Resistance is Futile
My entry for the winter time story competition. It's not what you expect from the opening paragraph. Enjoy!
People shouldn't enjoy cold this much really, but no one shared this thought that as snowballs were flung at faces, tails and paws without hesitation in the gardens of Luntera, with the same gusto as a group of birds squabble over a tiny crumb that falls from a bread loaf from passers by. This was happening all over the city that day as the city's academies break up for the winter, it's too cold to try and get the younger generation to focus. Luntera is a large metropolis on the eastern side of a hill in the northern region of the land, in the summer the sun rises and bathes the state in its glow, however it is winter, the muddy coloured buildings huddled together like penguins in the snow are covered in a white sheet. The upper gardens which are currently quite empty are blanketed in snow. Blasts of steam billow out from huge chimneys as the factories carry out their business despite the weather, huge quantities of materials which are shipped to other states around the world are made here. Luntera is a prosperous city the materials in the mountains in its province allowing construction to flourish. The advantage of this is the capital generated by trading such resources enable it to import thr luxeries to city cannot manufacture itself, and the people are made richer and therefore happier.
Yet all this hustle and bustle is for a moment forgotten by a small group of friends in one of the many snow covered ice glazed gardens and parks of the upper city, a dry dirt coloured hare, a spotted dalmatian, a fluffy ginger feline, another soot coloured kitty, and a mischievous looking reptile. The five, all of whom are of similar age, seventeen, dart about the evergreen vegetation in a large park, populated by trees and smaller shrub like plants, a snow ball packed tightly so as much damage as possible can be caused spins through the air into side of the unaware ginger cat."Gotcha Marvin!" Yells the triumphant lizard, punching the air, which is almost perfectly ironic as one whizzes into his chest from the black female cat."Spoke to soon Casper!", she taunted, darting behind a tree to keep hidden as the lizard prepares another missile."Ellera! I'll get you for that!" Casper calls back, firing another ball of snow in the general direction of the two cats, his green and grey dappled scaled hide making him a harder target to spot in the snow covered fauna, if not for a keen eyed dalmatian. The spotted canine bounded towards Capser and with snow in his paw pushes the freezing cold payload down the back of the lizard right under his scarf and jacket, a cry of anguish following as the dog laughs whilst running away."Yes Diego!" Marvin shouted. Diego carried on running for a few more moments until a snow ball hit him in the side of the muzzle momentarily unsteadying and blind him, causing him to trip on a branch and land in a pile of snow in a disgruntled heap. A Hare ran over giggling."Your supposed to go easy on me Michael!" Diego said to the Hare who still has a grin on his face."Did you not know? Me and Casper are on the same team! I have to get you back, it's an honour thing," Michael replied looking innocently at the dog."No! I did not". The dog grinned, immediately jumping at the Hare, tackling him to the ground covering them both in snow. The two squabbled trying to get as much snow under the others clothes as was physically possible."Calm down love birds" Ellera said as she sent a snow ball into Michaels side, "You'll melt all the snow with the heat your giving off.", She continued to say chuckling."Oh yeah? Like you and Marvin wouldn't?" Diego shot back smiling. Ellera Blushed, Marvin who was stood by her chuckled."Oh be quiet, you're making me feel lonely." Casper said stomping over, still trying to get the snow out from his back, his tail swishing in annoyance, like an angered snake."N'aaw poor Casper,". Marvin cooed, his own tail flicking about playfully."Shut it you" The lonesome Lizard replied, grinning at Marvin, "Come on, its midday, shouldn't we go to the market, there's the winter time parade to watch." Casper continued."Not a bad idea Cas" Diego said, darting to his feet, "We are not missing it like last year!" he finished, pulling Michael up
