Fallen Sky Part Two
#2 of Fallen Sky
Elesian woke up what seemed to be a few moments later. They were in...
Elesian woke up what seemed to be a few moments later. They were in some kind of low, naturally-cut tunnel. She was chained to a chair.
She swiftly ascertained where she was - no doubt the home of the tribe of ferals that had taken her team. Speaking of her team, she saw them sitting about the tunnel. They were chained to chairs as well.
Elesian realised that none of them were wearing their armour - only their bodysuits. All of their suits were torn and ripped up, in, of course, many of the worst places. She blushed and sighed, for once being thankful that there was barely any light, otherwise not only would her team have gotten quite a look at her, but vise versa.
Yanal and Azale appeared to be unconscious. She heard a rustling sound and the curtain blocking the tunnel's entrance shifted, revealing the figure of a tall, lean Dalynther male, one of the tribals no doubt. He had dark crimson scales, a silver belly, black hair, and mocking red eyes. He was dressed in a decorated loincloth secured by a heavy metal groin plate, and he also had on a leather harness, but the only other armour he had was a pair of pauldrons covering his otherwise bare shoulders. He carried a massive stone cleaver over his back - a sword, simply made out of a single piece of granite, with a heavy single-edged blade.
He glared down at the battered team of H.S.A. soldiers. He began to speak swiftly in the native Dalynther tongue. Elesian struggle to keep up with his speech, and, seeming to notice this, the warrior began to speak slower.
"Who are you, and why are you on our land?" He asked.
"Sergeant-Commander Elesian Ha'aet, Seventh Squad, Third Platoon, Ninth Company, Eighth Battalion, Eleventh Brigade, Nineteenth Division, Fifty-Fourth Corps, H.S.A." She replied coolly, giving a smooth recitation of her exact designation.
"Mmph. Elesian", he said, tasting the name.
"What of the others?"
"There's Sergeant Yanal, Corporal Uthlan, Troopers Azale and Antalis, and..." She glanced around at this part, and then noticed that Ethinia wasn't there. "That's it, actually."
"Six soldiers to invade the territory of one of the most ferocious tribe in the entire Alliance. I didn't know that the H.S.A. was that stupid."
Wait, six? How did he know there are six of us?
Her expression apparently gave her away, as he began to speak again.
"Oh, yes, I know all about your scout-sniper." He grinned wickedly and motioned with a single talon to someone hidden in the shadows.
Ethinia emerged, moving smoothly and sinuously
"Or should I say my scout-sniper?"
"She has been an agent of ours' for some time, you realise. A warrior of the Alliance, hidden amongst the H.S.A. as a spy. This is far larger than you realise, Sergeant-Commander." He said her title sarcastically. "All the way, little soldier, this goes all the way to the top of the pitiful nation you call home."
The director.
"What do you mean, you damn savage?" She snapped at him.
"Hmhmhm." He chuckled. "You still don't understand. How... Cute. Very well. I shall tell you in no uncertain terms, little soldier."
"Your nation is a monster. They are slaughtering their own kin, they are causing their own inhabitants to choke on the noxious fumes within their cities, and they wish to spread the misery across the planet. They fight us, the Alliance on one side, and they are losing against us "primitives". And yet, on the other side, on the old continent, the home of the United American States, they fight yet another enclave of powerful Dalynther, ones with technologies even greater than your own, the Akthali Federation."
"And one more thing: Who did you think started the Great War?"
_ No. No, this couldn't be right. The H.S.A. and the Federation were allies. The Great War had been started by the humans. The humans had started it by dropping the nuclear warheads on the Sub-American continent, home of Old Brazille. The H.S.A. hadn't even formed then. He was lying... Wasn't he?_
"Now you begin to understand, little soldier. Ethinia, talk to her, would you?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Listen, Elesian. It's like he said. This is far bigger than you or me. Halthan is a monster. It needs to be brought down, for the good of the world. For the good of us. Please, will you help us?"
I can't. I can't. This goes against anything I've ever heard... But still... They could be right. After all, why else would the only books about the Great War that we're allowed to read are by the Speaker's Division? And why didn't we ever hear about any deals between Halthan and the Federation? No, I can't believe it. Propaganda. Nothing more. Wait. No. That... Incident before. The one with the hatchlings. That had to be avenged.
_ She would do it._
"I'll help." She turned to her squad. "What of you?"
"I'll help too", remarked Uthlan.
"Sure thing, chief!" Antalis grinned.
Yanal and Azale, who had only just been awakened to hear the news, merely mumbled their assent and nodded.
"So what do we need to do?"
"You'll receive your orders within the week, chieftess Elesian."
"Yes, my lord."