Chapter 13

WAR!

Day turns to night as explosions rock the seaside base.  A loud siren screeches into the night alerting all that the base has been compromised.

“What’s going on!?”

“We are under attack!”

“How have you not pinpointed the origin?”

“We are trying sir but it seems…”

A violent explosion rocks the room briefly causing the electronics to fail.

“It seems that the attack is coming from the ocean.  I have the coordinates but they are erratic.”

“Send all available squads in that area to the last available coordinates and begin an immediate counter attack.”  The Commander waves his arm wide as he issues the order.

“Yes, sir!”

Another series of explosions pelts the base none striking any of the major installations.  The pattern is disjointed and confused as if Forte wants to send the base into a state of chaos.

“Sir!”

“What is it?”

“All squads in sectors A through G have been completely annihilated!”

“Impossible!  How many!?”

The building again is rocked throwing the Commander off his feet and knocking several people from their chairs to the ground.  Citing confusion among the leadership and causing the patrols to go into chaos.

“What is going on?  How did they slip past our defenses?”

“Sir there is something you need to see!”

Stumbling over to the edge of the situation room perched high in one of the flight control towers the Commander looks at an image presented on the glass.

“That is not possible!”

“Oh it is very possible, Commander Alexi.  Now that I have your attention.”  A confident and cocky voice crackles over the comms system.

“Who is this, identify yourself at once!  How did you hack into our comms network?”

“With pleasure, my name is Forte.  You won’t be alive long enough for it to matter. I hacked into your network.  I am however, here to make you an offer.”

“An offer. HAHA!  You are a single EXO against hundreds.  You are a dead man.”

“Mmm, it is rude to interrupt Commander.  Again I say I am making you an offer.  Lay down your arms and you will be exterminated painlessly.  Failure to do so and I will assure you, your end will be horrific.”

Over the comms Forte hears the combined laughter of those in the situation room.

“What can one EXO do?  You are not even in an Ansin and you are making demands.  Bwahahaha!”

“You have been warned Commander Alexi.  Pray that you die quickly.”

Forte stands in the ankle deep water of the Atlantic Ocean with the waves lapping at his EXOs legs.

“Forte you think this is wise goading him like this?”  Zhao Yun asked over the comms.

Forte crosses his arms and waits.  “Commander Alexi is an egocentric and overconfident man he will send his entire force to capture me.”

“Understood, Forte.”

“Send all forces to capture this fool.  Bring him back here so that I can deal with him myself.”  Commander Alexi’s thick Russian accent orders with his commanding voice.

“Our entire garrison, Sir?”

“Yes we will show this…Forte what it means to oppose the I.K.  With overwhelming force!”

“R-Right yes Sir.”

“Attention all Royal Atlantic Base forces this is a Code Alpha sequence.  All forces proceed to sector D.  This is a Code Alpha, all forces proceed immediately to sector D.”

The message is repeated for all to hear several more times.

The base awakens as EXOs pour out of various barracks and hangers across the base.  Leaping over buildings and speeding across the ground in the most organized display of chaos as they all converge straight for Forte.

“Attention all Auxilia forces.”  Forte’s voice is calm and confident as he addresses his army.  “Show no mercy, for you can expect to receive none yourself.  Fight for yourself, fight for your families and fight for the country you have lost!”

The combined thrust of the EXOs speeding toward Forte kicks up a cloud of dirt and dust as tall as the command tower.  Moving like a school of fish responding to the moves of each other the EXOs with their massive lances and others with rifles.

“Wait for my order.  Allow them to completely encircle me.  Divide the main force and remember that we need to push them north and south.”

The thunderous hum of the thrusters from the EXOs circling Forte drowns out all noise.  The ground jumps as the EXOs land, one after the other each barring down on him with their cold metallic eyes.

“Lay down your weapon and exit the EXO!”

Forte stands holding his lance the very same lance the I.K. EXOs standing before him are wielding.  Forte looks around as the circle grows slowly tighter.  With their lances held out point straight at him and rifles trained on his body covering him from head to toe.  Escape is impossible at this point.

“Lay down your weapon and exit the EXO-skeleton!”

Forte lifts his lance into the air and points it straight out holding it perfectly parallel to the ground with one arm.  He surveys his opponents slowly turning his head.

“This is your last warning if you do not comply you will be destroyed!”

Unknown to everyone a broad smile brightens his face.  Flipping the lance around effortlessly he jams it into the sand.

“What’s this?  A heat signature?  No that’s!”  The tower operator says.

“Attack.”  Forte says carefully and coolly.

The waters churn violently behind him.  Shooting into the sky small projectiles rocket out of the water, a number of the garrison EXOs look up and quickly realize what is going on.

“Missile attack!  Fall back!  Fall back!”  Causing disorder and chaos as the EXOs tightly packed around Forte attempt to fall back.  Several escape by fly out and away just as the missiles streak past and land all around Forte,

“AHH!”  The combined screams of those obliterated in the blast are almost inaudible.

The explosion shakes the ground but does not shake Forte.  Standing in the middle of the inferno unscathed by the blast he slowly pulls his lance from the sand.

“Forward!”  Forte commands his forces.  The I.K. forces fall back as lambs from the slaughter.  Many of them stumble and fall over each other as they try to flee the missile attack, at the same time several of the braver pilots forge ahead the fleeing EXOs.  They inch their way closer to the spiraling raging tower of flame on the beach.  Four Creatlachs approach the wreckage the twisted bodies of EXOs and their pilots are scattered across the sand.

“Cowards, running from such a small display of power.  Are these really the same soldiers that we have all been living in fear from for so long?” Forte says as he laughs to himself “This will be easier than anticipated.”

The column of flame looms of the heads of all on the fresh battlefield.  As the fire cracks and is whipped around by the ocean breeze the faint sound of pressurized thrust can be heard.

“Did you hear that?”  One of the soldiers says.

“Must be a discharge, no one survived that.”

“Fools!”  Forte says as he punches through the wall of fire.  The flames ripping around the armor of his EXO.  Dancing harmlessly across he bursts forth above the heads of the four waiting soldiers.  The fire jumps forward reaching for him as if wanting to hold him inside its prison of flame.  The black and blue EXO lands behind the four.

“DAMMIT!”  They scream together.

