To the foreman : "I was told tomorrow morning at the earliest; I would hope by tomorrow sunset at the latest. But even once the extra troops are here, any of your people who feel comfortable being sentries would be welcome. They would not have to fight, just call out for the nearest soldier to come to them.
But, I would suggest that until the troops arrive, you 'request' all able-bodied people to aid in the watch. Be nice, but don't make it an option.
Ezekial, why don't you roam around the perimeter, spending a few minutes at each place looking around, and tell the people how to keep watch effectively."
Monday, November 13th, 109 PA, 0830 hours local. 37 degrees, Partly Cloudy, Warehouse.
Your spend the rest of the day setting up patrols with Ezekial training the ones as quickly as he can how to do a decent patrol and what to look for. Evening and night goes uneventfully and in the morning, the foremen start to work on getting the workers back to the mines and the town attempts to get back to business as usual. It is as you are sitting down to breakfast that you get told about a vehicle approaching. When you go out to see, you spot a gray and green colored eight wheeled vehicle that looks vaguely the shape of a Coalition Mark V, but the graffiti and camouflage don’t seem to match standard CS colors. That and it is missing the usual weapons array. The hatch opens as it nears the gates and a man in Legion uniform pops his head out.
”Corporal Jason Gorman, reporting as ordered.”
Suspicious of the incongruities in the vehicle, Burgurk holds up his hand in a "stop" position and asks "Who ordered you to come here?"
Saluting, which is usually not done to someone that is not an officer, especially in the field, the Corporal says loud and clearly. ”Sir! This platoon has been ordered to reinforce SET X23 in the town of Paragould by Major Grimjack, sir! He said his orders came from the top sir!”
"Very well. Welcome to Paradigm. Find a place to park your vehicle, and accompany me to your barracks."
The men park the vehicle just inside the gates and begin to fall out into formation as they follow you to the makeshift barracks. They take up position just outside and Corporal Gorman, human by the looks of him, salutes again. ”Ready for inspection, sir!”
...
Meanwhile, Ezekial is busy tending to lingering wounds and checking on Specialist Jimenez when she finally awakens. ”Ezekial? What happened? One minute we were talking to Hollis and the next, everything went black. Then I heard some voices and then I was here.”
...
Shakti, fresh from a morning meditation, gets a feeling that there is still some taint coming from the mines, though not near as powerful as it was with the demons there, she feels it could be used for further problems if not dealt with.
...
Meanwhile, Ezekial is busy tending to lingering wounds and checking on Specialist Jimenez when she finally awakens. ”Ezekial? What happened? One minute we were talking to Hollis and the next, everything went black. Then I heard some voices and then I was here.”...
Ezekial grimaces.
"Shakti put some kinda mojo on 'em that drove 'em out, but whatever it was made 'em go berserk. You caught a bullet in the openin' volley. Thankfully a quick sip o' my tonic fixed you right up!" he says, flashing her a smile, and failing to mention how close it had come to NOT working.
"We got everythin' settled in Paragould, and our reinforcements should be here soon. Might be shippin' out elsewhere afore long."
Burgurk waves a hand at Gorman and says "I may have a rank of , but out here in the field things are informal. No more saluting, ok? And I'm not interested in how you're dressed, I'm interested in how well you fight. There's a man called Hollis a few miles away, with a large fighting force, and he's probably going to try and re-take this town.
For now, all of you stow your gear and take up positions evenly spaced around the perimeter of the town, and keep your eyes peeled for *anyone* approaching the town. I want 2 of you on each of the gates into town. We have townspeople keeping watch right now, ask anyone you run into if they'd consider continuing to keep watch for the safety of their town, but let them go if they want. Contact me over comms if you or a townsperson see anything. Dismissed." He waves his hand casually on the last word.
Taking Gorman aside, he says "What I really need from you is a breakdown of our weaponry. Does each man have a weapon? Rifles or pistols? How many total rounds did you bring? Did you bring any long-range explosive devices like I asked for, like bazookas, grenade launchers, or missiles?"
Ezekial:
Ariel looks up, wincing as she does so. Apparently the wound still hurts a bit, and might for some time. ”I appreciate that. Guess you’re better at doctoring than I am, huh?” She smiles weakly. ”Tell Sergeant Burgurk I’ll be good to go and ready for duty. Just stings a bit, I guess.” She stands up and gives Ezekial a hug. ”Thanks. Really.” She lets go and starts to walk out. ”Shall we go see if our new people are here yet?”
