The Zephyrian War: Uprising

=She waves them off and returns to her computer=

=They walk off together, saying no words until they eit the Royal Hall=

Warren: Great...job...

You should not be walking around in your state of health

Warren: I'm...fine...don't worry...about me

You had best be fine when the battle commences

Warren: I will.

=They walk through the building. Talking now. Heading for the training room=

Warren: Your mission...it went off without...a hitch...

Yes.

=Warren suppresses a laugh=

Warren: Ours, had a big snag.

-We break from the current events and allow Warren to regale us with his story. This shall be a flashback to the Battle of Hope. I hope you enjoy-

~Draco

=I had been sent out to Hope. A team at my side. It did not seem like too much of a problem. The army already there had seen no enemy movement and had said to not plan on any. A mistake... We arrived at the gates of Hope at around Four fifty in the morning. It was quiet. Transports moved through the roads to check on things=

=It began with a bang. I had fallen asleep. An enemy I.E.D. had been detonated on the road just outside of the barracks. I got out and quickly placed my armour on. Gunfire could already have been heard. I rushed out to view enemy choppers entering the town. Dropping troops off=

=I had little time to think as the others and I began to take fire. We got ourselves into a tank and rolled on. Canisters flew and created disaster zones=

=What had happened next, I'll never forget. We rolled in through the town. My marines on the tank began to open fire. I was inside of the tank, however I could still see. The hostiles were lining the people up. Firing lines. I felt a tear fall from my eye. The ones I saw were lucky, we managed to get there in time=

=This fueled my anger. Men, Women, Children, The elderly. Everyone... I heard screaming as my men jumped off of the tank and went for a building. An enemy tank rolled in and I fired=

=I removed myself from the tank and run into the building to join my brothers. There were snipers on the top of the building. Helping the hostile forces. We moved through the building, finding more and more civies to save=

=Some stay back to escort the civies to safety=
=I had pressed forth onto the top to deal with the snipers=

=I made my way through. Repeating the oath I had took to defend Zephyre=

"Under the day, I am your defender.
Under night, I am your protector.
I will not break.
I am a soldier of Zephyre
Forever to serve.
Under the one who reigns"

=I was almost there. Almost to the top. A sudden explosion ripped through the air as a the wall to my right collapsed. Debris was sent everywhere. My hearing had gone out and I had a large piece of wall on me. I was positioned just so I could see outside. RPG's on the adjacent building. I watched as another wave hit the building. I tried my comms. Yelling=

Everyone out of here!
Unstable, I repeat this building is unstable!

=I could not hear myself. Another round hit the building and I had thought all hope was lost. A friendly came by. He helped my remove the wall. I got up and without thinking jumped from the hole. We were on the fourth floor. Not many people could jump from that height and survive. Most of the damage occured in my legs as I hit=

=I was surrounded. My shields were dead and I was near it. Staring into the barrels of the enemy. They were dressed in all black outfits. Blue symbols covered them. I looked down to the ground. Waiting for my life to end=

=It was as if my god had saw me in my predicament and sent forth his angels to aid me in my time of need. My men come around their soldiers. Forcing them to drop the weapons. I was still beaten badly, a friendly approached me and held out his hand. I went to grab for it; Time slowed. I felt a pain in my chest, repeatedly. One shot. Two shots. Three. My eyes grew wide and I dropped. A large force moved in and slaughtered my bretheren=

=I was on the ground, blood all around me. My men, dead. They left us there to die. It was my luck once more that would prove my sustainability. A surviving group had come and taken me away. We escaped under the cover of night. We radiod in a transport. By this time I was almost there. I could see nothing but a light=

=The chopper came in and transported us to the nearest Allied town=

=On the way I had been somewhat treated. Enough to stop the bleeding and enough to get me sort of ready to fight again if need be. Unfortunately It was needed. The town that we were going to went under as well. We had no choice but to leave and head back for Freemont. It was a failed mission and it was my fault=

=The chopper landed and the wounded were sent to the medical portion. I went under the knife and came out=


-Thank you for reading this break off. I now return you to your regularly scheduled story-

~Draco

=The two had been walking around. Leo listening to Warren's story. He nods as the last bit ends=

From what you have described. It seems it would have been a nightmare to anyone.

