Tides Of Protomis XLIV(44)

An Encounter In the Wilds- The Wu Freedom Front!!

Dawn, the next morning. Liang and Bijan walked through the trees, on yet another beaten path. As it had been before, there were no signs of any other people. Liang looked to his left, at the trees he walked past. While Bijan looked to the front.

“Well, looks like things went smoothly- I suppose they really wouldn’t bother…”

Bijan glanced over at his ally.

“Good for us. But I don’t think we’ll be so lucky when we start hitting the bigger towns. Until then, though, we should move without a problem- “

Bijan’s words were broken off by sigma particle beams bursting out of the treeline, flying past them, and crashing into the ground, creating small craters where they landed. Soon after, the other sounds from within became more clear. Gauss rifles and railguns echoed through the trees. An all-too familiar sound for both of them. Liang glanced over at Bijan with a less than amused expression.

“Without a problem- huh?”

The source of the attack was, infact, the continued battle between the Kaemerge and the WFF. It had been like this since they'd met each other, on and off shootouts across the forest. As their slugs flew at each other, they popped in and out of cover. Some got out with chipped armor, luckily able to survive. The same could not be said for others, who found themselves killed within a few shots. Regardless of this, the squads kept moving, as their officers barked out commands. Neither side was willing to give way. Liang and Bijan began a quick dash, making their way into the forest. Before they leaped away from another, hopping between the branches.

Liang stood on the branch over a clearing, where there lay a squad of five, standing in a circle, with their guns pointed outwards. Soon after, he leaped off, landing within the circle. Something that made them swiftly turn around.

“Who th-” One began, cut off as Liang drew the Zhi Ni, swinging it around himself in a circle, something that went to slice through the soldier’s armor like tissue paper. They would soon fall to the ground, as they died. Elsewhere, Bijan continued to leap between the branches. On the ground A commander of one of the squads took note of him, and put his hand up, halting his men.

“Break off, We’ll investigate whoever that was.”

With his command, they moved through the trees, spreading out as they did so. Eventually, as Bijan reached a clearing in the forest, he landed, with the troops soon entering the clearing, guns in hand, pointed at him.

“State your identity.”

Bijan was silent, as he reached for the burlap sack on his side. Grasping it, and reaching inward, bringing out seeds, before he flung them onto the ground. He flung seeds out into the ground. The troops glanced at one another in their confusion. Soon afterward, vines spread across the ground. In a few moments, they began to intertwine. Something that caught the soldier’s attention.

“Hold on, What’s he doing?!” One questioned.

The intertwining continued, until, breaking out of the dirt, were the same plants he’s used in Santa Maria. Under his visor, the eyes of one of the soldiers widened like dinner plates.

“Those plants, I know them. GET BACK!!!” He yelled.

However, his warning came too late, a mass of thorns flew at them, going through their armor, and bodies alike, coming out of the other side, covered in blood. And stopping, impacted onto the thick trees behind them. Soon, they fell to their deaths, with the holes riddled in their bodies quite visible. As well as the crimson liquid that stained the ground below. Bijan wordlessley hopped onto a branch once more, before continuing his path forward. Elsewhere, Liang did the same, rushing through the brush. Until, they reached each other. Liang stopped where he was, as Bijan dropped to ground level. Before they knew it, however, the men of the other force had come to surround them, though their guns were not pointed at them. Soon, coming into the parting circle of soldiers, was a man wearing armor that appeared different from those around him, in that, there was a small white cloth hanging from his shoulder. His face was clearly showing the effects of age. Wrinkles going across the length of his face. Telling his age as well, was the thick beard on his chin, raven-colored, just like his hair. This man was without a doubt, a major figure. The WFF’s Supreme Commander, Zhang Li Wei.

“Well… You’ve done us good by throwing them into disarray, but I have to ask, who are you?”

Liang focused his gaze on Zhang.

“We're just two men that have an enemy in common, the kaemerge… Seeing as you were just shooting at them, it looks like it's the same for you. So, we can help you eject them- if needed. It’s in our interests as well.”

Zhang was soon surrounded by men with cloth on their shoulders, though they were black. They, themselves, being the other unit’s officers. A conversation began between them all, Much of which went over both of their heads. Bijan glanced at Liang.

“Are you getting any of that?”

“No. They’re speaking Mandarin…”

The conversation between the commanders continued for a bit longer before Zhang turned his attention back to the two youths.

“Well, While we’d prefer not to take outside help, we’ll take what we can get. Come with me, we can talk strategy.”

Zhang turned on his heel, and the two moved to follow. Elsewhere, The Kaemerge troops began their retreat, though keeping their weapons pointed up as they did, with members of their squads watching the backs of their comrades, before leaving themselves… Once again, they had their numbers whittled down by another attack. The situation did not go look, not as any of them saw it.