as well. The five set off towards the Market Street, placed down the middle of the hill Luntera sat on, it was a wide paved avenue filled with stalls. Yet today they were backed up against the walls of the houses and shops to make space for the parade, floats and groups consisting of magicians, bands and dancers paraded down the street up to the upper city on the plateau of the hill. Fire breathers dressed like jesters in cerulean and azure blue coloured clothing and various dancers from the different cultural sects of the peoples who lived in the city showed off turning the whole road into something like an avalanche of celebration. Lunterans needed just the slightest excuse to hold a celebration, being so prosperous, they had a lot to be jovial about. The paraders were themed in winter clothing, large thick coats and such were used as costumes, imitating the times when people still lived in tribes in the North."I'd love to be one of those dancers, they get to wear such brilliant clothes", Ellera said as she started to dream about elegant costumes and being the centre of those dance routines."I think you could do it, if you really tried, your already a good dancer as it is," Marvin encouraged, the two nuzzled each others muzzles."Although Marvin's thinking of lap dancing," Casper whispered to Diego ruing the situation, the both of them immediately bursting into a fit of laughter like a pair of Hyena's, Marvin shot them a deathly cold look. The floats were themed with legends of old, such as Grell and the Dragon, a story of the great bear Grell who slew the terrible feral ice dragon who preyed on his tribe, such stories were full of exaggeration of course but they made excellent floats. "It's about time we did something together." Diego said to Michael, "Between my apprenticeship with the flight engineers and your academics, we've hardly seen each other these past few weeks.""Pining Doggy? Thats not like you." The hare grinned, looking straight into the dogs eyes, they were the same height and Diego was small for his species, or Michael was tall for his, its hard to tell."Hey, thats not fair, your the one who told me to be more sensitive." He smiled back, prodding the hare playfully on the shoulder. "I bet you've had a lot of time to think on the decks of those air ships, flying about in the sky, I hope you don't forget about us on the ground." He joked, although there was a hint of worry in Michaels voice."Have faith in me Michael, I could never forget about you, though, to be honest if you ever thought I did, you'd get on one of those steam cannons on the ground and shoot my ship down, march over and lecture me back into remembering." "Now I sound odd.""You're not denying though are you?""Oh quit barking doggy" Michael frowned pulling on the dogs tail, who yelped snatching his tail away, "Make yourself useful and go win me a cuddly toy from that stall.""Yes, dear" Diego
cooed, flashing a cheeky grin his Hare's way before scooting off to the stall, a rifle stand. Casper ran after Diego, the two of them loved shooting, it was how they became friends, both the dog and the lizard chose military careers at the end of their compulsory education at fifteen two years ago, where as Diego chose the airships, Casper chose the ground and its steam marines. The rifles were brass and bulky, covered in cogs and tubes, the steam powered weapons were loaded with soft pellets made of cork instead of the usual metal charges, just hard enough to knock the cans of the pedestals. The 'kettle' as the soldiers called it, the part of the rifles which held the super compressed steam, was pushed into the shoulder to absorb the shock, as Diego fired the steam billowed out of the side, the cork bullet smacking into the can with a satisfactory 'thwok' and metallic 'chime' upon impact. Casper followed suit with another perfect shot, the goat behind the stall only just realising slowly that the two teens were about to nab his top prizes as the two of them carried on to clean the stall of all the cans, vapour filling the air around them."Aww yeah!" Shouted Casper punching the air and slapping Diego's paw as he raised it, two large cuddly panda plushes were plonked down on the bench as the two trainees left their rifles and the stalls with their winnings."We're getting good at this aren't we mate?" Diego gloated."Mmhmm, the trainings paying off, that goat didn't know what hit him." Casper retorted"There you go, one cuddly toy as requested." Diego said triumphantly handing the huge panda to Michael, who now stood with a cuddly toy almost as big as him and Diego, looking quite pleased with himself."He'll make up for the time that your away up in the air." Michael mused."Enough with the mushy stuff!" Casper groaned."We really need to find you a girl Cas" Diego said."They're a mystery! I don't know what I'm doing when I talk to one.""It's not that hard, you just have to be honest, come on Marvin's managed it.""Thats not the same Ellara did most of the work,""True, she did sort of order him to become her mate, stop fighting it Cas, resistance is futile, what the girls want the girls get! Ain't that right Ellera!" Diego shouted. The Cat nodded in reply, looking lovingly at Marvin afterwards.This conversation went on and on, the two of them discussing the inconsistencies of females, Michael wondering why the hell Diego was even in the conversation, being his mate and all, the hare didn't interject, he was to busy wondering about Diego and where his career would take him, and take them. Marvin and Ellera were set he thought, the two felines both headed towards a career in trading, they were both being taken under the wing of a big shot merchant, who was the metal trading business, the name of merchant Michael couldn't be bothered remembering. Big money, big business but they were