Warren: I dont know. I want this war to end now.

Wars will never end.

Warren: I know..

=They reach the medbay and part ways. Leo moves off outside for some training on the range=

=The time following had been consumed with planning the attack on Sovereign. It would take awhile to burst through each defending city on Yolsen, but to end the war is what was needed. Sarah had come up with every possible plan. Not wanting to piss anyone off. She settled with a trick that the forces during the era of World War II had done on D-Day. Troops will land on the beaches and move in, while air forces drop in troops into the mainland to sandwich the opposition. The head of the Stealth Force and his squad will take the air, while the head of the Royal Guard will take the beaches=

=War had done so much to Terra. It was time to move in on Yolsen and end it=

=The troops were ready. They had gathered around the city of Portsmouth where war barges were located. The War Barge is a large boat equipped with many turrets. It can seat up to forty five soldiers not including the total of six turrets. It is, what the UNSC would call, the Elephant of the sea. They may also call it a manatee, but this was not their war. Troops loaded up on the five War Barges, Warren was there to try and calm the people down=

Warren: Alright, this will get us in. No doubt they have anti aircraft up and running. I dont think they will think of us having these things. Let's end this.

=His comm was answered with the roar of so many soldiers ready to give their lives for the end=

=On the aerial front, Leo and his men begin to mobilise. Loading up ships similar to Pelicans, only slightly smaller in size. These ships, known as Shadows, are used mainly for night runs. It was estimated that they would arrive sometime in the night=

Load up. Be ready. Do not give in to the fear that you may feel. This is for Freemont. This is for Terra. This is for Zephyre

=He was also given a wide array of shouts. They loaded up, and set off=

=As the Shadow's flew overhead the War Barges began the same route=

-I shall switch views of each as the story progresses. Do not worry. You will gain the full effect of this battle-

-Warren-
-War Barge Sword-
-Serenity Ocean-

=I look out of one of the slits. I see the Serenity Ocean. Named so, because of the view. Many ships would cross for trading purposes, but now. The serenity could not be truly found. Not at this time. War had a funny way of changing things. This was one of them. I heard the waves crash against the barge and let the rocking drift me to a state of sleep=

-Leonardo-
-Shadow Transport Gold-
-Over the Serenity Ocean-

=He sits on the back of the transport. Looking straight ahead. There isn't much to see in the back. He sighs and moves up to the cockpit and takes a seat on the co-pilots seat. He looks out the window. A vast Ocean greets his gaze. It was a shame that he had to be here on these conditions=

=The time had passed slowly. So slowly. The tension was horrid. Many had prayed to their gods. Many prayed for their return home. The Shadows had arrived unto their destination. It is night time now and they drop. They are above the town known as Lichten. It is close to where the rest of the Allies are landing=

=Leo takes his weapons and drops. Locking up his armour he hits the ground below hard. Many others fall and smack the land. They regroup in teams of three and push forward into the town. Anti air is heard as pilots begin to go down=

=On comms=

Sword, Gold has landed. They know we're here

=Warren's voice breaks in=

Warren: Good. Push in and make it to the beaches

=The comm ends and his team leads into the town. Gunfire=

-Leonardo-

=Comms=

Beta enter the building and clear it out. If there are any civilians, watch your fire.

=He recieves confirmation and watches as teams enter building after building to clear them out=
=He joins his squad which had advanced towards the town's center=

Set a perimeter. Watch out for snipers.

-Leonardo-

=On comms=

Sword, it's Gold. Lichten is a hotzone. I repeat a hotzone. Working to clear it now.

=A bullet whizzes by his head and he ducks down in cover behind the fountain=
=He looks around, looking for a glint=

=Comms with team=

Snipers. Be careful.

=He sees a glint from the moonlight and initiates the cloak. He runs towards the building=

-Warren-
-War Barge Sword-
-Serenity Ocean. Nearing the Beaches-

=I recieved the comm and answered back. Well... sort of... enemy air had spotted us and began to strafe. We were still aways off from shore, so the only thing we could do was wait. The turrets exploded with gunfire and brought many of them down. Tracer rounds lit up the night sky=

Warren: Copy that, Gold. Approaching the beaches now. Under fire from enemy air. ETA?

