found they died from starvation; they had exhausted all food sources on the earth. Because they had a telepathic link with one another, could not bring themselves to cannibalize their own kind. Therefore by simple way of outlasting their enemy, humanity won the war; but all they retained was a broken planet.

The ORDER used its colonies on mars and phobos to begin crafting new foods, and the berserkers began to gather food from the one place untouched by the creatures; the ocean.

Yet the scar of the horrible war would be felt foever; for the final total of the dead: six hundred billion…

*end file*



:Credits:

-.Org members who took part in RP-


Monk - The Kingdom of Solicous

Sigurd Fafnesbane - The Dominion of BerserkerJarls

Dramicus - The Imperium of the Knightly ORDER


-Brief backstory of cultures and militaries-

Solicous - Warhammer 40k Imperial Guard with a mix of the mechwarrior universe. Tribal people who united under the their first Emperor and became a nation. After Second Solician Civil War, a people who find comfort in their sorrow (hence the name of their capitol city). A people who dislike war.

Berserkers - Modern day humans decended from a highly advanced race of Aliens that crash landed in the north. Technology highly advanced due to their uncovering of their past the the find of a downed spaceship in the arctic. A warrior people where honour is very important. Allies of Solicous, founder of the "DEFENSE" alliance. Military based loosely on Battlemech universe with a mix of modern and ancient weapons. (i took the liberty here mate, i hope you don't mind. and I hope i captured the essense of the berserkers)

Imperium - based on the space marine armies of Warhammer 40k with some of the battletech universe. A mysterious and secretive people living under a dictatorship not afraid to kill to keep secrets. Founder of the "ORDER", a military alliance that fell apart just before Imperial Civil war. ORDER remained name of Imperium's millitary and was feared in Solicous.

Creatures - Their concept changed a bit from the original RP, but their mentality has remained the same. They are a mix between "Aliens", the "Tyranids" from Warhammer 40k, and the organism from "John Carpenter's 'The Thing'".


-Story-

Original concept: Monk

Main Plotline: Monk, Dramicus, Sigurd Fafnesbane

Characters: Monk, names used from varius sources (any i could find really :P)

Epilogue: Dramicus

Backstory: Sigurd Fafnesbane


-Special thanks-

Sigurd Fafnesbane - For sending me most of the Information I needed about Nationstates. As well as a set of links where i could find the images needed to describe his Mechs and military.

Dramicus - For coming up with an ending that rounded out everything.

Nationstates - For allowing such a great plot to be expressed by a few people in such a way.


And A big thanks to everyone who read this and gave their comments. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it. Until next time, see you around the Mead Hall! ~:D

[edyzmedieval]

Too bad Monk you're finishing it.

Oh well, do you plan any new stories?!

[Shadow]

I expected a stalemate but human won because of starvation that is unexpected

Any the less a well written story

[Sigurd]

*end file*

*Applause* BRAVO!! BRAVO!! *Applause*

A great read Monk.
All credits to you for taking “our” universe and making such a great story of it.

BTW: You treated the Berserkers honorably.

[Ludens]

Yes, I know, I should have resumed my function as Mead Hall critic much earlier, but there was so much to read so I kept putting it off. In the first place: a great story, Monk. The atmosphere was, as always, very well done and the point-of-view you used was novel and worked well. The story was concentrated, fast paced, and it is quite an achievement that it didn't get repetitive.

Still, I have a few comments. Firstly, while the atmosphere is well done, the situations you describe are sometimes over-the-top. For example, in the fight scène in the Old City, you describe troops that, against all military procedures and common sense, are not told what they are going to face, are all four thousand of them so terrified that they cannot pull their triggers when the creatures approach, and for some idiotic reason have placed the minefield behind them, so it’s no use to them and cuts off their retreat. You achieve your goal, to describe the terror of the soldiers, but the situation is rather unlikely.

Secondly, you do need to work on subtle emotions. I know the kind of story does not require it, but I think it will improve your writing immensely if you can add some more. The mech-pilot worrying about his little daughter is a good start. In a related note: at one point you tell us in one sentence that a person is normally very collected, but now losing his calm. I could not find the sentence again, but it is not a very elegant way of doing it. Show us that the person is usually calm by dropping hints ("his voice did not betray his emotions", "the man did not appear shocked", etc.), don't tell us. And don't do it the same sentence where you make him also feel the opposite.

Thirdly, I have written that the story did not get repetitive, but during the battle of Solace I was getting tired of fight-scenes. I think you should have put a rest in the story somewhat earlier than you did. More variety in the scenes would have helped too. That said, some of the later fight scenes (scene xx and the one with the photograph) were IMO the best scenes of the entire story. The scène I liked the least was Uriel betraying his brothers, because it was such a cliché.

Lastly, and this is not so much directed at you as at popular culture in general: why do people always assume that mutant means deadly, fast-spreading, hard-to-stop creature that will destroy humanity? I must assume it's because it gives good stories, because this assumption has nothing to do with genetics.

I hope you found this usefull, and I look forward to your next story.