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> Operation VIII: Hellfire, By William Rhodes
Captain Garrett Garland
post Apr 6 2006, 09:10 PM
Post #196



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William Rhodes, his friend, was not a well man thought Captain Garland. Coaxing him to leave the body of his fallen mentor had been difficult, but finally a sense of urgency was instilled into the Lieutenant from Garrett's pleas. Like a zombie, the aggrieved man rose and began to exit the facility, holding a second data core under his arm. As if his mind had vacated his body, Rhodes mechanically traversed the dim corridors, illuminated only by emergency lighting and the errant flashes of electrical discharges due to the unstable current coming from whatever was left of the facility's power plant. An interesting choice that the Kuritans would rather implode the facility than blow it up—its secret location would not be revealed even in its destruction aside from the few who managed to escape it. From the outside, the mountain in which the facility was housed would hardly look any different—a massive crater certainly would have been noticed. Luckily, any Kuritan personnel still in the facility were too busy fleeing and thus left the final trio of Legionnaires an unimpeded exit to the surface.

This post has been edited by Captain Garrett Garland: Apr 6 2006, 09:10 PM


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Position : Captain | LEGIONNAIRES
Callsign : Fox
Current BattleMech : Shadow Hawk [55 tons] [97.2 km/h max] [120 meter jump range]
Loadout : [1x Rotary AC5] [1x LRM-20] [1x Medium Pulse Laser] [2x Streak SRM-2] [AMS] [CASE] [ECM] [JumpJets]
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Commodore Benjamin Maxwell
post Apr 7 2006, 01:38 PM
Post #197



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"It's not over yet!" I exclaimed as a few subdued cheers rose from our ragtag group at the sight of the waiting MIT23 M.A.S.H. unit. As the wounded Lieutenant Rhodes and several other Legionnaires
were loaded aboard the oversized truck, I scrambled up an exterior access ladder, and found a firm handhold. There wasn't nearly enough room for everyone in our group to ride inside the vehicle, but it was
our fastest way out of the rapidly-collapsing cavern, and as such, the majority of its passengers, including myself, had to find a seat wherever we could.

As the M.A.S.H. truck roared its engine, Sam Grisham collapsed to the deck next to me, and took hold of a reenforced section of conduit running the width of the vehicle's roof.


"Mind if I take a load off here, Major?"

I nodded curtly, and steeled my grip as the truck's aft compartment slammed closed, and the transport lurched forward. Rumbling across the fracturing stone floor, the ambulance quickly picked up speed, thundering across the rubble-strewn cavern, occasionally swerving violently from side to side as sections of flooring fell away. A large chunk of the cavern's ceiling gave way, glancing off the ambulance's windshield and tearing away the SatCom dish as it shattered to the ground. I could only cling tightly to my handholds and hope for the best as the cavern's entrance approached...


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Position: Senior Captain | Legionnaires
Current BattleMech: WHF-3B White Flame (Lothos) [Heavy - Quad]
Loadout: 1x Large Pulse Laser, 1x Medium Pulse Laser, 2x ER Medium Lasers, 1x Anti-Missile System, Jump Jets
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William Rhodes
post Apr 8 2006, 05:05 PM
Post #198



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The MIT 23 MASH truck, like the proverbial bat out of hell, burst out of the dying ISF facility, chased by a cloud of debris and smoke. The ground heaved under the massive tires as the top of the mesa behind them collapsed in a geyser of flying rocks. The subterranean levels of the Kurita base pancaked one on top of the other under the tremendous pressure, as if hit by the iron fist of a vengeful god. The stone and soil of the Roche Grande highlands swallowed the secret laboratory whole, obliterating all trace of its presence. Only a thick pall of dust, floating above the war-scarred vale, served to mark its location like a funeral shroud. Soon even that would settle and disappear, blown away on the wind, and leaving only ghosts.

The surviving Legionnaires gathered on a nearby grassy hill, looking down into the valley that now held the graves of many warriors, including Father Umberto Abelard. William Rhodes had recovered his composure, but sat silent and thoughtful, his eyes far away. Major Maxwell too seemed lost in contemplation, absently rubbing his arm and looking into the distance.