Inside the command room, Tsunan, Dasel, and Lu sat looking at the same holographic map. Solenm expressions on their faces. They said nothing, deliberating possible strategies within their heads. The tense silence between them was interrupted as a woman, wearing the standard armor, though, with her helmet removed, stepped into the room. She saluted, putting her right hand over her chest, fingers facing the sky.

“Lord Tsunan- unknown proto-humans, possibly mid-tier, have interfered, they halted our assault on the enemy.”

“I’m aware, You’re dismissed.” Tsunan responded.

The soldier soon saluted once again, leaving. Tsunan placed his elbows on the table portion of the map, interlocking his fingers, as he closed his eyes.

“It looks like the strategy won’t work as intended then. I must remember what I learned from my parents. Be ready for anything. This is a war, after all. The enemy will not hesitate to do what they can to win. Their reasons for fighting are as legitimate as ours…”

“As true as that is, It still doesn't answer the question of what we can do.” Dasel responded.

For some moments, they all remained in silence, until Lu snapped.

“Sir- Perhaps we can request reinforcements from Lhasa HQ?”

Tsunan shook his head.

“No-- They won’t do it. As it stands, we aren’t a major strategic location, just some camp out in the boonies. We can’t afford to move troops freely either, as powerful as we are, we’re not indestructible…. Lu-- Search the databases for their identities.”

“Yes!”

Lu stood up, stepping toward one of the terminals on the side of the room. His fingers moved across the screen as he went through the files. About 20 seconds passed before he found the correct one, Marked “High Profile Targets”. There were a number of them, pictures located beside short descriptions. Names, Age, and whatever other miscellaneous information. After some more scrolling, he stopped. His eyes moved across the screen, before he turned back to the two.

“I’ve got them, Bijan Lafeyah, Broke through The Second’s Mind Control, and Left right after that. Then, there's Liang Yu…. Two of our best Assassins, Reported MIA after the battle of Niopolis…”

Dasel’s look changed to one of surprise, While Tsunan's eyes shot over.

“Those are the monsters we’re fighting? I’ve heard that they were considered as Imperial Guard candidates…”

Tsunan Sighed.

“Well, I can’t deny that this doesn't look good for us, We’ll just have to make do. Let’s get rid of em’, so we can get back to our lives.”

Part B

The command center for the WFF was quite small. Though, given that the organization wasn’t nearly as large as it had been, it wasn’t a surprise. Though, they’d managed to keep in contact with their former members. It was for that reason that their numbers quickly began to swell closer to their initial numbers at the end of the previous war. Normally, it’d just be Zhang and the few commanders. In the center of the base, a small concrete building, two floors in height, were Zhang, Liang, And Bijan. Bijan leaned back into his chair, while Liang's eyes scanned the room.

“Alright, I’ll be clear, we’ll need your support for this operation. While the enemy doesn't seem to be all that much- we feel that they may be reinforced. Our plan to capture their weapons and supplies. Chances are, we’ll need them later…”

Bijan nodded, as he glanced at liang.

“It could help us out if we decrease Kaemerge control here-- these people are probably more prepared than the Cui army is right now.”

You think I don’t know that...? That aside, do you have contact with any other groups in the area?

“Yes… About 7 others, we’ve temporarily formed a Coalition, until this all blows over… But we have an issue. They’ve been placing Sigma particle Dispersers around the area. And considering they’re being released at combat density.”

“The sigma particles are interfering with your communications…” The youth’s noted in sync.

Liang put his hand on his chin, as he thought about the opposite side’s tactics or possible lack thereof. While it seemed like a good plan in theory, there was something he took note of.

“They'd need to disperse the particles without sacrificing their communications. Which means they've placed a means of dispersing the particles around here, and have to be a good distance away…”

Zhang nodded.

“We noted this a while back, and we've attempted to find out where these Dispersers are placed. But there is an issue, intelligence has made no progress on this front.”

Bijan put his gaze on the ceiling, as he leaned farther back into his chair, before speaking.

“We could say a lot of things about the Kaemerge… but they aren’t COMPLETE fools.”

Liang tapped his foot, as he thought. How could they go about this?

“If I attack their fortress directly I can serve as a distraction. If they decide to make chase and try to eliminate me, I could have Bijan go on the inside.”

“While you do that, I could go inside to check for Cuifen, and take out any enemies I find within the base.” Bijan said, as he nodded his head.

“Yes… While you draw them out, we'll have our forces positioned on the left and right flanks, and destroy their advance. Depending on how much of their forces they divert- we may be able to mount a direct offensive on their base… we'll move at 21:00.” Zhang stood up, and began making his way out, presumably, to begin handing out orders. Soon, Liang and Bijan stood up from their seats, moving to follow them.

Later that day, the WFF’s soldiers moved throughout the trees, positioning themselves, ready to fire when the Kaemerge came out. At the forefront, sood Liang and Bijan. Their gazes set on the base. Liang cracked his knuckles as she spoke.

