The Harbingers' Legend

The Harbingers' Legend chapter 1

The Harbingers' Legend

Matthew A. Blackburn

"With great power comes great responsibility"

Stan Lee

Chapter 1

Thick smoke blackened haze covered a high noon sky creating the murky essence of perpetuating sundown. Barrages of heavy weaponry came down from the dim luminance that carpeted the sky. The barrage fire roared out randomly and without target but the shots struck out with violent explosions. The Starships above continued their bombardment despite their sensor difficulties. Ground based howitzer and rocket artillery echoed in the dark adding to the decimation of mountain valleys located just beyond a wide urban landscape. Amidst a hail of plasma and gunfire a man clad in metallic blue armor came charging across the streets with his face covered in a full helm. Close behind him were his fellow soldiers. All fired their weapons and readying their close combat swords. The man held his blade high while firing his side arm. 

Not far away stood the remains of a decimated cathedral whose particular faith abandoned the site centuries ago. The ceiling above the altar collapsed long, long ago to a time when the planet was first used as a battlefield. The thick dark clouds blanketing the sky could be seen from the gaping hole in the roof above like a monster in the night trying to peer in. There at the altar a woman in black armor knelt, with her sword in her grip and its tip resting upon the ground in reverent homage. Outside the rumbling sounds of war could be heard like thunder from a storm. 

The man leading the charge of men ran forward with no fear until rocket fire and charged particle beams came down blasting ground about him and the men under his command. They were pinned down in the open area of the street where pavement rubble and the remains of a fountain square were their only cover. They pushed deep into their enemy's lines, perhaps too far. For now they could hear the inhuman barking and growling of vampires, banshees, castors, walkers and lycanthropes all about them. 

"Blue Lyon Claw, this is Blue Lyon Lead where the hell are you!? Where's that back up, we need it yesterday!" the man ranted over the radio comm.-links. 

"We're taking heavy fire Lead, our Mechanoid divisions were smashed and the tank columns are in retreat. We can't hold out!" said the commander of Blue Lyon Claw. 

"Turn em around! I said TURN EM AROUND! Get up here and lay down that cover!" 

The knightly woman in black continued her devotion in the cathedral. Flashes of light shined through the windows that once held stain glass images. Their fleeting illumination lit the lovely yet ghost pale face that was shrouded by long dark hair with red highlights going through them. Her eyes remained closed and relaxed as the flashing luminosity like lightning came across her face. 

Bearing through the carnage in the street square the super soldiers stayed low as shots ricocheted off the concrete and their metallic smooth armor. The commander laid his sword upon the ground but at the ready as he reached for his rifle and soon turned to his comrades. 

"What say all of you?! Don't you want to live forever?! We've got a dinner date with Hell to keep!" with his words in full shout he and his men all let loose the barrage from their weapons. Their Rifles, machine guns, particle blasters and one missile launcher roared into action and soon the enemy was coming out to charge them. 

Unmoved from her place at the altar the woman in the cathedral remained knelt upon one knee un-phased by the events outside the structure's remains. Through all of the chaos her ears remained intuitive as she listened not to the devastation but rather the sound of world. All this time she remained relaxed with her eyes closed.