A technician emerged from the Mobile HQ truck, clutching a data readout, his face ashen. He quickly hurried to the side of the Legionnaire commander.


Sir, we've finished our preliminary analysis of the two Word of Blake cores. The larger core contains data on a new type of engine shielding for fusion powerplants. It appears to be a lighter and more durable composite than the existing generation of shielding. While it's still too early to tell for sure, this technology could potentially make extra-light engines less vulnerable to armor-penetrating attacks and give fusion powered vehicles increased survivability in combat.

And the second core? asked Ben, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The technician paused for a moment, his expression troubled. It appears to contain the recipe for some sort of nerve agent...the file is labeled "Pandora." According to the data, it dates back to the Amaris Civil War at the end of the First Star League. Something that the Usurper's scientists cooked up as a "final soluation." NBC weapons are not my speciality, but this one is especially nasty. Somewhere in the range of two to three hundred times more lethal than standard VX gas. Basically, a small amount is capable of devastating an entire planet's eco-system. It might be related to the gas the Blakists used on the Knights of the Inner Sphere on Atreus at the end of last year.

I guess the Word of Blake is looking for alternatives to their small stockpile of nukes, mused Captain Garland. This way you can kill off a planet's troublesome population but keep all the things you want, like factories, spaceports, and mines, intact.

The question is, what do we do with this damn thing? asked Maxwell, rubbing his chin.

We destroy it, answered William emphatically, an angry fire in his eyes. This monstrosity can never see the light of day.

Garland nodded in agreement. But how do we explain that to the Feddies? Our mission was to recover the contents of this lab for the NAIS. We'll be black listed as a rogue unit by the MRBC for breach of contract!

Not necessarily. They all turned at the sound of Sam Grisham's voice. The bodyhunter was lounging casually on his back, a piece of grass stuck jauntily in his mouth. The Davions only mentioned one core. We give them the gadget about the engine shielding and they go away, pleased as pie with their new toy. What they don't know won't hurt them, right?

William nodded in agreement. Father Abelard would never have helped us if he thought our mission would lead to the spread of a new weapon of mass destruction across the Inner Sphere...God knows we already have enough problems. This thing needs to die here and now.

Garland turned to face Major Maxwell, raising an eyebrow.

It's your call, boss.


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Position: Lieutenant, Legionnaires
Callsign: Damocles 1
Current BattleMech: Verfolger (Bucephalus) [Heavy]
Current Loadout: 1 x ER PPC, 1 x LB 10-X, 3 x Med. Lasers, 1 x AMS
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Commodore Benjamin Maxwell
post Apr 9 2006, 08:01 PM
Post #199



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I held the data cores in my hands, examining them for long moments, imagining the  untold amount of history they had seen, and the tremendous shift in the balance of power  they could cause for whoever took advantage of the secrets locked away in their solid-state  memories. One core held a minor technological upgrade - while the other held the potential  to cause massive amounts of death and destruction. The data on both was priceless and  irreplacable. To destroy either seemed tantamount to heresy.

So much knowledge has already been lost...

I knew it couldn't be helped. The consequences of allowing LosTech of this nature  to exist had been proven time and time again, most recently and horrifically by the nuclear  attacks fielded by the Word of Blake. I wasn't about to allow another tragedy to come to  pass.

"Give the 'Alpha' core to our employers," I nodded, handing the larger of the two  devices to Rhodes. The Lieutenant nodded, and gestured toward the core which held the  matricies for the nerve agent.

"And that one...?"

I looked down at the second core, its gunmetal veneer glistening in the afternoon  light.

"Destroy it."

Rhodes nodded, and placed his hand atop the core to take it from my hand. I  suddenly tightened my grip, and looked into his eyes.

"But before you do - I want the entire contents of both units downloaded into our computers.  Have the technicians run a full - and I do mean full - analysis of the memory images  - make sure there's no other data 'nested' in the cores that we might have overlooked."

"And if we should find anything else?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."