“Let's get this over with.”

“Right…” Bijan responded.

Bijan once again reached into the sack, throwing the seeds into the soil, While Liang flew forward, Grabbing the Zhi Nu, as he tightened his grip on it. In the outpost’s command room, one of the men rushed to Tsunan’s side.

“Lord Tsunan-- Liang Yu is rapidly approaching- he seems to be alone!!”

Tsunan glanced at him, and then, at the display of the map that lit up in front of him. He closed his eyes for a second, as he went deep into thought. The others in the room watched him intently before he finally opened them.

“Send out the 4th and 5th HAU Regiments, and the 2nd Armored Unit. Have the 3rd artillery unit support them from behind- do not send any infantrymen out…”

“Yes sir!!” They yelled.

On the map itself, he took note of the green markers, marking his allies that moved with his orders. Outside, on a clearing between the trees dust on the ground was kicked up. A result of the Kaemerge HAU’s that glided over the ground, at over 380 MPH. Accompanied by the low hum of the jets on their legs. In their manipulators, were weapons that resembled Rifles and RPGs, all aimed at the Martial artists. Weaving between them were tanks, ready to fire as well. Liang began to swing the chain whip around,a small boom sounding as this happened, a direct showing of the pure speed of the Chain. within one of the tanks, a woman , one out of the three operators within, barked out an order.

“All units- Open Fire!!”

And, like that, the rails within the guns electrified, as the Rounds flew out at Liang, the man stood unphased, as he dodged the projectiles, and, slicing some with the edge of the whip. He flew toward them, as he swung his arm, Launching the tip of his weapon forward, Piercing the armor as it landed. He soon yanked it back, dragging it across the length of the tank, ripping it in half, as it exploded. Soon, he threw it out once again, Slicing apart the armor of an HAU in front of him, as he swung his arm left, the chain coming with it, the one beside it was soon cleaved. Soon, they began to scatter, still firing at him all the while. However, their attacks remained ineffective, as he continued to crack the Zhi NU again, and again, destroying the HAUs, tanks, and demolishing the force. From behind him, Several HAUs, and Armor Alike, Painted in a dark green shade, rather than the Kaemerge’s black, moved forward.

“Now, men!! Strike them while they're distracted- Eliminate their artillery, HAU's go forward and combat theirs, Armor- charge between our HAU's, and support them-- do not come into close combat!”

“Yes!”

As the words of acknowledgment came over the comms, The HAUS began to break off from one another, as the tanks came between them, Others made a dash for the linear Artillery guns they saw at the back, while others came into the thick of the fighting. Soon, both sides aimed their weapons, and the pilots began firing. Bursts of red light lit up the night sky, as the Sigma Particle guns were fired time and time again. Though the battle looked even, when one looked closer, the Kaemerge were clearly in a worse state. As tanks and HAUs and both sides were destroyed in bursts of fire, They happened more among Tsunan’s forces. However, neither side was willing to cease fighting. Close quarters combat even began between the suits of both sides, as Sigma Particle Sabers were drawn, clashing with their opponents as electricity arcs crackled. The brutal fighting continued, while the three commanders watched. On Tsunan’s map, the words lost appeared time and time again on his display. Dasel looked down upon this, before glancing back up at Tsunan

“They’re pretty good for some Hicks with guns, whoever’s commanding them isn’t stupid.”

“It seems that we've taken their bait…”

Tsunan sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“That much is my fault. Though, it wouldn't be the case for much longer if we could call for reinforcements… But we simply can't do that unless we decrease sigma particle density… but that would allow them to make contact with the outside world. And given that they’ve taken some of our equipment, they can easily jam us and move back... This is an issue.”

Tsunan put his hand on his chin, as he stroked it in thought. Until, a man wearing a pilot uniform, black in color, with red going down the sides of the torso, and sleeves, entered the room. He had a head of blonde hair that touched his eartips. His piercing blue eyes moved across the room, until they stopped at Tsunan. He walked to the edge of the holo-map, and saluted. The man known as Henrik Lundgren had arrived.

“Lord Tsunan- If needed, I will go out in the Durandal.” Henrik suggested.

Tsunan paused, considering this...

“Permission granted…”

Tsunan paused, as the gears began moving in his head.

“Dasel, send our Corvettes out, as well as our HAUS equipped with Aerial packs. We need to provide air support…”

“Yes sir!!!”

“Lu-- Direct reinforcements into the field… We will break their assault.Direct the damaged units back for repairs, and have the Fresh forces establish a perimeter.”

Lu: Yes!

Soon, the commanders in the room saluted, as they began exiting, making their way to the battlefield, with Lundgren following. All the while, Tsunan continued to watch the map.

To Be Continued

(Base of design for the Durandal-- will be edited))