-Leonardo-

=He climbs up the front of the building, the sniper is located on the second floor balcony. He climbs and makes it to the sniper. He takes the Katana and swiftly stabs him in the chest=

=On comms=

Half an hour. Do you think you can hold until then, brother?

=He withdraws the blade and fires a shot into the man's head for extra measure=
=He takes the rifle and begins to fire it against the enemies that had popped up=

-Warren-

=I nod=

I've suffered worse Leo.

=Another aircraft goes down as the waves hit the side of the barge=

-Leonardo-

=The enemy troops begin to retreat back towards the ocean=

Give chase!

=He and the rest of the SOLDIERs run after the retreating troops=
=Comms=

Sword, Hostiles on your position. ETA cut to fifteen.

-Warren-

=I get the update and tell the others=

Reinforcements in fifteen!
Get ready!

=They near the beaches. The doors drop and they begin to flood out into the water. Bullets rip out from the hills above from pillboxes=

Dig in deep!
Don't let them win!

-Leonardo-

=The retreating hostiles take cover occaisonally on the way to the beach. Firefights explode out forcing Leo and his squad to give everything they have=

Take it right. They are open there.

=Comms=

Switch to explosives. Grenades! Right side!

=He and his squad begin lobbing grenades. Thinning out their forces=

Move up!

=The pressure is on the hostiles as they are forced to retreat again=

-Warren-

=Bullets rip through the air. Penetrating his men. Leaving their corpses on the formerly white, now blood stained sand=

MOVE UP!

=Enemy Snipers begin to fire down upon them=

SNIPERS! UP TOP!

=He runs over his deceased men towards a sand bank. The War Barges successfully land every man by now. Some tanks as well. The sound of the tanks firing their shells erupt behind him. Debris from the pillboxes scatter everywhere=

-Leonardo-

=The SOLDIERs run faster now, catching up to their prey=

Leave no man behind. You find one. Kill them.

=They open fire using their array of weapons=
=Once the slaughter is over. He approaches one survivor. He raises his pistol at head level with the man. He fires=

=He gives the signal to move forward as he accesses comms to Warren=

Five minutes.

-Warren-

=The screams of his men overcome him. He heard the comm but did not respond=
=He got up and ran up the nearest hill. Once at the top he fired his Assault Rifle towards the enemy=

=He is soon joined by many of his men=

Clear out the pillboxes!
Take any ammunition you can find and carry.
Take any unusual weapons as well!

=He and a team approach one. Lighting it up with grenades=

-Warren-

=He enters in first and looks around. Finding standard issue weapons and armour for this group of soldiers=

Hmm, we'll get a few teams to gather this up. This could be valuable.

=He looks down at the bodies. Many of them missing arms and legs from the amount of grenades=
=He turns and leaves for the next pillbox=

Clean this up. We've got reinforcements soon.

"SIR!"

=He watches as they head out to clean up the rest=

-Leonardo-

=He arrives at the site behind the pillboxes. The other SOLDIERs advance and begin helping the others. Many of the enemy try to surrender, but they are fired upon from the Freemont Army=

=He finds Warren near one of the pillboxes=

This is only the first of many victories.

=Warren nods as he leans against a wall=

Warren: Yes. I know. Let's round up the troops. Begin the march towards Sovereign.

I'll call in for a transport drop. No need to walk it.

=Warren nods=

Warren: Fine, fine. I'll inform the troops

=He leaves his spot while Leo stays=

Radio them.

I've got it, Leo.

=Hours pass. In those hours the troops gather up the weapons and armour of the enemies. They round up any that they decided to capture. High ranking officials only. Shadows begin to fly overhead; they drop in Major transport vehicles. The troops begin to divide out the armour and weapons through each Shadow. They place the captured on board as well and the Shadow's set out=

=The SOLDIERs get into one group of the Freemont Army's version of a Warthog. Named the MTV, or Medium Transport Vehicle. It can fit up to five total men without the chaingun. With the chaingun it can hold three. The LTV, or Light Transport Vehicles are compared to the Mongoose. Two people may ride upon it=

=Soon, once everything was said and done. They headed out towards Sovereign=

Warren(On Comms): Alright, we will liberate any town we come across. Make our presence known to those bastards.