together, thats what mattered. In that respect the Hare was jealous, Diego would be off for days at a time on training sessions, for now that is, then he would be off for even longer, and then there was talks of him becoming an explorer, going further North or West across the sea, wherever he wanted in his own air ship. The Hare's heart ached just thinking about that where was he in all this, where was Michael in the great plans of Diego? On that ship too? That didn't seem likely. It was on this thought that hare was prodded by the unknowingly troublesome canine."You feeling okay love? You've been quite ever since I won that panda, the cold getting to you?" He asked as they walked back to Michael's, Diego ritualistically dropped him off at his place in the upper city before Diego trotted off too the air dock at the peak on the plateau. Diego had long since wrapped the Hare in a big thick fur coat when his nose went redder than usual from the cold."You're the one stood in just a shirt, don't tell me about the cold, I can't believe your not shivering""I'm fine, but I can see your not, there's a huge cloud over your big eared noggin.", he said ruffling the hare's ears, the snow that had collected their slowly tumbling to the ground."Just thinking about that big old air ship of yours.""What about it?""Just the usual, what you get up to with all the other males in the cabins, that's all" Michael grinned."Not this again... I told you, nothing goes on! We sleep in the same room not the same beds!" Diego said frustratedly."Haha I know, I just like to tease." Michael laughed, "Well are you going to kiss me goodnight?" He said as they arrived at his house."Sure, why not" Diego grinned, leaning towards the Hare and holding each other at the waist, muzzles joining they kissed, not lustfully, but reassuringly, knowing that tomorrow would be just another day for the two of them."I'll come get you tomorrow, early though, I had to book that two person glider quite a while ago in advance so be up and ready, its time you saw the city from the sky, then maybe you'll understand why I love the air.""I can't wait." Micheal said as Diego turned towards the direction of the air dock and started in that direction. You never know Michael thought to himself, maybe I will be on that airship with him when he graduates, if it's so beautiful up there like he says.
Diego marched on through the snow back to the air dock, it was a large structure next the foundries of the steam battalions, air jetties jutting out form the central dome, where the ships were tyed, bobbing in the air, little lights could be seen in the masts and rigging, the air patrols lighting the fog lanterns, it was classic winter, blizzards were coming down from the north and it made it impossible to see in the air. The ships were neo-classical creations, a little like the traditional ships of the water, yet with a lightweight brass alloy hull and steam filled balloon as the lift, which could be regulated to either let the ship fall or rise, or stay level as the situation required. They were marvellous creations the dog thought, the gears and dials of the controls combined with the size and majesty of the ships was enough to draw him to them for the rest of his life. Next to the structure was the barracks where the trainees of all the military slept. His bunk was with Casper's. "Did you tell him about your plans?" Casper voiced as Diego entered the room brushing the snow off himself and out of his fur. Casper was polishing his uniform buckles and cogs along with his rifle, it was quite a raiment, an emblazoned jacket with metal appendages and shoulder guards, all decorated with the cities emblem, a peak with the sun behind it. It was similar to Diego's outfit which was less bulky and also had tails to the jacket and was complete with a cap."No, I couldn't bring myself to do it, we had such a nice day I didn't want to ruin it." Diego replied.
"I know we have a few months, but it will all creep up on you, you've got to do it soon."
"Yeah yeah, don't nag me, come on, its late, i'll tell him after our glide tomorrow"
"Hm, it's gonna be awful"
"True, i'll need all the sleep I can get."
