Frontier

Spike felt lucky as hell as he watched his men sweat even during the mid autumn weather. His new Assassin MK3 airtight body armor with a layer of temperature regulating insulator saved him from his men’s faith. He felt terrible just watching them. And Lieutenant Moore wearing his hand me down Spartan 3 armor looked even worse with all the extra weight.

His new full body armor was only little heavier then fully optimized Spartan 3 armor with bullet proof plates that he changed out of. The external plates were so light Spike could hardly feel the difference in weight. There were different camouflage webbing to cover up the body armor for different environment. The form fitting helmet had all internal visual aids such as electronic Bino, IR, Night vision, and targeting optic system attach to any weapons. You could even call in laser precision airstrike with all included communication system, currently completely useless with its communication system. It even had audio filters with mic and micro external speaker. The only drawback was the 2 5kg rechargeable 1cm thick 2cm wide 9cm long power pack modules shaped into the lower shoulder blade area. Each batteries were designed to last 24 hours at full capacity. And the new backpack was designed to rest around it.

The external super alloy armor has been tested to stop up to 7.62mm non-armor piercing round. But unfortunately the joints are only covered with flexible reinforced fibro alloy only strong enough to stop small pistols. But another layer of pierce resistance cloths were added underneath the fibro alloy. In addition, a micro EKG to monitor the heart at all time while wearing the insert layer.

In total, the armor weighted 20gk. Add in his weapons, water, and tactical gears. Spike was glad, that while back, he added 2 points each to his strength and constitution to help out. Or he would be in a sorry state.

Just when he was wondering wether to be happy with his new armor or unhappy with having to hump all the extra weights. Alarms were raised as both scouts Grigor and Sodie came running back shouting to the break area.

As both scouts burst into visual range, “Goblin riders!” They shouted as they got into the center of the platoon.

Looking at the direction the 2 scout come from, they could only see up to 10 meters at best.

“Fuck!” Spike cursed in silent frustration as a realization hit him. Looking at the density of the vegetation the enemies will again be near melee range before they can even see them. Even with an upgrade of weapons, the very fact that they can't see the enemy until near melee range was a real pain in the ass that nobody has yet to come up with a solution.

Everyone quickly reacted into defensive position. Nobody wanted to feed the wild life with their body parts.

Lieutenant Moore, just as frustrated made a quick decision. “1st and 2nd squad SAW gunners, line up and spray the whole goddamn area facing the direction of the noise. Trench gunners, stand by the SAW for support.” He ordered.

Spike, followed by his bodyguard team quickly positioned between the 2 squads. Squad leaders quickly position each SAW position for maximum effect. Each SAW gunners fired off an entire 200 round ammo drum under 30 seconds. Rain of bullets shredded leaves and branches increasing the visibility in patches of the area. While they reloaded Lieutenant Moore shouted for cease fire trying to listen for any effect on the unseen enemy.

Everyone became silent trying to listen for any wounded enemies. But with their hearing slightly impaired from the machines guns sound they had to rely more on their visual. Even with sounds being dampened from the thick vegetation and ringing in their ears they could still hears some animalistic cry of pain coming from near their front.

Spike quickly checked his EXP and sure enough it increased by 770 points. “I scored some points LT.” He quickly informed Lieutenant Moore.

Damn! They still got that close. Lieutenant Moore cursed. “Again! Spread out the firing arc this time. Fire at will.” He quickly ordered. “3rd, left flack. 4th right flack. Keep your eyes open.

Again, the same SAW gunners opened fire, but his time, they increased their firing arc from left to right. Unloading rain of bullets shredding parts of the forest and killing or wounding any hostile forces in the way of their random paths of bullets. And again they quickly reloaded and waited farther order from LT as he called for cease fire.

Spike checked his EXP again to note an increase of 980. “Scored again LT.” He informed.

Holding their position they waited in silence for another 5min. Then Lieutenant Moore decided the enemy must have retreated if they are able to. Only thing they could hear were whimpering from the giant wolves the scouts had identified as worgs and it’s goblin riders.

“Each squad move up in team wedge formation. Stay within visual from each squad. You all know the MO when finding wounded enemies.” Lieutenant Moore gave out his order.

The 2 scouts move up with LT while Spike had his bodyguard team. In an orderly march, everyone moved up to check the work of 3600 rain of bullets fired off in little over a minutes time. Each squad called out wounded worgs and their goblin riders for Spike to do the dirty deeds to maximize the points scored.

“This is just terrible.” Sodie commented as he looked at the bleeding worgs with multiple bullet holes on their bodys.

“Why is that scout Sodie?” LT asked curiously. “Even though it’s annoying as hell firing blindly, we still won this fight without taking any casualty.”