With his back to the Ronin Forte spun with his lance at the very same moment the EXO he lands behind turns around in unison with Forte.  Bringing his heavy lance down on the collar of the EXO with a massive force behind it he easily crushes the collar of the EXO and pilot inside.  Whipping the lance again around his body overhead he slams it again into the EXO’s head crushing its helmet sending it crashing into the one standing next to it.  They flew across the sand and skid into the dark waters of the ocean disappearing below the waves.

“You are mine!”  The other EXO screams, but his cut short as Forte dashes forward thrusting his lance into the chest of the EXO forcing it through the other side.  Blood drips from the lance staining the sand below as sparks jump and arc around the lance.  The EXO stands silent hanging from the lance dropping his weapon the other sees its comrade impaled dying on the sand.

“You son of a bitch!  I am going to kill you!”  Taking aim at Forte he fires his assault rife.

“I don’t have enough time to dodge!”  Forte says to himself, his eyes flickering before him.

An explosion rocks the land where Forte stands.  Another charred and ruined patch of sand on the once tranquil beach.  Smoke rises from where Forte stood as the red and white EXO walks forward.  Victoriously brandishing his weapon by placing it on his shoulder, he stands before the pile of burnt metal and sand looking down at a pair of boots destroyed yet still standing.

“Humph, what a fool challenging the might of the I.K.  The Commander won’t be happy, whatever.”

Taking another step forward he kicks one of the boots.  As it falls it hits something behind it with a clanking noise.

Tilting his head and un-shouldering his gun the EXO steps closer cautiously raising his rifle.

“Hmhm…you should have kept shooting.”  Is said as Forte’s lance is driven forward from the smoke and smoldering flame.

“Nooo!”  The EXO pilot fires his weapon carelessly and without restraint.

The lance bears down on the EXO as bullets bounce off it.  It bores into the gun through the muzzle causing it to explode.

“Ahh!”  Forte howls rushing forward with his lance.  Continuing his charge he pierces the chest of the pilot.

A faint whimper escapes the EXO as Forte stands holding his right shoulder, blood dripping on the sand from a bullet wound.

“This is what is going to happen to all those that have enslaved the American people.”  Forte says panting lightly.  “You will all die for what you have done.”

Forte walks forward pushing the lance deeper into the chest of the EXO.

A groan of pain as he holds onto the lance trying to push it out.

“Amazing aren’t they, nano-machines.  Without them you would be dead right now.  Which will make this much more painful.”

Forte lifts him into the air holding him there as he glares at him intently.

“For what you did, for killing my best friend you will all die!”  A certain level of control and calmness is heard but hidden Because of is a torrent of hatred boiling to the surface cracking Forte’s calm and controlled exterior.

Forte throws the body of the EXO to the side.  It slides across the sand and stops in the shallows of the tide washing over it.

Forte looks up at his lance.  “I need a new weapon.  One with a blade this isn’t nearly effective enough.”

Turning toward the fleeing I.K. EXOs he eyes them with his dark glowing blue eyes.  Behind him the dead EXO sparks and explodes masking his face in darkness showing the true depth of his scorn and hatred through his EXOs eyes.

“Yes this is going to be very easy.”  Forte says as he ignites his thrusters and flies along the ground after the garrison.

“Prepare your men, Luong.”

“Roger, Forte.”  Zhao Yun responds.  Standing in the murky dark of the Banana River Zhao Yun stands quietly patiently waiting for Forte’s eventual command.  The other soldiers around him look at him amazed at the Luong’s armor.  Its intricate design and rich plating, even the murk of the water cannot completely fade its brilliant armor and beautiful markings.

“Keep them disorganized.  Keep the missile volleys coming.  Do not let them regain their order.”

Just as he orders a roar from behind as the ocean seems to come to life reaching out to grab any in its way.  The water swells above the natural levels of even the high tide.  One by one at first then suddenly as if a thousand eyes of a slumbering monster awoke thrusters can be seen burning under the water charging forward.  The EXOs explode from the water bringing the crashing waves with them.  The screams and warcry’s of the Auxilia soldiers fills the air even suppressing the deafening noise of their combined thrust.

“AHHH!”  They cry out together as one body surge on land chasing after the fleeing I.K.

“What!?”  One of the EXO pilots screams as he turns to see a wall of EXOs nearly on top of him.  Bringing his rifle up and squeezing off a few rounds he desperately tries to hit the advancing Auxilia force as they push forward.  Screaming as if hoping to intimidating the wall of EXOs his bullets fly, missing most of his targets and only simply slowing those he hits.

“Impossible…this is impossible!”  He screams as they surge forward.  Crushing anyone caught in the fury of their approach.  They part around Forte as if he parted the sea itself.  The black and blue armor, the colors of Auxilia, of the EXOs quickly catch up to the garrison cutting them down as they would sheep before the slaughter.  A mixture of melee combat and rifle fire fell EXO after EXO, killed pilot after pilot.

“No mercy.”  He said to himself.  “For no one!”  Forte roared.

Forte ignites his thrusters and charges the group of fleeing EXOs cutting them down in the process whether they face him or not.

“Crush them!”

Missiles continue to fall on the heads of the I.K. hitting EXOs and buildings alike.  The Auxilia onslaught catching the base completely off guard has them on their heels at an early stage.

“Commander there are too many!  We have to take out the units launching the missile attacks, until that happens we cannot regain our footing.”

The Commander stands in the center of the room as parts of the ceiling fall around him.

“Commander!”

“Plot the courses from which the missiles are coming from and cross that information with the other strikes.  Once you have it launch a barrage until the attack is wiped out!”

“But…”

“Now!  Another question and I will throw you down into that carnage below!”

“Yes, Sir!”  The operator turns and starts calculating the plot of all the confirmed missile attacks.

“Continue to push them!  Do not let up!”  Forte yells intent of keeping his troops focused and rallied.

Steel clashing against steel as the two sides trade blow after blow with Auxilia continuing to gain ground.

The missile strikes fall again and again.  Keeping the I.K. off balance as Auxilia pushes their force back.  Unable to mount a counter-attack victory seems close at hand.  The ground littered with multiple craters and bodies of EXOs quickly pile up from the repeated missile strikes.

“Commander we should have their locations in two minutes.”  The operator shouts.

“Raise this fool, Forte.”  He orders.

“Understood!”