"SIR!"

What will happen when we hit the canyon?

=Warren paused at this question=

=The Canyon. A virtual limitation on entering Sovereign. The Canyon is around the same size as the Grand Canyon found on Earth. Before the war, the Zephyrinians would travel into the capital of Yolsen via sky tram or through bridges that were made. Since it began though, those bridges were brought up and the Sky tram's connection had been lost. The only other way into it, is from above=

Warren: Fuck..

=He thinks for awhile=

Warren: We occupy the nearest town. Keep it in our control then...

Then?

Warren: Then we wait for the Royal Air to pick us up. Do a bombing run on the city.

=Leo nods=
=Warren hears confirmation through his comm=

=He sighs and leans back=

Warren: It'll be some time until we reach the next town.

=A full day and night had passed until they had gotten into the perimeter of the next town. Along their way they had to negotiate some mines that were placed along the roads. The town they were approaching next, known as Ragnarok. It is the industrial town that links shipping with the town of Lichten. As they approached they are hit with gunfire from sniper rifles. One bullet pierces the tire of an MTV. It pops, but the driver stays on course=

=Warren yells out over comms=

Warren: Chaingunners! Open Fire!

=The air is torn to shreds as the chainguns fire their endless stream of ammunition towards the threat=

We must get in. Do not hold back.

=Mortars drop from the skies near their position. Sending them briefly off course=
=The gunners continue to fire. As they near, the secondary grenadiers begin to fire their launchers=
=One mortar hits directly into one. Creating an explosion from the transport=

Squad down. I repeat squad down

Warren: Fuck.

=Another mortar fires and drops down on a transport=

We have a second squad down. I repeat. Second squad down

=They hit the speed and enter into the town. They immediately unload and begin to fire upon anyone that fires upon them=

=Warren views a building they can hunker down in not too far from their position=

Warren: Squad! On me!

=He takes out his AR and begins to fire upon a nearby truck that had stopped=

Warren: There are civilians in here that will not hesitate to kill you! Passify them at any cost!

=He hears confirmation. His squad of four gather onto him and they run for the building. The truck had caught fire and soon, exploded. Sending shrapnel into any nearby enemy=

=Leo takes his squad and goes off to their own building while the other soldiers fight in the streets=

Warren: Clear these buildings. Use tear gas if needed.

S1: Right!

S2: Sir!

S3: Got it!

S4: Copy!

=The buildings are connected and run down a set of roads. Each building has an enemy waiting to taste fresh blood=

=Leo and his squad had taken a seperate route from Warren and his squad. Across a different set of buildings=
=He get's radio contact. The voice is raspy and grumbled=

???: Agent. How close are you?

We have only hit the first town. We have a long while to go before we even approach you

???: Speed it up. I don't know how long I have left.

It was an idiotic move to re-route the supplies away from your city.

???: I know. I know.

=The man coughs=

???: Do what you can. Get Warren to me. Alive. You will get what you were promised.

Of course

???: Kill the weak ones. They don't have a spot in the future of Yolsen.

Yes. Agent 21. Off.

???: I will see you at your inaugeration

=The comm cuts loose=

Squad. Sniping positions. Kill anyone that moves. Save Warren

S1: Got it

S2: Kill them all

S3: A new era will begin

S4: For the true Lord.

=The squad takes to the windows and begin to fire on anyone that moves. Instantly killing them with a headshot=

=Warren and his squad move slowly through the complexities of the buildings=

Warren: Hold position!

=They take cover behind anything they can find and begin to fire upon the enemy. They can hear the orders being thrown around from the opposition=

Warren: Ready.

=He takes a flashbang and tosses it in. It goes off with a spectacle of sound and light=

Warren: Move!

=They enter into the next room. Firing upon the stunned enemies=

Warren: Hammer Seven Nine. Requesting immediate air backup. Points will be marked by designator.

=He nods to one of the squad members who retrieves a designator from his side=

Hammer: Roger. Mark it and we'll light it up.