“That’s not it Lieutenant. The furs, Sir. The worgs have too many holes on them. It’s completely ruined.” Scout Sodie lamented in distraught. Having lived so long under scarcity in resource and food and seeing all the game go to waste gripped his heart.

“Huh?” LT decide to say nothing more, as he heard scout Sodie muttering loudly about taking the meat back. There is no way he was having his men carry back any bloody meat in addition to all their gears. It wasn’t like they need the meat with Lord Phoenix’s ability.

Spike ended up executing 8 goblins and 5 worgs during the search. Netting him an additional 2400 exp and sum of 64RP. In total, there were 14 Warg with 14 goblin riders corpse. Some of the worg looked a little larger just as their goblin riders looked slightly different. This braught him closer up to next level.

Noting the easy kills. “Scout Grigor. Scout Sodie. Do you think you can track where they came from?” LT ask them.

“Between the 2 of us, most likely sir. But it would be far too dangerous to go in too deep. There are bigger and meaner things and some that can use magic.” Scout Grigor advised. “I don’t think we will loss any fights, but as for not losing any men, is a different story. Maybe if we had 3 times the men. Having more men with your weapons will reduce larger casualty in my opinion.” Scout Grigor said as he thought about their range weapons.

“Damn. Ok. Then, let's not push it. Why don’t you find us a good ambush site instead. We still have 1 more day of hunting. If we use these corpse as baits, I think we can set up a good ambush site.” LT ordered as he thought about how to set up a good crossfire ambush.

“As you command Lieutenant.” Scout Grigor replied.

Spike quickly handed out ammo drums to the SAW gunners to refill their loadouts, but as he did a mental count of the ammos, he thought 4200 bullets to kill 28 critters was just terrible. But, at the same time, it was better than men dying or losing limbs. And having to deal with this dense ass forest made their weapons not as effective when enemies can practically come up almost within melee range before they know it. What made it worse was that, beside Spike and LT, not everybody had body armor to protect them in melee. If the men were unable to quickly kill their target before being attacked in melee, the casualty rate would be horrendous. As Spike looked at his men without any armor, he realize they must find a solution to this. Or they may succumb to attrition with large number of amputees.

The SAWs helped out alot, but still. Not being able to see anything past 5-10 meters is hell. There must a solution to this! Spike thought to himself. He also realized that unrestricted spending of ammo is not a problem with the freelance platoon with his presence, but the other unit’s don’t have the same luxury for unlimited combat resupply. Then all the brass lying about distracted his thoughts. Damn. all this money scattered. One day, when this area gets civilized, someone will find this jackpot.

“Everyone accounted for and ready to move out LT.” Sergeant Rector reported.

With Sergeant Rector’s ready report, “1st Squad. Both team move out with the 1 scout each. Don’t forget your on OJT. Sergeant Miller. Lead the way to our ambush site and do an area recon.” Lieutenant Moore ordered.

“Yes sir.” Sergeant Miller order his 2 fireteam to follow and learn from the scouts as they moved towards finding a good ambush site. As the scouts moved, they called out what they were looking for and what to watch for. But the biggest difficulties arose from the fact humans did not possess the demi-humen’s natural physical advantages such as smell, hearing, sight, and physical attribute. But the Phoenixian soldiers noted the difference and did their best to pick up what was taught to them little by little. And the men understood the importance of mastering these new skills or they will be monster food.

As Spike followed, He hoped to score another 876 EXP to level up. He still haven’t replace Sergeant White and Private Smith from lack of personnel slot. But, they absolutely need more combat power.

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Ruins

As Countess Margo Xibgiston looked at the enemy defenses, she felt the enemy presence was off. As Stovkow enemy forces were dug in behind their positions, there was no way she could verify until the battle reveal what she suspect.

Sitting on her warhorse in her field plate armor, Countess Xibgiston commanded her slave element to assault the Stovkow lines. Again, she observed her slave soldiers die as they are smashed into by projectile launched from behind the Stovkow’s dug out positions which was a long line of dirt mound wall. And on the other side was a 2 meter or more drop to trap knightly forces. Judging from the number of the projectile, arc, and the size of the rock, from experiences, she figured the enemy had 4 mangonel catapult.

The lightly armored with only a spear for a weapon, the slave soldier’s deaths raised no concern to her. They were just that, expendable cannon fodders. With commoner's difficult life, many turned to crime to survive. Therefor, it’s easy to replace these criminals.

For this battle, Countess Margo Xebgiston commanded 200 slave soldier as cannon fodder.