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Position: Senior Captain | Legionnaires
Current BattleMech: WHF-3B White Flame (Lothos) [Heavy - Quad]
Loadout: 1x Large Pulse Laser, 1x Medium Pulse Laser, 2x ER Medium Lasers, 1x Anti-Missile System, Jump Jets
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William Rhodes
post Apr 10 2006, 01:41 PM
Post #200



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Robinson Battle Academy
Beuller, Robinson
Draconis March, Federated Suns
June 23rd, 3069

Four men stared up at the eighty-five ton Templar OmniMech, illuminated by floodlights in one of the underground ‘Mech bays of the Robinson Battle Academy. The assault ‘Mech towered over the mere mortals below like a sleeping god of war, waiting to be awakened for battle. Then its mighty fusion heart would beat and it would stride the earth like a colossus, casting down its enemies with fists full of fire and lightning.

Three of the men wore the gray and red dress uniforms of the Legionnaires mercenary company, while the fourth was decked out in Davion green, his epaulettes sporting the silver sunbursts of a Field Marshal. Roland Cale, commander of the Edgeward Combat Theater of the Draconis March, turned to address the leader of the mercenaries.


She’s all yours, Major. The eggheads at the NAIS are practically salivating over the Word of Blake data core you brought back. You have the thanks of Her Grace, the Duchess of New Avalon, for a job well done.

The regent of the Federated Suns was currently Yvonne Steiner-Davion, youngest daughter of the legendary Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner. She went by the lesser title of Duchess of New Avalon, since she did not have the required five years of military service to be First Princess.

It was a pleasure doing business with House Davion, Marshal. Lieutenant Rhodes here will be piloting this new beast. Let’s hope she survives longer than his last ‘Mech.

William had the good grace to look embarassed. Bucephalus, his Verfolger, had to be scrapped for spare parts after the battles on Delacruz. Part of the Legionnaires’ payment for their services on Operation Hellfire was this TLRO-1 Templar, fresh off the Kallon Industries assembly line on Talon. Designed before the start of the Federated Commonwealth Civil War with the funding and support of George Hasek, the Minister of the Capellan March, the Templar was the first OmniMech design to be produced in the Federated Suns.

As per William’s request, the technicians of the Legionnaires had painted the new ‘Mech black. The Templar, befitting its name, had cross shaped markings on its shoulder armor plates, which the techs had painted red with a white rose blossom at the center, in honor of the late Father Umberto Abelard and the brave monks of the Croix Rose.

The Templar had proved its effectiveness and flexibility on the battlefields of the Civil War with such storied units as the Davion Guards and the Syrtis Fusiliers. OmniMechs, originally introduced by the Clans of Kerensky and equipped with modular equipment pods, had the advantage of being able to change their weapon load-outs with very little fuss in the field. The ‘Mech before them had space for up to forty tons worth of weapons, ammunition, and equipment. It was currently arrayed in it’s primary configuration, with one large and one medium pulse laser in the left arm and a powerful gauss rifle in the right, backed up by a Streak SRM launcher and two extended range medium lasers in the torso. Its weapon systems were made more accurate by the inclusion of an advanced NAIS targeting computer, a rare treat for a merc unit.

Major Maxwell and Captain Garland began to make their way back towards the ‘Mech bay’s elevators, preparing to return to Robinson’s spaceport and prepare the Liberty for launch. It would be a long trip home to Sheratan. Lieutenant Rhodes and Field Marshal Cale remained a little while longer, gazing up at the impressive war machine above them.


You know, Lieutenant, the AFFS has not forgotten your service on Kathil.

William felt a cold shiver arc up his spine. Roland Cale cleared his throat somewhat uncomfortibly.

I did not want to bring this up in front of the others, but I have an offer to make you, one that I sincerely hope you will accept.

The Davion Field Marshal produced a small box of lacquered wood from inside his uniform jacket. Opening the top, he revealed an interior of black velvet with two red epaulettes flanking a pin that depicted a Federated broadsword cleaving a pair of shackles in twain.

The 2nd Davion Guards? Asked William in shock.

Yep, the Wrath of the Free. You remember your old friend, Carl Andrus, from the Kathil Militia? He currently commands a heavy assault company in the Second. We’d like you to be one of his lance commanders. The Suns need you, William.