Explosion after explosion continue as the battle carries on.  Forte leads his troops with even more fervor that the most fanatic warrior.  Fighting at the point of his army he slowly pushes them back and parts their forces.

“Punch through them.  Divide and conquer them.”

The Auxilia force forms a point and begins to divide their enemy.

“Double the rate of fire, dōshi.”

“Hai, Forte-sama.”

Complying with Forte’s order the without delay the missile strikes double and with increased frequency.  The flashes of explosions brighten the night sky, with the screams of men and women being torn apart by the violent blasts filling the air.

“Forte!”

From the inside of Forte’s EXO a flash on his HUD displays an EXO charging him from behind.

With an outstretched red lance the I.K. Creatlach charges Forte intent on skewering him where he stands.  Flying along the ground just inches above it closes in on Forte’s position with neck break speed.  The tip of the lance honed to a expertly fine point able to pierce all but the strongest armor bores down on Forte.

“Time to die!”

Forte spins around time feels as if it slows down as he moves.  Raising his lance above his head he pulls it back and brings it down parrying the attack driving his attacker’s lance into the concrete ground crushing the ground and embedding it deep within, with a loud crash.  The EXO juts forward only to meet the butt of Forte’s lance driving it into the chest of the EXO shattering and crushing the armor as he flies backward.

He held the lance backward Forte leapt into the air.  He matched the speed of the EXO he just knocked back, crashing on his enemy and driving him into the ground he drove both his lance and his enemies lance into this broken chest.  Stepping off the EXO and pulling both lances from it Forte walks forward.

“Pathetic, is this the best that you can muster?  I will have our country back to us before the end of next year if this is the level of resistance they can put up.”  Forte says to himself, confident in his abilities and that of his forces.

The battle rages with Auxilia continuing to gain ground and part the I.K. forces.  Even against the superior numbers of the I.K. they push ahead for every step forward Forte and Auxilia takes the I.K. loses two.  Before the missile strikes only serving as a means to disrupt and confuse now are claiming the lives of many EXO pilots.

Forte stands looking up at the control tower of the base as the EXO he defeated explodes behind him.  Another flash and multistage alarm goes off in his EXO bringing up an image of one of his soldiers being overpowered nearby.

“There you are.”  Tossing the lance of the fallen EXO up he grabs it by the long handle and throws it with incredible speed at his target.  Throwing the lance with enough force that it would be near impossible to see it without the aid of an EXO the lance speeds toward its target.  Clipping the arm of an enemy EXO and nearly taking it off in the process is cut down by an Auxilia EXO.

“I-I can’t hold him off…”  The pilot struggles against his opponent.  Using his lance as a shield against his attacker the pilot of which is embedded and cracking the lance of the Auxilia soldier.  Seeing the tip of the lance break through his eyes widen.

“Tsk!  Nooo…”  He struggles his arms shaking as he tries to hold him off praying for help.

Then out of nowhere the I.K. EXO disappears caught by the lance thrown by Forte.  Recoiling from the force of the hit the pilot is killed on contact.  Hitting the control tower in a ball of fire it crumbles and destroys part of the wall.

“What was that!?”  The Commander demands as he pulls himself to his feet.

“Not sure, Sir.  Whatever it was hit the tower with incredible speed.”

“What is taking so long have you called for reinforcements yet?”

“We have they told us they are in route currently.”

“What about those missile attacks have you finished pinpointing their locations!?”

“Yes, Sir we are rea…”

“Shame about that soldier wasn’t it?  He probably had no idea what hit him, Commander.”  Forte’s voices rings out ominously over their comms system.

“You will get what is coming to you, Forte.  This transgression won’t stand and we will bury you along with every other Colonist scum in this pitiful country.  You are an incompetent fool dare challenging the might of the Imperian Kingdoms.”

A light chuckle can be heard over the comms system.  “Fortunate for me that as foolish as I may be, it compares little to those the I.K. has in charge of key installations and authority over the forces.  Remember it is foolish to think that you have all your bases covered and that you should be expecting reinforcements in the next eight minutes…”

The Operators face goes blank as he looks at the screen of battle data and the en-route reinforcements.  Showing eight minutes right on the dot as Forte said it himself.

“There is no way, that is impossible…how could he have…”

“Oh it is quite easy I can assure you of that.  It is a shame though, you won’t be able to fully appreciate what I did and how.  Fear not, you are not the first base we have attacked, nor will you be the last.  We have cut you off from your support and reinforcements you are on your own and even before the battle began you lost.”

“Damn you, you bastard.  How dare you mock me!  How dare you think you have the ability to challenge my authority!  I will kill you Forte, you will die here and now, but first…”

Again another sensor goes off showing a pair of hidden missile launcher coming online a top of the control tower.

“What!?  Those weren’t in the schematics!”

Before Forte can move several missiles are launched into the Atlantic Ocean.

“Dōshi!  Dōshi!?”  Forte frantically calls out over the comms.  But he is met with nothing but static, as several delayed explosions send massive columns of water into the air.

“Hahaha!”  Commander Alexi laughs.  “It seems that you are the one who has not covered all his bases, Forte.”

Turning to the Operator “deploy the suppression squads.”  Commander Alexi orders.

“Yes, Sir!”

“You thought you did your research didn’t you, you thought that you could just walk in here and take this base over.  You severely overestimated your abilities and underestimated mine.”

Forte stands looking up at the control tower, his vision firmly locked on the figure of Commander Alexi who in turn looks down on the battlefield.  Using the ability to zoom in at great distances the Commander looks like he is standing just next to Forte through his eyes.  

All around the ravaged base EXO-skeletons begin to emerge from the rooftops.  Lining the roof tops of the base around the combined forces of Auxilia and the I.K, the EXOs train their high caliber assault rifles on the black and blue EXOs painting them with their red laser dots.  First a single row of EXOs stands at the lip of each roof top, then a second, as the first kneels down to allow them a wide view of the field.  Each one stoic and each one choosing their own target.

As he scans the rooftops he counts the number of additional EXOs.

“186 more EXOs.”  Forte says to himself as he rethinks his battle plan.

“Throw down your weapons and step out of your EXO-skeletons!”  The Commander billows.  “You are all prisoners of the Imperian Kingdoms.”

The fighting slowly stops as Forte’s soldiers look around the field of battle.  Noticing that they are now surrounded each and every soldier, man and woman, all stand resolute confident in Forte’s ability.