Warren: You heard him. Mark it

=The soldier nods and aims the designator. A chopper flies over the town and as the light hits the other end of the building, the chopper begins to open fire on anyone that moves=

Warren: Move up. Take any leftovers.

=They stand and move forward. Bullets rip through the walls near them=

Warren: Hammer! Watch your fire!

Hammer: Sorry!

Warren: Turn your focus on the building across from here.

Hammer: Roger.

=The chopper turns and opens fire on the building Leo and his squad are in=

-Sarah-

=She plops down in her chair. Exhausted from the goings on of the days. She had been to many conferences to end the war. While she agreed to the fullest. She knew that it wouldn't help to contain it. Her forces had to go in and eliminate the threat at the source. She had seen the reports of loyalists within the confines of Sovereign. The supposed leader of this seperatist group had re-routed the supplies away from there. A poor move. Riots had begun to break out and it was looking as if the enemies military was beginning to break=

This war won't last. It won't.

=Her voice is so full of concern and worry of her soldiers and her people. She was only nineteen. She sighs and takes out a very special gift that had been given to her from an old friend. A projector of sorts. She played it and played through the short messages. She had done this on numerous accounts. She would always stop on Dante's and sit there and listen to his words over and over again=

-Sarah-

If we just had you. Everything would be good. Everything would be right.

=A stray tear drops from her eye and onto her hand. The apparent affection she had for him still lingered. He had taught her everything that she needed to know. They had been through a lot in a short amount of time. When she had left the ship on that day. It was something that she never wanted to do, but knew she had to. A soldier walks up and kneels down=

S: My lady, our forces have almost captured Ragnarok. Lichten is under our influence as well.

=She nods. Wiping away a few tears=

S: My lady, what is the matter?

=She shakes her head and smiles=

Nothing. Just, thinking of things. Status on Sovereign?

=The soldier stands and nods=

S: Reports are suggesting that it will fall in the next few days.

=She nods=

Right, Once Ragnarok is captured I want friendly air to get out fighters out of there and straight to Sovereign.

S: Yes, my lady.

=He bows and leaves to tell of the plan to others=

-Warren-

=They hop down from a destroyed second floor to the first. The chopper still present outside. Suddenly something makes contact with it. An explosion. It goes into a small tailspin before landing into the building that Warren and his squad are in. It destroys a large portion of it. He can hear the static on his comms. His suit suffering much of the impact=

Squad! Come in!

=He gets only static=

Squad!

=Nothing except for Leo's voice=

Peace. Are you alright?

=He checks himself for damage. His left arm is broken as well as a few fractures=

Warren: No. What the hell happened?

An RPG was fired. It struck the chopper.

=He looks at a squad member who is reloading his Launcher=

Can you make it out of there?

=Warren nods=

Warren: I think so.

=He stands up. Using the wall behind him as support. He is soon surrounded by the enemy=
=He drops his head and drops his weapon=

Warren: Fuck...

=More enemies surround Leo and his squad. They drop their weapons=

SS: You're coming with us.

Of course

=Warren looks around him=

SS: You are coming with us.

=He laughs=

Warren: Why not kill me?

SS: Our lord would like to see you.

=He smiles=

Warren: Well then. Take me to your leader.

=Leo and Warren meet up. Their men follow them as the Sovereign Soldiers call in for transport=

-Sarah-

=She sits back in her chair. Almost asleep=

FS: MY LADY!

=She is startled and nearly falls from her seat=

Sarah: What?

FS: My lady. Ragnarok failed. Warren, Leo, and most of our men have been captured. Many have been sent back here

=She slams her fist down on the chair=

Sarah: Damnit!

-Sarah-

FS: Reports are coming in that they are heading for the capitol.

=She shakes her head=

Sarah: Taking them as P.O.W.s? Why...?

-Warren and Leo-

=The transports make a a landing in front of them. They load up and fire off towards Sovereign=

Warren: What will happen.

=Leo looks directly towards Warren=

You will die.

=Warren looks at him strangely=

Warren: What... what do you mean?

=Leo's voice is clear=

You will die.

Warren: And yourself?

You won't need to worry

=Warren looks at him in the eyes=

Warren: Do not tell me.

-Sarah-

We need... we need to get them...