William stared at the Leftenant’s epaulettes, lost in thought. The Davion Brigade of Guards was the premier formation in the Federated Suns, the sworn protectors of the First Prince, eventhough that office was currently vacant. Usually only the priviledged sons and daughters of the nobility found their way into the Brigade.

William remembered the fires and death on Kathil…

He remembered the words of Umberto Abelard…


There comes a time when every knight much choose which is more important…his lord or his conscience.

Thank you for your generous offer, Marshal Cale. I am truly honored to be offered a place among House Davion’s finest, but my home now is with the Legionnaires. I have bled with these men and women and they are now my family.

Disappointment briefly flashed across the Field Marshal’s face, but then he smiled.

I understand, William. The bonds of one’s unit are difficult to break. If ever you change your mind, the Suns will be waiting to welcome you home.

Thank you, sir.

For a moment longer the two men bathed in the awesome presence of the assault ‘Mech, each lost in their own thoughts of war and duty. Finally, Field Marshal Cale broke the silence.

What will you name your new ‘Mech?

Abelard, replied William with a smile.


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Position: Lieutenant, Legionnaires
Callsign: Damocles 1
Current BattleMech: Verfolger (Bucephalus) [Heavy]
Current Loadout: 1 x ER PPC, 1 x LB 10-X, 3 x Med. Lasers, 1 x AMS
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William Rhodes
post Apr 10 2006, 01:43 PM
Post #201



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Meanwhile back on Delacruz…

Alistair Tavrick, Lord Governor of Delacruz, stared out of the armored windows of the Alcazar in San Joaquin, fists clenched in fury. May had been a bad month for the Lord-Governor’s plans and only now at the end of June were his intelligence people starting to piece it all together.

First, the attack of the 11th Ghost Regiment on Mission de la Cascada had been driven back, the cursed Croix Rose aided by unknown forces from off planet. Then a second force had raided the southern continent, Castille, destroying a Word of Blake prison camp that had been existing on Tavrick’s own world without his knowledge. Heads would roll in his intelligence section over that fiasco, he promised himself. And to top it all off, the ISF research base in the Roche Grande highlands had been whiped off the face of the earth.

Alistair steadied his breathing, forcing himself to calm down and think logically. There was actually a silver lining to this cloud. For one, Tai-sa Hohiro Kurosawa was missing and presumed dead. The ISF Colonel had been a constant thorn in the Governor’s plans, and now with him out of the way, Tavrick was free to pursue his own agenda. The unkown attackers had destroyed the two military units on the planet who could have challenged the might of his own 11th Ghost Regiment: Task Force Kajiki and the damned Blakists who had appeared out of nowhere.

But who were those mysterious attackers? House Davion? Com Star? A faction within the convoluted politics of the Draconis Combine? Even Clan Snow Raven was a possibility. The Governor had dearly hoped to bring down one of their dropships. He sent a squadron of SL-15 Slayers after them, but by the time his aerospace forces had gotten organized, the enemy dropships were well on their way to whatever pirate point they had used to get into the Delacruz system. Their jumpship must have had lithium fusion batteries to recharge its Kearny Fuchida drive so fast.

Tavrick’s eyes were drawn back to the north-facing windows, where he could gaze upon his most prized creation, the new palace-city of Yamashiro. Unfortunately due to all of the commotion of late, he had been forced to halt construction in order to deal with the Croix Rose and their gaijin friends. After the enemy dropships had left the system, he had sent the 11th Ghost out into the field again, this time en masse with full armor and infantry support. He had burned over a dozen monasteries to the ground, including Mission de la Cascada, but the monks of the Croix Rose were no where to be found. He suspected that they had retreated to deep bolt holes in the treacherous Roche Grande, along with any of their precious holy relics.

But he would find them…they couldn’t hide forever. Alistair could not allow these meddlesome monks to interfear with his grand designs for Delacruz. He would remake this planet in the image of the Dragon, even if he had to kill every last Delacruzian to do it.

And with that thought, Alistair turned back to his desk to gaze upon a black wedge shaped object, the sword and starburst of the Word of Blake clearly visible on its surface. A few of the ISF technicians had escaped the collapse of the research facility, and one of them had brought this little gem. Alistair, of course, had to arrange their deaths immediately. It was an unfortunate necessity, but he always believed that the ends justified the means. The late Colonel Kurosawa had taught him that.