With the hard point wooden spike set up as a barricade, charging in with her knights would not be prudent. On the third volley, right as the 5kg rock impacted, with her 2 bodyguard on each flank, Countess bolted onto the battle ground pushing her warhorse for greater speed. Not wanting to make it easier on the enemy archers and javelin throwers that may be hidden farther behind the dirt wall, she stopped at about 25 meters from the first wooden barricade. Then she cast her magic, blasting a cone of flame 75 meter long and 25 meter wide at the end of the flame on the wooden barricade incinerating the wooden obstructions into ash all the way up the dirt wall. Then she hastily made a retreat out of the catapults range before the catapult reloaded. It’s not that she was to afraid of the catapult’s aim. But the thought of dying to a conventional weapon was to shameful.

She repeated this pattern once more to make another pathway for her regular foot soldiers to move up. Casting siege level magic is mana intensive. Knowing she could only do this 6 more time, and needing to save her mana for enemy mages, she ordered the slave element up as fodder for the catapult. On que, the foot soldiers readied behind them.

As she watched her units move up, she wondered why there were no enemy archers in sight. There were always a few archers behind the enemy positions to take cheap pot shots at mages that came to close. An obvious generous reward for killing or even heavily wounding an enemy mages is a temptation very few could let go. Especially if done behind the safety of their defensive position.

With the last shot from the catapult. “Now charge! Quickly, before they reload.” Countess Xebgiston shouted. Behind the catapult range, she watch her regular foot soldier come up behind the slaves to assault through the opening she created. As they go up to the top of the dirt wall, the her soldiers fell back dead or wounded from the arrows sticking out in front of their body. As more of her foot soldiers moved up in their chainmail and large shields, ready to throw their javelin in volley fire. But they were quickly thrown up into the air and landing hard on the other foot soldiers behind them. Then followed by a volley of arrows on the 2 corridor she opened up.

That’s the signal the Countess has been waiting for. Sir Randel Covon. The Countess automatically thought to herself even as she could not see the mage on the other side of the dirt wall.

Even as her regular foot soldier broke through onto the other side, more of them were thrown up into the air to get severely insured or die from landing on sharp objects. Before she got up to the dirt wall, the battle had already ended as no enemies were found on the walls. The Countess could see the enemy were already far away in total retreat and all the catapult were on fire.

Just what is going on here. Sir Randel only stayed behind to buy enough time to retreat! Countess Xebgiston was completely surprised to see the Stovkow abandon their long held defensive line. This battle being so easy that she had uneasy feelings of enemy traps. she order the assault to hold their position. There was no way she was going to send her knight force on the other side of the defensive line to get cut off and fall to their trickery.

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Ruins, Theolemore side.

“Captain General Lucint!” Countess Margo called out as she entered the command tent. “I’m here to make my report.” See the other officers, she quietly approached the large war table with maps of the area surrounded by other captains. The Countess could feel the excitement as she walked toward the war table. A feeling of change in the air.

Captain General Lucint simply glanced at her and waved her over as the surrounding officer stood quietly while their general processed all the informations just givin to him.

Then looking up from the map making eye contact with Countess Margo, “Don’t tell me. The Stovkows had pulled back to their rear fortifications and are digging farther in?” Captain General said.

“That is correct General.” The Countess said with some what surprise tone as she look at the other captain. “I take it the other sectors are the same.”

“That, they are Countess. And some captains have taken some heavy losses from trap and ambushes laid out by the Stovkow’s.” The General replied. “Looks like they don't want to give up the ruins yet, but simply saving their strength for the future. It appears they know that we know there is a rebellion in progress in their southwest. With this we will be controlling the ruins in the near future, but I suspect the Stovkows have plans to continuously harass the dig. Which means, the Ruins borders have been redrawn for now. We just need to dig into the new line. But I doubt they’ll make it easier for us. They will attack our men while they are exposed during the construction of the new defense line. Soon the ground will freeze making our men’s life hell digging in. And any loss on the manpower will have long term reprecaution as we are short on labors. My assessment is that Stovkow’s new strategy is to buy as much time as possible to delay any discovery and development from the ruins.” Captain General Lucint concluded as he showed a deep concentrating expression.

“What are you orders General?” Captain Quintos Kyrouv, 3rd son of Count Yovon Kyrouv asked. A young captain in his late 20’s with strong features looking for merits.

Gently tapping the map table with his fist. “Part of me wants to assault the fortification and break through, but that would be suicidal for many of our men.” Everyone understood that both side have been fortifying their secondary line for years. And the fact that their secondary fortification is much more formidable. “Not only that, they must surely have more traps and ambushes set up to make us pay for each and every step we take.” Pausing in thought. “Our orders have always been to gain control of the ruins, not invading Stovkow. Once we are able to exploit the discovery in the ruins, it’s only a matter of time before we crush the Stovkow economically.”