Somewhere overhead the engines and gears whirred, not from the airships docked above but from something more sinister and unexpected. From the South loomed a cloud of ships flying the flags of another state. It night with the snow blurring the vision of the look outs and patrollers, the people of Luntera were caught unawares as fire began raining from the sky. The cruel thing about the wondrous airships is they offer a birds eye view, almost a tactical map of whats going on below. The arrving air ships used this to full effect, targeting key areas such as the air dock first.The horn was sounded, a steady sonorous drone which roused the militia of the city, the Steam cannons of the cities air defences slowly being warmed up, already a few were firing into the sky at the invading airships, balls of fires lighting up the sky, showing the huge red coloured invading ships. The Cities own ships being launched to do battle with the red flagged invaders, parts of which were flung down to the city along with shells and explosive ordinance form the enemy, they landed amongst the houses civilian buildings, yesterdays markets burning, all was chaos on the ground, the furry populace ran about scrambling to apparent safety, already residences were falling, unable to cope with the destruction. Smoke and steam from the melting snow mingled causing a dreary fog to form, adding to the confusion. Soldiers and recruits alike took to the streets, dashing towards the foundries and armouries to prepare as many of the steam battalion as possible, these were the city's fearsome soldiers locked completely into a metal alloy golden suit of armour powered by a micro super compressed steam engine, they could withstand huge ordinance and return with equally deadly fire. It was left to recruits and the standard infantry to make ready the defence, barricades were being constructed at the air docks jetties and around the plateau to fight the enemies ground forces which were sure to arrive, the largest of the troop carriers the enemy would bring needed the jetties to unload. They would pay with many lives to take them. Diego and Casper were throwing on their uniforms, tightening buckles and fixing pauldrons to each others shoulders, each of them also had a cutlass affixed to their waste and a pistol on the opposite side, in city fights and on decks of airships fighting usually got close. The two of them along with many others ran outside amidst fire and explosions it soon became chaos as people were thrown about. Diego ran towards the upper city housing area."Diego! Where are you going? We have to help fight!" Casper called, as the dog set off in the wrong direction, towards the housing areas."I have to get Michael, I have to make him safe!" Diego shouted"Duty Diego, duty first!" Casper yelled back."No, you just don't understand Cas, I have to get him, i'm...i'm not ready to leave everything behind yet" Diego said, his voice quieter now as he
shook his head. Casper nodded in understanding."Go! I'll find you when this is done.""Yes, The army will be able to hold them, good luck!".The two parted as Diego ran though the fog at full pelt towards Michael's house and Casper towards the armoury. He was letting his nose and ears take him in the right direction, all about fires burned, wreckages of ships or parts of them jutted out of buildings. There was no sign of the invaders on the ground yet which was good, they haven't had a chance to land yet, who were they Diego wondered, this attack was completely unprompted. The city folk were running amok as their city burned, the shells being dropped from above contained a thick black liquid which was difficult to put out once set on fire. He rounded a corner, people crowding round Michael's family's house trying to put it out, running over he saw most of the house was ablaze or destroyed."Michael! No...no..no! Michael!" Diego shouted, the house was partly bombed out, Michael's room and that part of the house which held it up was still standing, however. Diego rushed over towards the building, his chest thumping with every step, he didn't want to find his partner on the floor, this was why he came, he couldn't take the idea of not knowing if Michael was alive or dead, the hare was hopeless in these situations."Diego!?" Michael ran towards the dog his short yet powerful legs carrying him over quickly, he had a few cuts and singes on his fur and was covered in dirt."Your alright, your alright."Diego smiled thankfully and pulled him closer, yet the hare was crying as they hugged, leaning into Diego's shoulder."Mother, Father, they didn't... they...""Ssh, it's fine, i've got you now, your safe now, i'm so sorry Michael." Diego held him for a few more moments, his partner was in a state of shock, his eyes were vacant as he tried to deal with the situation. For Diego by comparison it was just an invasion, the routines he'd been trained to follow in this event combined with his canine mind eradicated most of the fear, and his parents were long gone, the