Burgurk:
”You heard the man, get moving!” Corporal Gorman orders as you finish. The men and women of Delta Platoon file out and start unloading their gear into the barracks, setting up cots and getting situated. Gorman walks with you as you take him aside. ”I can have the platoon do an inventory if you’d like sir, but each trooper has a rifle and field gear. We have three heavy plasma guns and a Wicked 6 launcher with 4 reloads. The Mark Five has a couple of heavy lasers in the turrets and a few anti-personnel grenade launchers in the nose, but the rest was stripped out when the Motor Pool gave it to us. We should have enough charge to last us a while and E-clips are easily recharged with the Mark Five, just takes a bit. I can setup a cycle rotation to keep everything tip top if you’d like, Sergeant.”
As an afterthought, Burgurk asks "Are there any sharpshooters in your outfit?"
Burgurk:
Cpl. Gorman shakes his head. ”No one that qualifies under that designation, Sarge. We are all qualified with our rifles, but no snipers.”
Ezekial:
Ariel looks up, wincing as she does so. Apparently the wound still hurts a bit, and might for some time. ”I appreciate that. Guess you’re better at doctoring than I am, huh?” She smiles weakly. ”Tell Sergeant Burgurk I’ll be good to go and ready for duty. Just stings a bit, I guess.” She stands up and gives Ezekial a hug. ”Thanks. Really.” She lets go and starts to walk out. ”Shall we go see if our new people are here yet?”
Ezekial gives her a smile. "Any time. Just don't make it too often, now." he says, then takes his hat off and gives her an "after you" for her suggestion.
Ezekial follows Ariel to the newly setup barracks to see Burgurk ordering the new platoon around and getting them to stow their gear and set up perimeter watches. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was preparing for war. He probably is, considering you are unaware of Hollis’ intentions at this point.
Burgurk, while speaking with Gorman, notices Ariel on her feet and Ezekial close behind her.
"Ariel - glad to see you're on your feet," Burgurk says matter-of-factly. "Do you feel up to going on watch around the edge of the town, or do you need some time to rest? Ezekial, I'd like you on watch duty or guarding one of the town gates. Contact me over comms if you see anything suspicious."
Ariel stands as close to attention as she can. ”Yes, Sergeant. I’ll do my best. “
After careful planning and garnering a few recruits from Paragould’s makeshift militia, you are ready to take the fight to Hollis and his people. Recon indicates that he has holed up on a hill overseeing a large field, but there are plenty of trees to cover your advance while Shakti distracts them from behind. It will be a difficult fight, but you feel like with a careful plan, you just may send him packing.
Burgurk uses his infinite supply of 3 mental bolts per round to take out Hollis' men :
= 8, a Raise
Ezekial rushes back and forth, keeping the troops healthy as the battle begins.
=17
Shakti rises up from one end of the battlefield in her full flame wind dragon form. Gouts of incinerating fire burst from her open mouth as she lays waste to the area. As they turn to fight, some of them run right into the fusillade of fire from the APC and your troops setup in line formation, hailing them with laser bursts backed up by Burgurks psychic blasts. You see Hollis trying to get his men under control and into a defensive formation so they can fight. Though a few of your men fall, Ezekial is right there to get some back in the fight, but not all.
Hollis, seeing he is mostly surrounded tries to get his men under control, but the APC and the sight of a dragon decimating them is too much. They flee as quick as they can, taking only what they can carry and taking as many wounded as they can. Your men and the fighters of Paragould keep firing at their backs, so they don’t think to turn back.
With the savage blood lust of his race starting to course thru his veins, Burguk's first inclination is to follow the fleeing troops and wipe them out to a man. Bur then he thinks, "what would a Legion soldier do?", and decides to let them go. He orders everyone (including the APC) to maintain fire at them to dissuade them from coming back.
The Legionnaires keep up their fire, sending blast after blast into the surrounding woods and leaving no chance for Hollis or his men to return to the fight unscathed. After another ten minutes, there is no sign of him or his men, only smoke and flame from burning trees and smoldering bodies where a few of them lay dead. The wreckage of the camp itself is burning as well, sending a large plume of black smoke and debris to the sky that can probably be seen for some distance. Corporal Gorman mentions this. ”Sir, I hope he doesn’t have reinforcements. That smoke can draw all kinds of attention. Maybe we should head back to Paragould.”
"Good idea, Corporal." Burgurk announces over comms for everyone to return to the APC. Once everyone does, they head back to Paragould.
You get back to Paragould, with the rest of the militia waiting at the gates for word of the results. You start to see some tears as they are told of those who were lost, but even so, they nod in your direction in appreciation of Hollis being chased away.
