The Offworld Saga: The Rise of the Survivalist Federation Force

Ch. 15: The Silent Killer

"Are we almost at the prison compound?"

From inside the dark green APC, all eyes were trained on Bartleby, the Kithar rebel who accompanied the Fantine squad, as Tarkhun asked him a question that was on the mind of the Fantine crew in the Tortoise. In response, Bartleby stared out the window of the green armored car as they rode on through the battle-scarred metropolis. The vehicle and its escorts jolted as they ran over the broken metal of damaged hardware while a soft squelching sound could be heard each time they ran over a body, regardless of it being friend or foe. The view outside was dismal as it was reminiscent of an apocalyptic scene where a fiery tornado tears through a town. Bartleby turned his orangish eyes back to his escorts.

"It should come into view once we turn the corner, although I know it will be heavily guarded and barricaded."

"That won't be an issue for my crew," Joey replied as he fixed his glowing goggles over his eyes. The product of a union between a Rosellian military man and a Gallikh woman, the junior commander of Fantine's Infantry Corps, stood over 6 feet with a burly build. His strawberry blonde hair was cut short in a crew cut while his bright green eyes shone brightly in the dim lights inside the APC. "Their feeble little defenses are no match for our armor and our air support.  There is no way that those skull-faced mutts will be able to stall or deny your people freedom from their imprisonment. "

As the geared-up officer placed a reassuring hand on the Kithar rebel's shoulder, Bartleby glanced out the porthole of the Tortoise as the battle outside raged on. The guns of the APC shot laser after laser against any obstacle that they had encountered in their bid to rendezvous at the detention center.  The Kithar insurrectionist watched as humanoids, fur-covered beasts, or cold-blooded scalies clad in dark combat armor collapsed amid a hail of green and red laserfire. As they rammed through several burned-out or burning vehicles, Bartleby noticed that many of the buildings were bombed out, in flames, or had their doors and windows blown out. 

I sincerely hope that my kin had used this moment to either take shelter underground or refuge elsewhere in neighboring towns or nations. The Great Expanse has several villages that would take in refugees. If not, there are plenty of open spaces there out of sight of the Survies and their Kaneen hounds.  Besides, the Backbone Mountains has hidden caves or grottos out of the sight of SFF aerial devices. Perhaps the Avians of Ornithon could pitch in to assist as who in their right mind would refuse refugees fleeing a war zone. Let Khanika and my nephew and niece be alright.

The hatch above opened as a couple Infantry members of Fantine were hoisted inside, borne by their comrades. The Kithar rebel leaned over and gasped as he realized that the top of their heads, even their eyes, were covered in blood-stained Eiberian gauze. Mikhail noticed the Kithar stare at the wounded soldiers and smiled weakly through his graying mustache.

"Such is the sight of battle. It isn't a pretty one, I'd give you that, but no victory comes without cost."

The native rebel knew the veteran soldier had an irrefutable point. There wasn't any war or conflict that he had participated in or studied where the victor hadn't lost anything in exchange for coming out triumphant.  As Tarkhun, the Fantine Director's Mayhan head of security, opened his mouth to speak, a high-pitched shrieking sound resonated above the sounds of battle.  Seeing a flash from the rectangular plasmoid and spotted a large stone-gray demonic bat creature swoop down and enclose its Riptar-sized claws around an infantry gunner, attempting to pull the screaming Upaw'Han, a gray-skinned humanoid with reptilian/ bestial eyes,  into the night.  Thinking quickly, Bartleby drew his 0.312 laser rifle and pushed the top hatch of the Tortoise open, climbing out of it.  To the anterior of the rumbling vehicle, the second gunner, an elf judging by the pointed ear tips, was spraying enemy combatants with lasers when he glanced toward the Kithar that had appeared on the roof.