Flame Rider II: Rise of Chaos

Siege of Anagilfa

The pillars of fiery plasma had started falling about three hours after the first waves of Klanoat troops had been devastated by the might of the DS. And while we hadn't sustained any causalities, the same couldn't be said for the ER or the Klanoats themselves.

“Price, we need to keep moving,” Blaze barked, “We can't stop to help every group of refugees that get caught by the Klanoats.”

'You might not like it; but some of us actually want to do our job,' I thought bitterly, 'not that you'd understand.'

There was a blinding flash, as my suit's systems started to shut down, before powering back up almost instantaneously. The EM waves from the orbital plasma shots were always playing havoc with our armour, but the Klanoat scientist that Traika had brought along with him promised to get it fixed.

“Enemy forces approaching from the Northwest,” Kiwi told me, “Identifying as Klanoat Elites and Dark Clones. Ten klicks out and closing fast.”

“Any air support?” I asked, before clarifying with, “One their side?”

“Negative, although, I am picking up several strange anomalies approaching from the southeast. If my identification algorithm is working correctly, as it should be, then they are possibly Angel Fighters.”

“Acknowledged Kiwi,” I replied quickly, “Tell Delpha what we've got; I'm gonna cause some chaos in that Dark Clone cluster.”

“Negative,” Kiwi informed me, “Threat assessment states that you would be overwhelmed before you can even draw your weapon.”

“While then what do we do?” I retorted, “We can't let them take us out.”

“Orbital Support laying down covering fire as I speak,” Erath informed me, “Even though the fleet is taking a pounding, we can't have our ground forces flattened, now can we?”

“Thanks Erath,” Blaze thanked, “Keep it up the orbital fire on those heavy walkers though; they're the ones that are really causing the problems with our defences.”

“Confirmed; switching targets to Heavy and Super Walkers,” Erath replied, “Stay alive SH; we'll be needing you for this war.”

I didn't hear Kiwi's shout of warning, nor did I hear the tell-tale sound of Plasma fire burning through the atmosphere; but I did feel the heat of a plasma round smashing into the surface of Anagilfa uncomfortable close to our location.

“Shadow Hunter Squad; enemy contact, six o'clock. Engage when the enemy is within firing range,” Blaze barked over the radio, “Give 'em hell Elite Commandos!”

Raising my Quacky DMR to my shoulder, I sighted down the barrel, Kiwi already picking out the most important targets that Stephen wasn't targeting. I enjoyed that about the DS A.I.s; unlike ER A.I.s, our A.I.s were allowed to communicate directly with each other during combat, letting the efficiency of the squad increase close to ten-fold.

“Acquired high-level target,” Kiwi told me, “I have spotted Hell-Bringer.”

My breath caught in my throat, as I realised what the possible implications of Hell-Bringer being on Anagilfa could be. Then it hit me; if Hell-Bringer was here, then Cre^dus would also be here, and there was only two things that Cre^dus wanted more than anything:

Blaze and the Aether.

*-*-*-*

“Blaze, Kiwi thinks she has found Hell-Bringer,” Price told me, “permission to engage?”

Hell-Bringer? Here? How was that even possible? If Hell-Bringer was here, then that had to mean that Cre^dus was here too; and if he was here, then that must mean that Anna was in danger.