The device looked so small and delicate…so innocent. Yet Alistair knew it’s contents were anything but. Here was the key to the destruction of the Croix Rose and the ultimate triumph of all his plans.

The third data core…



This concludes Operation VIII: Hellfire
Thanks to everybody for all of their fantastic posts!
Hope you guys had as much fun as I did!


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Position: Lieutenant, Legionnaires
Callsign: Damocles 1
Current BattleMech: Verfolger (Bucephalus) [Heavy]
Current Loadout: 1 x ER PPC, 1 x LB 10-X, 3 x Med. Lasers, 1 x AMS
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Captain Charles Maxwell
post Apr 11 2006, 11:33 AM
Post #202



AEGIS DIVISION | Commander
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Meanwhile...
______________________________________________

The Dreams of Avarice's corridors were abuzz with pre-launch activity as I made my way toward the modified cargo bay which had been retrofitted to serve as a makeshift R&D laboratory following the destruction of the corporate offices on Vesta. The cramped, two-deck-tall facility had seen the development of everything from improved circuit breakers to full-scale combat machines, such as Saburo's upgraded Acheilus Battle Armor. Although the resources of the lab's technicians were severely limited, they had consistently performed miracles with what little they had. I hoped they could pull off one more.

The lab's ferrosteel blast door rolled aside as the biometric scanners recognized my handprint. Stepping through the vestibule, I strode across the testing floor, images of its previously blood-spattered condition flashing through my mind. The carnage from Saburo's test run had been thoroughly scrubbed away, leaving the gunmetal-brown deck and its markings free of any signs that an...incident...had taken place there.

The solid deck covering gave way to a honeycomb-shaped grating as I crossed under the catwalk ringing the upper level, and stepped through the partition separating the research area from the testing floor. My boots thudded on the deck, announcing my approach into the near-vacant laboratory. Only a few technicians were present, performing myriad last-minute ministrations prior to liftoff. Glancing in my direction as my heavy footwear announced my arrival, the group began to rise to attention. I quickly motioned for them to stand down, unconcerned with pomp and circumstance. More pressing matters demanded my attention.

I made my way up the staircase leading to the lab's second level, where the heads of research maintained their workspaces. As I stepped onto the second-story landing, I heard a brief yell, followed by a 'thud.' Concerned that a technician might have sustained a lawsuit-inducing, work-related injury, I sprinted around the large bank of machinery which obstructed my view. I stopped short as an astonishing sight greeted my eyes.

With her back turned toward me, Doctor Lisa Schultz stood over the prone body of MechWarrior William Dante, clutching a small, six-shot revolver in her hand. The butt of the weapon was covered in blood, making it quite apparent that the good doctor had cold-cocked Dante.


"I'm sorry..." Schultz whispered, bending down to withdraw a small memory stick from the breast pocket of the MechWarrior's flight suit. As she rose to her feet, she froze with a start as the cold metal barrel of my fifty-caliber microgauss pistol made contact with the base of her skull.

"Not as sorry as you're going to be."

Schultz's hands slowly raised to a position of surrender. The six-shooter remained closed in her grip.

"Charles..."

"Drop the weapon, Lisa. Now."

- END -


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Position : Commander, Aegis Division
Callsign : Eden
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Sergei Zhukov
post Apr 15 2006, 12:58 PM
Post #203



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Epilogue

The grassy floor was as cold as the fate I had been dealt. The moon hung high above me, illuminating the large field I had managed to crawl to. The crawl was torturous and though I could move my legs, they were nothing more than painful slabs of meat that bled endlessly.
And through the endless pain, through the endless exhaustion and confusion, I continually asked myself “Why?”. Why had this happened? Why had Saburo suddenly turned his back on me and General Ren? Why was he sprouting lies of our great leader’s demise? Why had he dealt such a harsh punishment?

“WHY?!” I howled into the night’s sky. I dug enraged fingers into the soft, cold mud and clenched my worn fists. No matter how many questions I asked… no answer came to my mind. Darkness began to fade in. Death’s icy hands had clutched tightly onto my soul just as my hands had reaped the ground of mud and grass. Finally, all tension and stress had gone. Boiling emotions simmered and cooled. But one final word passed my lips.