The red and white I.K. EXOs with weapons drawn inch toward their Auxilia counterparts in an attempt to force them closer together, again their steadfast resolve they don’t move.  Holding their individual weapons whether they be, lances or rifles they stand unmoving.

“Any attempt to resist will be met with unmitigated retribution, death will be the least of your worries.”  Commander Alexi gloats.

A small squad of Auxilia EXOs grows restless and nervous.  Standing just a few feet from Forte they begin to shuffle in place.  Unlike their comrades they stand twitching at the prospect of being in a compromised position.

“Do not let his words get to you.  We are not beaten.”

Over the comms system Forte can hear a fluttering of heavy and exasperated breathing.  Broken and nervous Forte can feel their anxiety through their suits.

“Calm down, you will live through this.  Keep your head and focus on the task at hand and you will not be defeated.”  Forte tries to reason with the young soldiers.

The pace of their breathing increases steadily, as does their movement.  Starting with just rocking back and forth to pacing in place to now pacing.

“Think of your families and the people you are fighting to free.  Do not let them break you of your resolve.  You are stronger than this.  His words mean nothing you will not be defeated as long as we stand together we are invincible.”

Eying them carefully, as a concerned parent for their child would, Forte fears they might act out and strike.  Thanks to the heightened sense of hearing that the EXO-skeletons provide to their pilots, he is able to make out the young pilots tightening and wringing their hands around their weapons.

“Do not let him goad you into this.  We will win, do not throw away your life so carelessly.”  Forte continues to reasons but his voice is now falling on deaf ears fearful at the fact of facing the next one hundred years being mutilated repeatedly.

“I’m sorry Forte, but I do not plan on being tortured for the rest of my natural life.”

Lunging forward one of the EXOs stabs killing the I.K. EXO standing just in front.

“No!”  Forte yells.

Buzzing his EXO alerts him of a threat incoming and before he can assess it an explosion rings out shortly after the EXO is impaled by the lance.  A second explosion, followed by a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth all erupt in front of Forte.  Leaving nothing but the twisted remains and scorched earth at his feet.

Just like the soldiers who just lost their lives before him, Forte tightens his hand around his weapon crushing it and leaving an imprint on the handle.

“How?”  Forte asks himself.

“Haha, I hope that wasn’t you Forte.  I want the pleasure of killing you myself.  You are a poor leader to allow your men to be killed so easily.  But there is little you can do with my suppression squads.  Their accuracy is flawless!  If any more of your men move Forte I will gun all of you down!  Hahaha!”

Looking ahead a smaller screen flashes across Forte’s eyes, glowing on his face he sees on the building behind him three of the suppression squad EXOs with smoking barrels maintaining their position.

“Only three fired?  These are just not guards like the rest, these are elites.  However…they managed to take down that many even with the overlay and spider-bug we uploaded.  They are better than good, they need to be killed first.”

“Zhao Yun, it is time.”

“Roger, Forte.”  Zhao Yun responds

“Reinigen stand by.”

The behemoth Reinigen lurks in the dark waters alone.  Sitting back but not relaxing Sera waits for Forte’s orders.

“You would think he would have called me by now.  Instead he calls in that freaky China-man.”  Sera complains leaving her comms on so that Forte can clearly hear her frustration.

Annoyed but ignoring her Forte does the only thing he can do at this point.

With the fighting stalled a small ripple of water moves closer to the shore.  With the base under alert small two man patrols scouting the banks for any other disturbances go by in regular intervals.  With all eyes at the center of the base the western side is left relatively unprotected.

The ripple grows slowly and carefully in size.  Emerging from the water just like a shark’s dorsal fin, a golden crest peaks just above the water line.  It moves quietly drawing closer and closer to the bank.  Three I.K. EXOs stand over looking the very same bank.  Standing with their weapons at the ready they look back and forth out into the distance oblivious to what approaches.

“Looks like Commander has this all wrapped up.”  One of the EXOs says.

“Still though how did this guy get so many people this close to our base without us noticing.  It doesn’t seem possible.”

“Well whatever the reason is, I wouldn’t want to be in the person’s shoes who let this happen.  Commander Alexi on a good day is scary enough, on a day like today…”

“Yeah.”

“You can say that again.”

The continue talking about the attack on the base.

“What do you think he will do to this, Forte person?”  One asks.

“I don’t want to know.  The Commander has done plenty of questionable things in his career.  I heard he even made Prince Maximillian mad and got away with it.”  Another says.

“You have to be kidding?  I heard he kills anyone instantly that just says something he mildly disagrees with.”  The third comments.

“Well again, whatever it is I don’t want to know anything about it.  Things are bad enough as is.  We don’t need to go and stir…”

A quick but low puncturing noise breaks the air.  The EXO standing at the center of the three who was talking suddenly stops.

“Hey Harry why did you stop talking?”  One of the other EXOs asks.

“Hey something wrong?  Did you see something?”  The second EXO asks.

Standing their without answer as if he is transfixed on an object in the water with his head hanging down.

Both the others scratch their head and walk toward him.  Their heavy feet crushing the soft earth, even still the heavy metal can be heard.  Each man lowers their weapon feeling safe since the base has been taken back under control.

“Hey Harry say something you are freaking me out.”  He says placing his hand on his shoulder.  “Harry!”  he gives him a quick shake.

His body moves as if nothing is holding him there, tipping over into the water and before he can fall in he is grabbed.

“Hey!  Hey!  Harry!  Harry!”

Holding his limp body up they frantically look over their comrade to ascertain what is wrong.

“Blood!”

“What where?”

“His neck, there is a h-hole through his neck.  That is impossible how did that happen!?”

Blood drips down the armor of his EXO running down his back and chest dripping on the ground as it does.

“There has to be someone here!  A sniper!?”

“No we would have heard the shot.”

Both EXOs look out over the water while they still hold on to their fallen comrade.  From the water a golden idol of an EXO emerges forcibly through the water table.  Throwing the murky water in all directions the Luong emerges from the water like a silent and fearsome dragon.

“What…”

“…the hell!”

Brandish a pair of Chinese long swords, simple and elegant.  The hilt of each appears to be a golden tiger devouring the blade.  On the pommel of each handle a long blue tassel flows in the air.