both of them flight engineers who had died as a result of pirating just over a decade ago, leaving only Michael left as the thing he cared about and he had to save that."Diego, shouldn't you be with the flight engineers?" Michael questioned once he had regained his composure and was stable enough to speak."I had to find you, I needed to make you safe first." He replied, stroking the hare in their embrace."What are we going to do? Can the army hold them?" "I only know as much as you now, I didn't think this far ahead, I think they will do, even if they make onto the ground, that's where our strength lies.""What about the others, Casper?""He's fine, he's with the defences, he said he would find us later.""What do you mean?""No time to explain that, Michael, go to the academies where Ellera and Marvin are, the
academics will have a plan for this sort of event, an evacuation or something,""It's that bad!?" Panic entering his voice once again."Yes, this in an invasion! The Women, children, old and those who can't fight have to made safe, the defence will send escorts soon, they'll have too. Yes, that is what will happen I think.""You're going back to fight aren't you?" The hare saw right through his mate, knowing what he was thinking even before he said it."I have too, I left Casper, for honour and this city I have to do my duty." He said remembering Casper's words."Then go, I knew this day would come soon, I'll make sure i'm safe for you Diego, but you will promise me this, No hero business, do your duty but stay in one piece." Michael's eyes glistened again as he spoke, the words hurt but he felt they were the right ones."I promise love""Lets not waste anymore time." Michael said, pulling the dog close and hugging him tightly, planting a long soft kiss on his muzzle as they came apart."I'll find you again" Diego said, the new found strength of his partner surprising him but comforting him. They looked in each others eyes before turning and setting off in their planned directions, running as if the very hounds of hell were after them.
Smoke billowed upwards from the city, dull red flashes appeared through out the smoke as the explosions from the air slowly moved down the hill, they were systematically bombing the entire metropolis, leaveing warehouses and other valuble buildings. Fire ran down the streets just like the parade did the day before, what could they do against such reckless hate? Casper stood looking towards the sky, a few single flyer gliders peppered the larger ships with bullets hoping to burst the lift balloons and send them crashing towards the ground, the larger troop ships were flying in now, they would land on the jetties that had carefully been left unscathed, it was here that the enemy would land his commanders had told him. Being just a recruit he wasn't allowed to don the full steam battalion regalia simply because he hadn't been trained how to work it, he did however have brass shoulder guards, chest guard and eye piece to aide with aiming his rifle. He and his fellow recruits we knelt behind makeshift barricades at the base of the jetties, ready to prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold on the air dock, his comrades were also confused as to the nature of the invasion force, they were soon to find out however, the first of the massive transport ships was preparing to dock."Stand ready! Hold your ground, Give no quarter!" The Marshall shouted, a grizzled wolf veteran of many wars now settled down to train the recruits, even he was mustered to defend and to command the ground forces in the sted of the generals who were busy planning the counter offensive, of course he would have it no other way Casper thought the old wolf was know for his indomitable fighting spirit. He brandished a long mean blade and an officers long barrelled revolver. The ships that landed by the jetties let their gangways down and the attackers came on. Their armour was coloured in red with black moons painted on breast plates and shoulder guards, a symbol of the cities of the southern deserts, moreover the empire of Naranda, blood thirsty traitors is what Casper now knew them as, they came many years ago with treaties of peace and trade. Casper felt anger in his heart and joined in the battle cries as the order was given to engage."Fire!" The Marshall roared. Vapour shot upwards out of the rifles, their impossibly fast bullets crashing into the enemy, blood spurting out from wounds like a leaking tap, this was Casper's first blood, the sight of death shocking him to the core, yet the fierce pride he had for Luntera and the hate for these attackers hardened his once childish spirit. This was his home and he would defend it he resolved, whatever the cost. The Narandans kept coming, despite their losses, a feverish rage in their eyes almost if a blood lust had taken, some of their soldiers possessed no ranged weaponry, merely cruel black iron weapons, it would not be long before Narandan iron would meet Lunteran steel. The fighting raged for a few minutes yet