You return to the barracks and the soldiers begin to fall out and check their gear. Corporal Gorman approaches. ”Sir, we may have to rearrange the ranks, sir. Not right away of course, but with Corporal Hudson gone, we will need a squad leader for Third Squad. With your permission sir, the troops will get cleaned up and get back to duty on the gates. They will need something to do.”
"You know your men better than I, who would you suggest as Third Squad leader? Tell your men they can get cleaned up, but I also want sentries in a circle around the town as before watching for anyone or anything approaching, in addition to gate duty."
Corporal Gorman nods. ”Yes sir, we’ll get right on it. I will look at Third Squad and recommend a suggestion.”
With that he turns and starts barking orders to the rest of them, getting them to get cleaned up, and ready to go on patrol. While they do so, you hear stories of the troops that died.
...”Taylor and Gardner went left and tried to corral a couple of squads that were slipping over to our flank. There were just too many of them. I lost them in the smoke...”
...”You should’ve seen it. It was like a wave of them came over that hill. We were all firing as fast as we could, dropping them left and right, but then their captain came out with that railgun and man, it was bad. If we get some leave time, I’ll buy a round for Lerner, Harris and O’Neill.”
...”Corporal Hudson ordered us ahead, but he stayed back to provide cover fire with the plasma gun. Next thing I knew, an explosion went off behind us and there was only a crater left. I don’t think anyone could have survived that blast.”
Soon after, the troops start heading out to their assigned patrols. While they are high from their victory, the lost troops leave a somber haze over them.
Burgurk contacts Chief Elle and reports that while Hollis escaped, his entire force was heavily damaged and completely routed. He suggests that his team (the 3 of us) stay in Paragould for up to a week, in case Hollis should come back with reinforcements. He mentions the group of Faelerin, and how they're viewed with suspicion (but not animosity) by the townspeople at the moment. He asks if she has any specific orders for him, military, diplomatic, or otherwise.
Chief Elle eventually answers after a long wait. ”Sergeant. I’m glad to hear that you have scared off Hollis for the time being, but I have a feeling you are right. He may come back with larger numbers. While Paragould hasn’t officially signed on with us, as a show of good faith, we are sending a full company out to take over your guardianship. Once they arrive, we will begin training the militia to fight for themselves. That should keep Hollis out for a bit. I think your friend the deity is a good deterrent for now, but I fear that it won’t be enough if he wins friends in the Federation. That’s why we’re sending more. That is all we can spare though. It is unfortunate that so many lost their lives to send him packing, but I think overall, it was a victory, even if temporary.” She pauses and you can tell she is listening to someone speaking to her on the other end.
”You can stay in town for a week, but then I need you to escort those Faelerin back to Castle Refuge, preferably after Delta Company has arrived. The APC we sent along should have enough room for the remaining troops and yourselves as well as the passengers. The sooner you return the better. We already know of several factions laying claim to their kind.” Another pause. ”Do what you can to keep Paragould safe in the mean time. Chief Elle out.”
Shakti takes the lull in the conflict, with Hollis apparent retreat, to investigate the sensation she felt before, emanating from the mines. If there is any residual infection, subversion, or presence there, she means to find it. She informs Burgurk of her intention, against the possibility she is needed if Hollis returns, or in case she should fail to return. Should that happen, she suggests they not attempt to look for her, but rather collapse the entrances to the mine with explosives, and send for a more powerful Mystic or Shifter, or a team of said specialists, from castle refuge to address the remaining taint.
There is also the factor that she was unable thus far to put a name to the familiarity of the being's presence. She had been sure at one point that the entity was one she had known in the past, perhaps even with her own world.
Moving down into the mines, she returns to the location of the rift, where the Demon Lord was initially summoned. Sitting herself cross legged upon the floor, she begins to meditate on the problem.
She also casts her mind into the greater sea of understanding, seeking the name of the foe they fought here.
While the rest of the platoon gets defenses prepared and helps teach the militia how to fight, should Hollis return, Shakti has her own agenda and heads back into the mines. While the miners are slowly starting to return to work, they avoid the large chamber at the moment. Shakti does not. Entering the chamber, she can feel the presence of the demon even before she attuned her senses. Taking a seat near the sacrificial chamber, she slowly loses herself in the worlds around her and a vision begins to take form. At first she sees the big demon as it absorbs the energy from the Faelerin, using its huge sword to take their lives, which Shakti knows increases the amount of power they give out at that moment. She follows the path of the energy and it doesn’t stop with him though. His name floats to her mind. Aeneraxus, Right Hand of Ceyrana. Ceyrana. Shakti knows that name. It was the name that the summoner was chanting when performing his ritual. It was the name of... her cousin. The one that tried to close off her realm from the rest of the worlds. The one who tried to take her power. An unfamiliar emotion starts to rise in Shakti as an image forms unbidden in her mind. An emerald green glow of energy surrounds a woman sitting on an ivory pedestal, her legs are crossed and her three pairs of arms are held out in a welcoming pose. ”Thwarted my attempt at keeping the family together again, did you?” She shakes her head. ”You don’t belong with them, you know. You could rule them instead. We could rule them all. What are you even doing, Shakti? Do you even know? Living among the mortals like some joyride. Take your place, bring me to you and I will show you how it is done.”