With his arms crossed, the Luong lets them fly.  Slicing outward horizontally he flips over the three EXOs.  As he lands more gracefully than any animal or person is capable of he twists and flips both swords around thrusting them backward he stabs the two again.  With a quick tug he pulls his blades out, fanning them out wide he flicks the blood off and quickly sheaths them.

“Forgive me I wish it hadn’t have come to this.”  Zhao Yun says as he steps forward.

As his foot hits the ground the three EXOs fall over the center EXO falls first with the other two right behind it.  Teetering forward the EXOs slip, their heads roll off and splash into the water below, followed by their bodies sinking deep into the murk that is the Banana River.  Disappearing into the depths they will be forever entombed within the silt and mud.

Standing on the edge of the base the Luong pulls from his back a short spear about four feet in length.  A long blade rests at the end of the spear and at the base of the blade long royal blue ribbon.  Half the length of the spear itself it flaps in the wind.

“Are you ready Luong, it is time to stretch your wings finally.”  Zhao Yun says to the Luong.  “Hmm, I thought so.”

Holding the spear outstretched he twists the handle, shooting from the bottom an extension of the handle flies out, doubling the length of the weapon overall.  At the tip of the elongated spear an ornate spike decorates the end.

“Fly, Luong.”  Zhao Yun says.

Resembling a golden terracotta soldier from ancient China, five crests decorate the top of Luong’s helm, with the center being the largest with the four fanning it decreasing in size.  Kanji and runes decorate the crests, family crests and insignia.  They sweep forming a point together.  Zhao written in kanji is stamped on the forehead and rests in the mouth of a dragon.  The shoulders are made in the image of a Chinese dragon with its branch like horns jutting upwards.  His hands firmly gripping its long spear pour out of the mouth of a dragon that makes up its forearm.  The chest embossed with the eyes and face of another fierce and menacing dragon.  Drapped around its legs a long armored lappet adding protection.  Strong and light it too is caught in the wind.  The Luong considered the most beautiful and one of the most deadly EXOs in the world stands ready to makes its first appearance.  The wind picks up carrying with it the smell of fire scorched earth and death.  As the wind blows stronger Luong’s armored lappet and royal blue scarf wrapped around its neck blow trailing behind it for several feet.

Disappearing from sight he begins his attack.

“Hmm, unfortunately I have been informed that I do not possess the accommodations to house all of you.  It seems I am going to have to trim the herd.”  Commander Alexi’s voices echoes over the entirety of the base.  And yet even though he has Forte right where he wants him, they do not budge or cower.  Instead as a unit, a whole, a single entity they all look up at the looming control tower.  Each man and woman flying the colors of Auxilia waits.  Waits for Forte and waits for the opportune moment.

“What’s this?  Don’t tell me you have nothing to say, no witty remark?  Still I must congratulate you.  You have single handedly delivered more prisoners than any one person has to this facility.  Your contribution will not be overlooked.”

Pacing back in forth in the window and exposing himself to the hundreds of EXOs below each Auxilia soldier carefully follows his movements and the movements of his soldiers.  A large man with greased black hair and a thick black beard, Commander Alexi struts as if solidifying his victory.

“Now then let’s start trimming the fat, shall we?”  He says with a pointed and twisted laugh through his thick Russian accent.

Obeying his orders each soldier armed with a rifle rests their finger on their trigger waiting for his order, each soldier with a lance stands ready and firmly to the ground.

“Deactivate it.”  Forte orders.

“Roger that, Forte.  Overlay is being pulled offline, now.”  An operator’s voice says.

“C-Commander there is something happening to our sensors we are picking up multiple contacts!”

“Of course you are there are many hundreds of EXOs just below us you idiot.”  Said with a sarcastic tone.

“No, sir that is not it.  These contacts are situated in the water around the island.”

“What!?”  A brief sense of panic is heard in his voice, earning a smile from Forte.  Stomping over to get a look at the large screen his eyes open wide at the sight of hundreds more red points on the screen.  “Impossible the scouting parties have yet to report anything, raise them to check this out immediately!”  Commander Alexi orders.

Looking up at him nervously the operator swallows hard before answering him.  “We have been trying all squads have gone silent.  It seems that they have disappeared.”

With his temper raising and boiling to the surface he is cut off before he can let loose.  An alarm goes off.

“What is that!?”

“We have an incoming bogey moving with incredible speed, we are pulling it up now!”

On the screen a darkened picture of the Luong streaking through the air from above.

“What is that!?  Find out what that is NOW!”

Typing quickly with a frantic and disorderly pace the operator matches it against all known EXO-skeleton references in the database.

“It is not in the database, sir!  It can’t be a…”

“Ansin!  Impossible they are impossible to fabricate especially for a dissident such as this scum here, check its markings!”

Spinning around in his chair he maps out the entirety of the Luong.  Pulling only two markings from the suit.

“Sir…I found two.  One that is matched with the EXOs attacking the base and the other is the…the…Asian Coalition!”

“THE AC IS ATTACKING US!  FIND A WAY TO PATCH US TO AN OUTSIDE LINE WE HAVE TO INFORM LORD MAXIMILLIAN!”  Commander Alexi now scared as he blurts out his order.

“SIR it is on top of us!”

Rocking over the control tower and buzzing the heads of the suppression squads.  Luong crashes onto the roof of the shorter building to the north.  The roof fractures and splits under his feet.  With amazing speed and exhibiting a level of skill few possess Luong spins its spear at a downward angle over his head.  To fast to even comprehend in a standard Creatlach, the spear spins around several times slashing the EXOs standing around.

Around the Luong sparks arc between the suits and the crackling of their ruptured and damaged fusion generators whines.  Around him like a wave the explosions trail around the roof killing those that he did not hit.  Spinning around him clockwise as the explosions consume the roof whole.

Looking down at the roof and witnessing the perfectly executed attack with inhuman speed and precision, the Commander steps back quivering jaw and all.  The fire now fully engulfing the building where an entire squad of suppression EXOs stood burns violently.

“It-It can’t be an Ansin.  Only the Emperor himself has access to EXOs of that level.  No this can’t be true, it isn’t an Ansin they don’t exist outside of the Dragoons.  The Commander becomes more and more delirious.

Slowly Luong emerges but doesn’t leave the roaring fire.  Standing inside the wall itself the he nearly Stood in with the orange flame as it coats his golden armor.