Most of the officers voiced their agreement to the General assessment.

“General. If we know they are just waiting for our people to be exposed while laboring. Then, instead of spreading out, why don’t we just focus on few locations. We’ve waited for over a decade to gain control of the ruins. There is no need for us to rush in.” Countess Margo Xebgiston said

“That was what I was thinking to do. Sigh! Looking at the map, there is no single location that’s better then another after all these years of conflict.” The battle lines have been well established after so many years. Even the terrains have been changed by the earth mages on both sides in an attempt to deny each other any benefit in the contested land. “Given the current lack of any location advantage, let's focus on a single point and build up our forward fortification, here!” Captain General Lucint pointed exact center mass of the defensive line. “This way we’ll have more flexibility on which direction to fortify after. With the retreating Stovkow forces. I don’t think we need to rush out and put our men under unnecessary risk.” Thinking about the coming winter. “We don’t have much time before the ground freezes. Even with our reinforcement arriving soon, it doesn’t change the fact that the difficulty of building a new defensive line will be delayed. So, I want you all to keep the pressure on the enemy. Wear them down.”

Every acknowledged their general in unison.

“Countess Xebgiston. Send for Sir Tomin Enthuzk. We’ll need his earth magic to speed up the construction.” Captain General Lucint ordered. “In addition, I want half of your mages to protect our new forward position during construction.”

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Myojhuk, Castle Grannor

Steward Caldrun had been riding non-stop for a day and a half. The anguish of losing his only nephew, the last of his blood relative to the frontier was bitter taste that drove him. Upon his arrival, he called for the scout to question him in person. But the scout had proved no new information. The only thing he concluded from what little the scout knew, the frontier had a foreign army and they were powerful.

Having dismissed the scout after questioning him and insuring he understood the need for silence, only 3 men were left in the private office of the former Baron. Steward Caldrun still in his armor, Knight Captain Sir Kalhaiden, and Mister Tisco.

Sir Kalhaiden gave his report. “My scouts have reported strange type of tracks on the road near the frontier. None of them have any idea what could have left these tracks. But I’ve giving very explicit order not to cross the border. I’ve also placed several hundred footmen and knight force near the border to keep any eye out for any signs of invasion, but they have yet to report any activity.” he concluded.

“And that’s all you have?” Steward Caldrun questioned him disappointed.

“I had thought to send the scouts into the frontier, but I felt in my better judgement it would not be prudent Sir Caldrun.” Sir Kalhaiden explained. “With so many refugees coming in and everyone busy organizing and building, I felt minimizing any potential conflict was of priority until I receive order from my higher.”

“Sigh! No. I suppose you are not wrong.” Steward Caldrun replied calmly and under controlled tone. An experienced man of many conflicts, he knew when to control his anger and frustration. Looking at Mister Tisco, long dark brunette hair man in his 30’s with a clean shaved looked, he returned Steward Caldrun’s look with his unreadable green eyes.

“I’m assuming you called me in because you have some sort of plans for me my lord?”

“That I do Mister Tisco. Also, I’m not your lord.” Steward Caldrun replied with mixed emotion.

“I beg to differ My Lord. With the Baron most likely deceased from the official letter, and his younger brother's disappearance. You are next in line My Lord.” Mister Tisco replied. He looked at the Steward Caldrun in the eyes knowing that he was given the mission by steward himself to make sure Byran Myojhuk, the younger half brother disappeared for forever.

Intellectually, Steward Caldrun understood what Mister Tisco was implying. With their current situation, the proper chain of command must be maintained at all cost. Or chaos may erupt and disaster may follow as their organization fracture into factions and be destroyed by the avenging Stovkow Army. Knowing this Steward Caldrun could not out right deny it. And understand in the need for a quick resolve, he simply nodded at both men in presence.

“So be it!” Steward acknowledge. Understanding that should his nephew be found alive, then he would simply hand over the leadership back to him. “And as for the plan I have for you Mister Tisco, I want you to lead the merchant representive group into the frontier as our negotiator. The letter indicates that our men are held prisoners for ransom. So the survivors must know exactly what happened. At least we need some of our men released to find out just what is going on in the frontier. Also, since we no longer need to hide things from the Stovkows, you’ll no longer serve as the pimp master to funnel funds. I want you to head our new Merchants and Crafters guild for all of our territory. I’m sure you knew this was coming and already have men you’ve been grooming. Do what you have to make it happen. But do it after you serve your mission as our negotiator.

“As you will My Lord!” Mister Tisco bowed in respect.

Looking at Mister Tisco. “Once you have achieve these missions, your position in the Senate will be confirmed. Make preparation for depart to the frontier at first light tomorrow. And if possible, bring my nephew's body back with you if he is truly dead.”