Shakti allows an eyebrow to raise in surprise at the greeting, a reaction to her that might be the equivalent of jumping in surprise for anyone else. This was not who she had expected.
Her world had been an all encompassing entity when it existed; a world in and of itself, separate and distinct from all others. She had been the supreme being over that world, ruler of every snail and insect, just as much as she ruled over the spirit of every man, dragon, and naga. However, that world could also be seen as a single pearl, on a strand of pearls extending infinitely in each direction; one of an infinite variation of worlds, each allowing the divine to see and know each permutation of reality. It was the tree of knowledge that connected all those worlds, a splinter of which formed the mystic staff that lay upon her lap. It was her connection to that tree that still granted her access to in the infinite wisdom of infinite worlds, seen by infinite permutations of the deities that ruled each variation. Ceyrana was one of these.
A cousin, a sister, or a twin, Ceyrana had perverted the purpose of her world to one of her own. Instead of exploring and fostering her world, adding to the knowledge of the tree by encouraging her world's distinctness from all the others, she had sought to merge those worlds; to expand the barriers of her world to overtake the boundaries of her neighbours. It had been a perversion of their joint purpose, and as such, Shakti had rightly opposed it.
Only now, her world was gone, and with it, her purpose. Shared divinity now held a temptation that it had not before. Her world had been destroyed by the disruptive storm represented by the one she now occupied. Ceyrana's world, presumably, had not. In that, there was opportunity. Displacing her and resuming divinity within one of the infinite worlds was possible; it would not be her world, made to her image and mindset, but perhaps it could be resculpted in to a semblance of what she had created. One deity displacing another within the infinite worlds was not unknown, just rare. Alternatively, some of the larger pearls had room for more gods... pantheons. Such had appealed to her not in the least when Ceyrana had forced her hand eons ago, but then she had been supreme over a realm of her own, with no desire to share.
All of these thoughts flashing through her mind in the barest of an instant, she found herself considering. Sending her thoughts back along the vines and branches that connected this world to the point, Shakti addressed her reflection, "Why do you still desire that which lies outside your grasp? You have all that lays beneath your gaze; all your world has to offer, and yet you still crave more. Why?"
The arms fold back into themselves, a disapproving look appearing on Ceyrana’s face. ”Once you learned that you were not the only one of us, what was your first thought? Acceptance? Denial? Aggression? Fear? Mine was more than that. I was trapped in my own realm ruling over all except that which lie outside my grasp. I could not accept this. Someone else was controlling my destiny, my power. We are more than deities, Shakti! We are the universe itself! Can you not see? That power is out there, waiting for one of us to grab it and take it for their own. I have simply chosen to not wait any longer. This world that you inhabit now, it is a gateway, a key to unlock so much more that I.. we can take for our own.” She holds out one of her hands, in it is an image of multiple pearls that you recognize as images of some of the realms. She takes one in her hand and crushes it. You feel an overwhelming sense of something vanishing from all the known worlds, but then a rush of power permeates the rest of them. Nearby, you sense the nexus fluctuate. ”See what I mean? That world is no longer a possibility, but the other realms share in its loss. That is power Shakti. That is what I seek.” The pearls disappear and she returns her hand to her lap. That smug look reappears. She seems to have made her point.
"So, you do not want to rule these worlds, but rather just to harvest their energy?"
As a predator, Shakti is not actually opposed to the concept of a greater force eating a lesser. That she could do such to this world was a near impossibility however. This world was a nexus, and as such flowed with the power of myriad worlds. More likely it was its status as a nexus that made it appealing to Ceyrana. From here, she could vastly expand her reach to all those other worlds.
"What is you propose?"
Ceyrana laughs a mocking laugh at Shakti. ”Of course I want to rule them all. Then all the energy will be mine for all of eternity. I am only willing to share with you because you are family. You help me get a foothold on this planet and we will carve up the worlds together. So many will lie at our many fingertips, all ripe for the taking, whenever we want, unlimited energy, unlimited power. You are like me in a way Shakti, you just don’t see it.”
Monday, November 20th, 109 PA. 0915. 44 Degrees, Partly Cloudy.