it was clear they could not be held here, more space was needed for the ranged weaponry of the Lunterans to be effective."Pull back to the ground!" The Marshall ordered, a hasty yet well performed retreat to the ground was carried out, recruits and infantry pouring out of the air dock and into barricades erected by their comrades at the entrances to streets, parts of housing and other buildings were bieng used. They would be able to hold them here, the steam battalions would be ready soon. The groans and roars of the canons in around the city were still firing and to effect, many ships were being flung out of the sky Casper observed, yet above were more and more, there was a dense cloud of red above the city. He rushed towards the barricades crouching behind them. They were situated in a semi-circular perimeter about the dock to prevent any further advancement into the city, cannons firing at the enemy ships daring to try and drop off their troops, the problem now was that some of the ships were trying to hover above roof tops and let the foot soldiers off via ropes, it was dangerous as the rising hot air from the fires made it hard to stay at the same height, to the defenders advantage. It was here that Diego rejoined the fight, sliding to the ground next to Casper and unslinging his rifle began aiming towards the enemies running towards them."Casper!" The dog sounded towards the lizard, who smiled, glad to see his friend return. "This is insane, what have we done to deserve this onslaught?""I don't know Diego, but they won't take my city" the lizard spat with vehemence, his rifle reloaded and shot with methodical efficiency, Diego was surprised to see him like this, the battle had obviously got to him, some were shell shocked instsantly, some dealt with later, after the fighting had finished, and some became cold. He had been told that in the first few days of military academy. "Was Michael okay?" Casper continued."Yes...but his parents didn't make it""Damn Narandans, we'll avenge them Diego""Yes... we will." Diego began firing, it was difficult not to hit something as the swarms of Narandans ran towards the barricades, it was futile at the moment, sheer weight of numbers carrying the red wave towards them, soon it would become a brutal melee. At that moment golden coloured shapes started moving from eastern side of the surround, hand cannons flashed at the flanks of the Narandans, the steam battalion had finally arrived, marching out from the armouries and walking as fast as the bulky armour would allow, straight into the sides of the attackers. The frontal ranks carried on charging, to lose momentum now would ruin their assault, the rear turning and heading for the new threat."About time too!" the Marshall shouted, "Resume Firing!". Diego's rifle howled, he watched as they fell, he could not tell if it was him who was the cause of their death or any other soldier. His heart pounded, almost as if was
going to burst through his raiment like his bullets burst through that of the lion not a hundred paces away from him now, his form crumpled in a heap, paws of the oncoming enemy obscuring his view. Bile rose up his throat a burn which he tried to force down, his paws began to shake, he had stopped firing. The noise dulled as the guilt of murder began to consume him. Then a thought of Michael brought him back, he had to do this, to protect those he loved, Marvin and Ellera what if they had also been shelled as they slept? A rage like a fire in his gut forced him back into focus. He had to do this he told himself again an again. He came back to his senses just at the pistols of the Narandans came in range, bullets were now whizzing past his ear, pounding into the defenders. "Swords ready!" The scarred wolf shouted, his pistol hidden in a cloud of vapour, Diego new it however, a beautiful revolver style weapon with a custom underslung pressuriser, his own weapon a standard issue pistol. He readied it along with his blade, he'd drilled with it many times it was becoming an extension of his arm, Diego preferred the sword and pistol, he was used to tightly packed decks and corridors on the air ships and found close combat more natural than longer range, Casper had the knack for ballistics, whilst Diego was better at the blade. A cheetah attempted to vault the barricades, his long legs and speed making it easy, Diego yelled as the furry form was about to land upon him, his pistol flying up and firing, the cheetah's chest erupted and the feline landed dead upon the dog."Diego!" Casper cried, pulling the dog to his feet as he rolled the corpse off. "I'm fine, i'm fine." Diego breathed, the blood from the cheetah covering his white and blue uniform. More were coming, they brandished their blades and moved forward to meet the attackers. A cruel looking axe came down from a lion who had clambered over the barrier in the wake of the cheetah, he roared as Diego parried with his sword, the lion was significantly taller than the dog yet Diego was