He looks up at the control tower.  Looking deeply into Commander Alexi’s eyes, the royal blue eyes of his EXO are clearly visible through all the flames.

“Forgive me, my name is Zhao Yun.  Luong and I have come here to defeat you and stop your terrorist activities.  Gifted to me by Lady Sun of the Asian Coalition and Empress of China, I must apologize for having to take your lives.  Please forgive me.”  Zhao Yun’s words are calm and remorseful knowing that what he has to do is a cruel and terrible necessity.

Taking hold of his spear like a javelin and throws it with easily twice the power that when Forte threw his lance.  The spear streaks past the incoming hail of bullets raining down on his position.  Thrown at the EXOs standing atop the control tower its flies upward.  Racing straight through the barrage of bullets the Luong twists, turns and dodges around each shot.

His spear rams through the chest of a kneeling EXO and lodging itself deep into the body of the EXO behind it.  Reaching the lip of the control tower he quickly unsheathes his twin swords.  Decapitating four EXOs and landing behind them, Zhao Yun strikes a fighting stance.  The squad spins in unison and opens fire on the Luong.  Striking forward he easily gets in close killing all those he approaches.  A flurry of stabs and slashes, with the sound of his finely crafted swords cutting their way through heavy armor echoes across the battlefield.  Killing one and dodging behind the bodies of those he defeats Zhao Yun effectively uses them as a shield evading the fire of those around him with a deftness that borders on the insane.  Dancing through the bodies of the men he kills he easily avoids the incoming shots fired at him, he cuts his way through EXO after EXO.

The screams cut short by him ending their lives quickly and mercifully.  Fighting his way and reaching his spear he kills another and in the same motion sheathes both swords, reaching up and grabbing his spear twisting the handle shortening it by half he pulls it out.  With only a handful of EXOs remaining on the roof they begin a slow retreat.  Inching back slowly to the edge of the roof, they keep their rifles aimed at Luong.

“Stay back!”

The Luong takes a step forward.

“I SAID STAY BACK!”

Another step forward.

Opening fire the soldiers scream.  Again the Luong easily dodges and closes the distance between himself and the soldiers.  Stabbing the soldier with his shortened spear through the stomach the other turn their rifles toward him aiming at his head.  

Swinging their rifles around only a few feet from his head on either side, as if in slow motion.  Pulling his swords he cuts through their rifles as they pull the triggers each one explodes in their hands.  Temporarily blinding them, Luong quickly thrusts his swords through the smoke.  Letting go of the handle they rest in the air, as the smoke clears from the passing breezes each EXO falls to their knees with sword through their head.

Looking down to his right Zhao Yun reaches down and pulls his sword from the EXO’s helm.

“Mon-Monster!  S-Stay away!”  The hunched over EXO pleads.  His voice gurgling with blood from his wound to the stomach.  The voice modulator common in many EXOs crackles as he speaks.

Zhao Yun reaches for his other sword and pulls it out of the other EXO.

“Forgive me, if we had met on different terms, perhaps we could have been friends.”

“What are you talking about you are insane!?”

“We all must do our part, unfortunately your part is to die here.”  Zhao Yun’s voice is calming and soothing even though he delivers a grim message.

Crossing his arms while holding both swords, fanning out over his shoulders.

“Please…don’t, I have a…!”

Swinging it like a large pair of scissors, Zhao Yun decapitates him.  Falling over the heavy helm falls off its body and skids across the roof.

With a heavy sigh Zhao Yun pulls his spear from the EXOs stomach.  From below he can hear the collective scream and cries of the soldiers fighting.

Walking to the edge of the tower he peers over and sees below a massive battle being waged.  Hard to determine who was winning but either way people were dying on both sides, who is to say it is a victory if you lose so many people.

“Has it really have had to come to this?  Forgive us all, for we do what we must.”

Taking another sigh Zhao Yun leaps off the roof.  Targeting a group of I.K. EXOs he twists the handle of his spear and plummets toward them with terrifying velocity.  Hitting the ground with so much force that the ground literally splinters and fractures, impaling one of the soldiers and sending the others flying.  The ground snakes out pulsating from the impact, breaking and up heaving causing many to stumble and fall.

The battle reignited Zhao Yun rushes to Forte’s side.

“Good work, Zilong.  Send the order to your men.”

Carving his way through the mass of soldiers, easily dispatching any that stand before him, Zhao Yun reaches Forte.  Besieged by soldiers on all sides they fight back to back attempting to regain their previous position.  Soldiers charge in several at a time, no matter the number they are cut down.  Zhao Yun displays his amazingly refined abilities, Forte while not as skilled is none the less fearsome.  Lance and spear, fist and sword they fight.

“Begin operation Greamaire.”  Zhao Yun orders peacefully.

“Roger that.”

Thrusting his spear he stabs another soldier, while from his open left side he is attacked.  Jumping into the air the EXO boars down on the Luong, holding its lance above his head to stab.  With the EXO that just exploded, he releases his hold on his spear.  Fluid and earning the name of Luong, his fierce and elegant movements contradicts themselves.  In what would appear to happen in less than a second, he unsheathes his sword and in the same motion he cuts down the tip of the lance as it comes crashing down on him.  Bisecting it in half it flies apart, nearly taking the head of the EXO as well.

“HOW!?”  The soldier cries out.

Just as he lands Zhao Yun delivers a punishing punch to the head.  Sending the EXO crashing backwards with more speed than what it would be capable from its thrusters alone.  Crashing into other EXOs with enough force to plow a road through the thick bodies of armor.  Cutting into the ground itself the EXO plows its way through the concrete just as a plow would through dirt.

Several explosions rock the area from where Zhao Yun sent the EXO flying erupt.

The Battle having turned into a giant cluster, the Auxilia soldiers including Forte and Zhao Yun trapped in the middle of a massive garrison.  The remaining suppression squads picking off people that attempt to fly over head or attack them head on.  The chorus of clashing steel and gunfire radiate and pour out over the entire area.

“Dammit Forte, what is taking so long?”  Says Sera as she waits in the cockpit of the Reinigen.  Built entirely different than standard EXOs requiring to be piloted similar to jets of old.

“She is getting impatient, Forte.”

“Huh, tell me when she isn’t.”  Forte responds felling another enemy.  As the fight rages on Forte and Zhao Yun fight together but contrasted to one another.