A week goes by and you feel like you have gotten to know most of your platoon. Most of them were green to begin with, but after the battle with Hollis, their spirits are still high and it seems like they are still willing to fight as directed. They are anxious about having to go back out into the wilds, but even more excited to be going back home. After you receive the morning report, you are told that the team from Castle Refuge has arrived. One Captain Nerun, a D-Bee with long pointed ears and a regal look about him, comes into the command tent. The soldiers at the front immediately salute the officer. He returns it quickly and then stands in front of Burgurk’s desk.
”I have been told that you are in need of reinforcements Sergeant. I have also been told that you led the attack that repelled that mercenary company. That tells me you have made a dangerous enemy, but one that respects you. Still, I would have chased him down to the last man, but I suppose you didn’t have the forces you needed. I will take care of that for you. Before you leave however, I would like to meet this being that can shape shift into a dragon. My curiosity is piqued.” The look on his face tells you that was more of an order than a request.
When the captain approaches his desk, Burgurk stands up quickly and salutes. After the captain speaks, he says "Yes, sir. I believe Shakti has been spending a lot of time in the mines, let's look for here there first."
You take Captain Nerun into the mines and all the miners point you in the direction of the area they avoid due to Shakti’s telling them not to disturb her. You find her seated near the altar where the Faelerin were being sacrificed. She is in a meditative trance.
Shakti smiles. "This world is a nexus; it swells and swirls with the tempestuous energy of infinite worlds, distilled down to one. Make sure you do not set your sights too high. This world would choke you if you tried to swallow it. Even if you got it down, it would burst from you like a crocodile from the stomach of an over eager snake."
"We may be kin, but there are differences too. Just as each of our worlds has its common features, each must be distinct as well. In this, our world's are more remarkable in their differences than in their sameness, as are you and I."
"Your pursuit of the infinite will likely be your undoing, sister. I am not interested in assimilated all. I believe our distinctness provides for more knowledge than our similarities."
"However, you do offer something I want. This place does not offer the existence I was born to; it is but a pale shadow. To be barely more than mortal, with only echoes of my power, is a bitter fate. I may, therefore, be amenable to a trade. My access to this world, for control of one of ours. Give me but one of those pearls, and I will cement your foothold here. We will bind ourselves not to interfere, each with the other, lest of course there are no other worlds left to subsume. What say you?"
Ceyrana ponders the offer for longer than a divine being normally would. ”You ask for but one of infinite worlds when you can have so many?” She pulls one of the many she has out of her hands and holds it up for you to see. ”If that is all you wish, I will grant it to you. I will also grant you the knowledge to summon me into the world you are on. Once I am there, this world”, she points to the one she is holding out for you., ”is yours and yours alone. I will not interfere with it in any way. It will be yours to rule for eternity.”
"My only desire thus far has been to regain what I've lost. I dream of it. If instead I were to join with you, what role would I serve? Would I be a servant? A lieutenant? Or would my life simply become fuel to your ambitions? Or would we merge; our experiences added to those of each other, our knowledge pooled, our purpose joined?"
To merge together with another held no distaste to Shakti. This was the fate of every creature that lived along the tree - the purpose of each life. How else could the universe learn but to experience each aspect of that creation through different eyes? At the end of each life, all the knowledge accumulated rejoined the whole, adding everything it had learned. In fact, joining with Ceyrana held a certain appeal; while divine beings should not be able to lie, some sort of betrayal seemed inherent in this creature. However, if they were the same creature, their experiences and mutual knowledge would reshape their goals, and whatever decision was arrived at for the future would be to the benefit of their mutual self; no betrayal would be possible.
Ceyrana looks incredulous. ”A servant? No, dear cousin, I would not deign to allow you to be relegated to such a low place. A partner, a confidant, a backup plan, call it what you will, but working together we can easily take more than I could alone. As you well know, finding those who would serve us is difficult. Or, you could take this one world and make it your own and go on knowing that I will not interfere with that one world because it is yours. Should you change your mind in your self-imposed isolation, call out to me and I will come.”
"So Unity does not appeal to you? Does even that aspect of our purpose no longer hold true in you?"
Shakti takes a deep breath and remains silent a moment.
"You have given me much to ponder. I will meditate on your offer."
”I am not opposed to such a joining, Shakti, your experiences would add to my own, but you would cease to exist as an independent being. Think carefully, dear cousin. I will await your return.”
The rest of you watch as Shakti slowly comes out of her trance. She seems different somehow, but you can’t really place it.
Burgurk says "Shakti, this is Captain Nerun of the Legion, he will be running things here from now on. Are you ok? Your lips were moving slightly, as if you were talking to someone."