“…Ren…” I whimpered. The darkness enveloped my sight, ending my existence.





Or so I thought.





“…-transfusion seems successful… I was very doubtful we had a match on his blood type.” An unknown voice swirled into my ears.

“Our covenant knows no bounds Doctor Hardman. Blake’s will has intervened to save this soul.” said a second unseen voice.

“Will you need me to run another sample through the dialysis machine Doctor?”

“No, I don’t believe that is necessary at this stage. What he needs right now is some rest. I would like you two leave me alone with this one. Make yourselves busy…” Said the only familiar voice out of the three. I tried opening my eyes, but they seemed to weigh a tonne. Clunking boots beat against the floor, followed by the hushed opening and closing of sliding doors. The one remaining person proceeded to walk around my bed.

“You have taken quite a beating Mr Zhukov…”

“Who are you? What’s going on?” I panicked as dizziness quickly spun my sense of balance. I could open my eyes now, but my sight was a blur.

“We saw what happened Mr Zhukov… more importantly I saw what happened. It was I who intervened to save you. Had it not been for me… you would have been left face down in the dirt.” The familiar voice continued, finally stopping to sit down at a chair beside me. I sat up as the world began to come into focus. The old man’s face screwed up as he gave a wide smile.

“And maybe… you can repay your debt to me right here and now?” said Doctor Faulkner, he hands held loosely together as they rested on his lap.

“Doctor? I cant believe it is really you! I had feared that you had died!” I said in excitement. Faulkner kept that same, heart warming smile.

“Then what Saburo said… they MUST be lies!” I suddenly concluded, relief washing over me.

“There is hope for the Inner Sphere yet!” I said, slowly losing confidence in my words as I looked around. Blake propaganda was hung proudly over my medical bed. The hospital clothing bore the red hand insignia. Even the bed sheets were sewn into them.

“Doctor… what’s going on?”

“This isn’t easy to explain…” Faulkner began, taking in a deep breath. “Our glorious leader was killed in battle at the resting ground of the Jade Stone fortune. With his passing… we, the surviving members of the Order of the New Republic, had to turn back to the roots of our great order: the Word.”

“How?! How could this be?!” I stammered in utter disbelief. It was bad enough that we had to come grovelling back to the WoB, but the news of our leader was too unbearable. Suddenly that disbelief turned into great rage.

“WHO?! WHO murdered our saviour?!” I demanded, clenching my tired fists till their knuckles were white hot. Faulkner’s mind seemed to stir.

“The Legionnaires battled against the General. They did not succeed. Saubro Kintaru betrayed Ren. Again Ren was victorious. However, Kei-teh Kintaru sacrificed his life to end the General’s…” He finally said. Conflicting guilt had now washed over me as my mind faded back to the time I had battled against Ren. I had been brainwashed into believing Ren was our enemy. I decided to aid Kei-teh in an attempt to defeat the General. Of coarse we lost. After the battle, I felt great guilt and secretly planned to rejoin Ren’s sect. But now all those dreams and ideals… were gone. I threw my head back onto the pillow and sobbed loudly.

“It was my fault! If… if I had killed the Kintaru bastard THERE and THEN, Ren would still be alive!” I cried, turning away from Faulkner, ashamed at who I was. But Faulkner did not judge me. Surprisingly he placed a hand on my forehead and stroked it soothingly.

“Please… Sergei. We all falter at some point in our lives…” the old man said in a kind and gentle tone I had very rarely heard. It had eerily calmed my sobbing.

“There is a way you can redeem yourself…” he finally said after along pause. I looked back at him, wiping away tears and listening.

“Ren still has loyal followers. Followers that are ready to relieve themselves of the Word’s idiotic ideals. All they need is a new leader. Zhukov… would you do anything for Ren?”

“Anything!” I answered truthfully.

“Zhukov… would you take up our glorious leader’s place and lead his men into a new era?” Faulkner pleaded.

I remained silent for several moments.

“By Ren’s blood, I shall serve him till my dying breath!”



To be continued…


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