Wolfran the Knight Avenger

In

The Last Crusade of Altraumzen

Episode 6: The Swarm

The falling brimstone from the mortars were far more devastating than even Wolfran could’ve hoped for. This was parade ground of sorts. Cover was sparse even in the growing ruble and craters, and Ishtar’s minions were packed in so tight half could wield a sword or fire a lance without striking their fellows.

In all honesty the artillery did the majority of the work. There was hardly a giant or ogre living to confront the knights in their charge on the second underground tunnel entrance, and floundering survivors of the barrage were rooted out of their holes in seconds by Gotz’s infantry.

Before Wolfran could even give the order Sir Ludwig had launched his ordnance down the mouth of the passage, and over the heads of the now hesitating masses. They surged forward in a panicked rush as the high explosives caused the expected cave in. Ludwig used his lancerailgun blast weak points ensuring the cave-in was utter and complete.

The Knights Captain couldn’t help feeling put out as Sir Hienrich charged into the dazed and cut off survivors slaughtering them with ruthless efficiency. Wolfran knew he should be elated at the easy victory, but he still had too much berserker blood flowing through his veins. The least his knights could do was save a minotaur for their Captain to kill. Regardless, the tactic was far too successful to not rapidly employ on the third and northern tunnel.

This charge was all the more successful now that more knights freed up from the line were able to rally and grind their way forward through the gore strewn street. Konrad himself collapsed the tunnel on top of a raging wyrm breathing fire and crushing friend and foe alike. However, not even a lizard of such ferocious pedigree could survive the planet crushing its skulls. They hadn’t even seen the beast’s long tail with its snake like body stretching endlessly underground.

The final tunnel didn’t require a charge as the human formations that made up the backbone of the west passage saw their peril and broke. The wave of lightly armored skirmisher companies fled for the tunnels and scaled the walls with jumpboosters before the mortars and lancers had adjusted their aim. A young knight on his first Skyfall collapsed the last tunnel to the cheers and adulation of his fellows.

The courtyard was theirs, and the carnage of the enemy was terrible to behold. But Captains were officers in the end, and just high enough ranked to know the score. Ishtar had minions to spare. She could grind them into the dust, and waste millions burning through their munitions and still be victorious.

Wolfran rallied his officers on the central dais as the men regrouped, and built an aid station for the dying and wounded. They were mercifully few. The surprise of having the knights land in their own house had been just the edge the crusaders needed to gain breathing room. But now a new problem presented itself.

“The sensors have found the jammer. The contraption resides within the citadel. Till we shatter them in their badger hole we will be unable to contact the irregulars or the other Skyfall knight wings let alone the fleet,” Konrad reported nonchalantly to the gathered Obenrittenbrudens. Their mechs rested on their knees in a tight circle around their riders both shielding them from any unexpected sniper fire or ready for deployment in a moment's notice.

“And the drone defense system?” Wolfran asked as he tapped the pommel of his sword in thought.

“Captain Oben’s specialists have managed to shut down the lasers, but not turn them to our cause. He’s confident he will have the automated defenses in our grasp given time. I have already taken the liberty to have his drone specialists send patrol droids over the surrounding hellscape. Nothing but scattered skirmishers so far.” Konrad said to the approval of his Captain. Any warning would be appreciated. Ishtar’s legions were licking their wounds, but they would be back with a vengeance.

“Obenrittenbruden Dietrech, report on the citadel,” Wolfran said with a nod of thanks to Konrad.

“There are three secondary gates, and one hidden sally port we may use to circumnavigate the gates. The roof as expected is a solid shield. They were expecting orbital bombardment after all. You already know about the snipers in the arrow slits and murderhols. For the most part whatever garrison is on the inside is cowering. The prisoners have revealed that our mechs may fit through the main passage as this was crafted by the giants. Infantry will need to storm the sally port.” Sir Dietrech listed each item with finality and confidence. Yes, there wasn’t much to be done.

The citadel must be taken. Wolfran would have preferred bottling up the garrison and other horrors in their din till after the conclusion of the battle. Who knew what curses and witch traps were waiting for the unwary within the fortress walls?

However, their communications being jammed was untenable. They had no intel on the location of the irregulars who were waiting on their call. All of their survival depended on the irregulars avoiding detection. That meant this ugly business had to be done now without door crackers, heavy mechs, or masses of breacher droids.

They hadn’t expected excessive fortress storming till after they’d gained a foothold on the moon. Still, most of the high command hadn’t expected the Skyfall units to survive landfall so who knew how serious their long term plans had been to begin with. Perhaps they’d held the expensive droids back so as to not lose them in the suicide attack on fortified fortresses with unsupported Skyfall detachments. Best not to think of the politics now however. Wolfran had enough problems to contend with.

“Thank you gentlemen. Our goals are now clear, and our plans must be swift. If any of you have a suggestion for giving the men at arms an edge in this bloody business I would hear said scheme. Otherwise there's nothing for it, but to bang down the front door while the heavy infantry take the sally ports.” Grim faces answered Wolfran’s question. None of them had any ideas either. So be it.

“Good, clearing of the courtyard was far too simple a task to be worthy of any songs by my father’s chief bard’s standard anyhow. It's time for us to add honor to our bloodletting good sirs,” Wolfran said with a half smile on his face. The Knight Captain’s Obenrittenbruderns chuckled and Konrad rolled his eyes.

However, the laughter had barely left their lips when a panicked cry came up through Konrad’s mic so loud that though Wolfran couldn’t make out the words he knew their respite was at an end. Ishtar’s minions had recovered quicker than the Knight Captain would’ve hoped. Then Konrad’s eyes went big, and Wolfran knew this was no ogre charge.

“Drone swarm on the horizon to our south Captain!” Konrad’s words sent the gathered Obenrittenbruderns into a frenzy. Everyone including the Captain rushed for their cockpits orders being relaid to their men on their intercoms as they went.

“Konrad,” Wolfran shouted over the tumult as he strapped himself in,” impress on those specialists that I need those laser defenses in our hands before the good savior sounds his trumpets at the end of days if you please, and take Bloody Long Sword and Lance to keep their soddy hides intact as they work.”

“I will make it known to them sir, and keep them breathing,” Konrad answered as his red tinted mech launched with burning thrusters in the general direction of the specialists camp which had been erected in what shelter could be found in the shattered courtyard. All of the knights were in motion as the sky was swallowed by a black cloud that bathed the ground in darkness.

The Story Will Continue Every Friday.

Click the image below to go to my blog so you can be updated on future updates, and support the Grizzly Clan so we can keep the stories flowing.