quicker, dancing to side just quickly enough as another blow came down, a large amount of luck and instinct saving his spotted side. He whirled his sword around its point aimed at his attacker's back, the steel bit into the lion and Diego ran him through, pulling his bloodied sword free as the lion crumpled to the ground. There was no time to have a breather despite the sudden onset of fatigue, he carried on adrenaline keeping him going. Parry. Slice. Stab. A pistol shot when the moment called for it. Action, reaction. There was no time to think about what he was doing, yet he could feel the defenders losing ground in places, they were being pushed back towards the streets and more were landing now on the cleared ground around the air dock from levelled buildings. They were losing. An allied single man glider swooped down and dropped a cylindrical metal object next to the feet of the Marshall, who
opened it immediately. He signalled over four runners, rabbits, they were used to carrier messages between commanders."Carry these orders to the commanders, one half of their defensive units are to fall back to guard and escort the evacuees, Go!" he ordered and handed out separate orders to each individual runner and the rabbits hurried off to their destination. A Siren began sounding, a signal for the citizens to leave the city."Recruits! Units three four and five fall back!" He yelled, his voice barely reaching Diego as he levelled his pistol and fired at an oncoming Narandan. The units and the recruit parted from the front, as other units took their place, the defenders fought in waves to prevent over tiredness in the ranks. "You are to escort the rest of the citizens from the city, Lieutenant Lucia take command of this cohort, move to the West sector and begin moving out the citizens out of the city, carry out evac plan seven. Those who refuse are to be left, there is no time to persuade the stubborn, all the time we will be able to give is less than an hour. Move out!" The wolf bellowed, the cohort moved as ordered. Diego turned to see the wolf charging back into the fray."I admire him" Casper said to Diego"The Marshall is one of our greatest." Lieutenant Lucia said overhearing, she was a female beagle and slightly taller than Casper, she had a scar on her cheek, and a fresh cut on the other and forehead. "Lieutenant, what is evac plan seven?" Casper asked as they jogged quickly to the West sector."What we do when the situation is grim." She replied, sighing as she said so, "Some of our larger ships will attempt to break through the fight above. The command ship must still be intact for us to receiving such orders, it will probably be amongst the ships to break through, as it is the largest. Then these ships will pick up the evacuees and we will retreat into the northern mountains to the outposts.""So the city is lost?" One of the other recruits shouted, causing other to mumble and cry out in dismay."We have not the strength to win this battle, but take heart, the war is not over! We will call for aide, regroup and we will be back to retake what is ours. There is no time for this, you heard the Marshall we are running out of time!" She shouted, spurring the cohort onwards."We must split up into groups and get as many as we can out. You two with come me." They were split up into groups of ten, from roughly two hundred and fifty soldiers, and sent in different directions to herd the citizens towards the gates, many were already on their way, but were trying to carry too much. Lieutenant Lucia shouted for them to leave belongings and take only food and other necessities. Ships were beginning to break off, the large triple size command vessel was swooping down from above, escorted by regular ships and single man gliders, many others were tying up those of the red invaders who tried to pursue
the evacuation ships. The evacuees rushed, pushing in places, crowds from the different sectors were converging as were the other escort parties. The command ship and other large vessels landed, whose flat bottomed hulls were designed to allow ground landings opened cargo bay doors, the citizens rushed on, into the dark vast hulls of the ships. Diego and Casper with the Lieutenant manage to board a vessel named the Winged Saviour, a fitting name for the enterprise. As the air ships regained altitude, Diego looked out over the prow of the ship, being a recruit of the flight engineers he was allowed on the deck, the Narandans had breached the barricades, small pockets of resistance could be seen but the city was lost, and burning, there would be nothing left to come back to or fight for, it seemed that Luntera would be plundered and then left to burn. For the moment it seemed resistance was futile.
Thanks for reading this short-ish story, i'd love to turn this into a longer story over a few more entries, so leave some feedback if it tweaks your interest. Or if you think it's shockingly bad, tell me why! ^.^
Finger's crossed, I hope you judges liked it!
Thanks again,
Faral.