Zhao Yun mercifully goes for instant killing blows, not wanting those he defeats to suffer.  On the other hand Forte leaves his enemies to die out slowly.  Maiming them to the point where even the nano-machines cannot save the host body.

Even though he fights in a Creatlach Forte proves his ability.  Easily defeating all comers, as he pushes the EXO far beyond expected performance expectations.  The damage done to his EXO’s shoulder and wound to his body hardly slow him down.  Any pain is subsequently taken out on his enemies.

With the fighting balancing itself out with neither side able to compromise the other, even with the suppression squads killing many with deadly efficiency, the morale of Auxilia never falters or stops.  The battle cries come in waves as they strike out at their enemy their oppressor.  Instilled in them that it is better to die fighting for what you believe in than a slow and lethargic death, they all proudly fight and die to free their families and country from the Emperor’s grip.

Slowly fighting out and away from one another, the Luong and Forte.  Inside the Luong red light flashes with a screen appearing before his eye.

“FORTE!”

Igniting his thrusters and pushing his way through the throngs of EXOs.  Hearing three shots fired as the speeds toward Forte.  As he does he turns and rotates throwing his spear in the direction from where the shots where fired.  Hitting the EXO and promptly exploding he lands in front of Forte.  A blur of steel and flashing light, three high pitched pings are heard.

“I won’t let you!”  Zhao Yun roars as he slashes each bullet in half deflecting them away.

“Ahh!!!”

A thunderous roar of an innumerable count of souls is heard.  From behind the I.K. forces the waiting Auxilia forces pour out over the battlefield swallowing those in their path.  Streaking toward the backs of the enemy they pour in using a phalanx skewering and plowing over all those in their path.  Leaping up the buildings they engage the suppression squads catching them off guard and killing them just as easily.

“What is going on and how come none of our sensors are working!?  Where did all of those EXOs come from!?”  He shouts asking frantically.

“I am not sure Commander, it appears that we have been infected with a spider-bug virus.  Allowing us a certain level of control to throw us off guard and think that nothing was wrong.”

“Get rid of it!”  He bellows, as fear begins to creep up his back.

“I can’t the virus is spreading and locking us out of systems!”

Several explosions rock the building, tossing several people to the ground, including Commander Alexi.

“How is this possible where did he amass so many EXOs!?”  His eyes twitching and blinking as a sea of blue and black EXOs pours into the base.

“Good question Commander Alexi.  But one that you will not have the pleasure of getting answered.”  Forte says over the comms.

“Damn you!  How dare you if I am going to go down you are going down with me!”  Rushing over to the operator’s computer and pushing him from the chair to the ground.  He pulls a keycard from his pocket and inserts.  The screen in front of him flashes red.

“Voice recognition confirmation required.”  The computer asks.

“Commander Andrei Alexi, Code 190881.”

“Voice confirmation approved.”

“Initiate sweeping self-destruct protocols and remove all inhibitors.  Set time for 15 seconds.”  The now desperate and half crazed Commander orders.

“What!?”  Screams several of the people in the room together.

“Haha!  You hear that you bastard Colonist.  You and your filthy band of beggars will come to hell with me!  All of the EXOs will self-detonate destroying this base and this entire county!”  His crazed laugh stings Forte’s ears through the comms.

“10, 9, 8…”

“You hear that it is the sound of the bell tolling for you!  I will crush you to dust and throw you into the wind!  The restriction plates on their fusion generators have been disable and the explosion will be glorious!!!”

“6, 5, 4, 3…”

“Go to hell Forte!”  Rearing back the Commander raises his arms toward the sky waiting the fires to take him.

“1…”  The computer says and a low hum is heard as it shuts down.  Looking at the screen he crinkles his hands as the computer reboots, a symbol not having anything to do with the I.K. appears on the screen.  The Latin letter for A and U intertwined together forming an X.  Blue and black on a silver background the symbols spins on the screen.

“Looks like we won’t be going to hell with you.”  Forte says.  “Oh and Commander there is someone I want you to meet.  She will be paying you a visit shortly”

“Finally!  Took him long enough for God’s sake.”

“Reinigen you know what to do.”

A delighted smirk and twinge of happiness “gladly.”  She says.

“Leave none alive.”  Forte orders sternly.

“My pleasure.”

In one of the deepest parts of the Banana River the monstrous EXO-skeleton comes to life.  Its eyes flash a bright green.  The water around it vibrates wildly as bubbles from the nozzles of its many thrusters heats the area around it.  Cracking through the murk Reinigen rises, sporting larger and a greater number of thrusters than a standard EXO.

“Men always making women wait on their wings and then they expect us to finish what they start.”

With the addition of the remaining Auxilia forces the battle quickly and firmly turns in their favor.  Wave after wave of EXOs crash into the hopeless I.K. garrison, using an ancient yet effective method of attack, the phalanx.  Being faced with a wall of lances rushing you many of them attempt to flee, but just how the suppression squads shot down any Auxilia EXOs for taking flight, now the tables are turned.  Scores of I.K. EXOs fall out of the sky riddled with bullets from waiting Auxilia marksmen.

With fewer and fewer EXOs charging them and more of them fleeing the sight of the Luong, he gives chase.  Easily overtaking them in a futile attempt to save their lives.

“Retreat!  We have to get a message to his Excellency!”  A small group of EXOs breaks through the blockage and manages to get past the marksman.

“Zilong, several EXOs have managed to escape.  Stop them from informing anyone about what is going on here.”

“Roger, Forte.”  Zhao Yun says.  Finishing off another soldier, he ignites his thrusters and jumps.  With enough force breaking the ground Because of his feet creating a small crater.  Racing past the immediate battlefield heading in a north eastern direction he quickly breaks the sound barrier.

An alarm sounds off alerting him to an incoming object.  “So it is finally your time to join us, Sera.”  Zhao Yun passes close by the Reinigen who is also moving at a tremendous speed.

One Ansin moves away from the battle as another closes in, as her speed increases Sera in the Reinigen comes up on a small pocket of EXOs fighting one another.  A mixture of Auxilia and I.K. with the I.K. soldiers outnumbering the other and winning.  With the Auxilia soldiers being thinned out slowly the Reinigen quickly speeds toward them.

“Out of my way!”  Sera yells.

Crashing into the cluster of EXOs killing or maiming all she hits, including her allies.  Sending their bodies sprawling outward, the crashing of metal against metal.

“What, what are you!?”

Landing on the ground the massive feet of the Reinigen crush the concrete.  Looking remarkably similar to a Creatlach but instead with the flair of a Roman soldier.  A towering plume decorates the top of the head colored green, designed to look like a centurion’s helm.  With the body resembling that of a incredibly muscular adult man.

Stepping toward the EXO with each footstep the Reinigen crushes all underfoot.  Pulling from its back a massive single bladed axe, easily the same size as a Creatlach if not bigger, designed with efficiency, durability and striking power in mind the axe is simple and deadly.

The broken I.K. EXO tries to stand but can’t.  Its legs twisted and the armor broken.  Looking away he crawls away the thumping footsteps pursue and cause the ground to shake.

“Stay back, leave me alone!”  The EXO rolls over holding its hand over its face in an attempt to shield himself from Reinigen.

Raising the massive axe above her head and just as quickly bringing it down on the helpless soldier, the ground is crushed and the EXO reduced to scrap as it is wedged into the ground itself.

“Weakling.”  Sera scoffs at the fallen soldier as she places her axe on her back and continues toward the main battle.

“We have them keep pushing!”  An Auxilia officer shouts.  Fighting near the burning building that Zhao Yun first landed on and wiped out the suppression squad on the room top.  “Don’t stop!  Forte will lead us to victory!”

“HAA!”  The collective voices of the Auxilia soldiers rise together.

The bright flames of the building cast an orange hue, the body’s soldiers and pieces of EXOs liter the ground.

“Don’t falter!  Show them no mercy!”

A rumbling is felt causing the Auxilia officer to take notice and look around.  As his men fight against a group of I.K. soldiers with their backs facing the burning building another rumble can be felt.

“What the…?”

The building begins to crumble and out from the wall as it is torn asunder a massive arm reaches through grabbing one of the I.K. EXOs.

“Ah!”  She shrieks as she is pulled into the building.

“Noo…!”  Another scream followed by a gurgling.

“What the hell, what the hell was that!?”  One of the I.K. soldiers asks.

“Fall back!  Fall back!  It is the Reinigen!”  Heeding the words of the officer all the Auxilia EXOs pull out and give the area a wide birth.

As they do the body of the EXO is thrown through smashing into one of the other I.K. EXOs.  Thrown like a rag doll as both EXOs explode while flipping through the air craving a path into the concrete ground.

“Holy shit!  FIRE FIRE!!!”  Firing with reckless abandon into the side of the building as it begins to flex and break apart.  Stepping through as if it was nothing more than paper, the Reinigen grabs two of the I.K. EXOs.

“I have come here to kill you!”

Crushing the one with her left arm and subsequently slamming it into the ground causing it to explode on impact.

“FIRE YOU IDIOTS KILL IT!”

Hundreds of bullets hit and bounce off the EXO causing nothing more than an annoyance to the Reinigen.

Ignoring the shots and turning her attention to the EXO struggling in her hand.  A massive Gatling gun on Reinigen’s right forearm clicks and begins to spin.

“Imperian bastard.”  Holding the helpless soldier the gun swings in front of him and unloads.  The sound of the gun humming as it fires tearing the soldier apart and leaving nothing but a stump where the upper body was.

“I have come here to kill you all!”  Sera shouts.

“Stop fooling around.”  Forte’s voice chimes in.

“Whatever, you said kill all that stand in my way.”

“Finish it, now.”  Forte orders.

In the control tower the Commander in a state of terror pounds on the only exit out of the tower.

“Why isn’t it opening!?  Hurry and open it!”

The operator frantic and covered in sweat works on the computer trying desperately to override the spider-bug virus so that they can regain control and open the door to the elevator.

“I can’t sir, it has lock us completely out at this point!”  He falls back in his seat staring blankly at the screen.  “We are trapped, we are going to die…”

The tower rumbles and sways.  Most of the people are hiding under desks or their computer panels.  Scared and knowing what is coming for them.  Another rumble rocks the tower even more so than the previous one.  From outside the steel elevator door the sound of snapping wires and a long whooshing sound.  A loud crash is heard several seconds later.

Stepping back from the door only to be knocked down again the Commander along with everyone else in the control tower listen as a tearing and ripping noise heads up the shaft.

“W-What is it now?”  He says with a quivering lip.

No sooner does he finish that five digits tear through the door shredding it like paper mache.  Ripping the door apart and tearing from the wall only the upper part of the Reinigen is visible.

“Impossible!  It can’t be!”  The Commander screams.

“Scream, scream little man, you are all going to die.”  Forcing herself in the Reinigen stands to its full height with its head ripping through the ceiling.

“Ansin, another Ansin, who are you people!?”

“You do not deserve to know who we are.  The only thing you deserve is death and I am here to deliver it.”

Holding her arms out stretched with hands looking to grabs the Commander the tips of Reinigen’s fingers open and fold back.

The eyes of everyone in the tower grow wide with fear and loathing.

“Please…AHH!!!”

Firing a barrage the Reinigen completely destroys the entire control incinerating everyone inside instantly.  Explosions rock the entire tower as it begins to fall the battle on the ground begins to wane as the last of the garrison finished.  The entire tower falls down like a stack of dominos in on itself.  Hitting the ground throwing up a plume of smoke, dust and earth.

“Very over zealous is she not?”

“Zilong?  When did you get back?”

“Just now.”

“And the escapees?”

“Dead.”

Forte walks toward the Luong and places his hand on its shoulder.  Looking up at where the tower use to stand the Reinigen sits suspended in air making a slow descent.

With the battle won and the I.K. completely obliterated Forte orders his soldiers to see to the wounded and assist with freeing the prisoners held at the base.  Working diligently they quickly aid anyone that needs help.  The prisoners a mixture of people of all races and creeds, all held against their will, or the slightest infringement against the I.K.  Forte and Auxilia worked quickly and with the miracle of nano-machine technology are able to rescue many of the prisoners from a painful death.

Disappearing just as they left and assisting the freed people, Auxilia falls back leaving the tattered ruins of the base behind.  A flag planted in the center of the base where the bulk of the fighting took place flaps in the wind.  The Auxilia symbol on its side as a beacon of hope to let all know that there is still a chance.  A chance that one day the American people will be free again.