"Battcomm Rohlant, how goes everything?" I asked our chief of artillery as I joined him at the centre of his opposition. The beating heart of our fort's defiance. Ropes and all kinds of wires were about the place. Linking him to alarms and other signals while one side was dominated by an unimpeded view of the field.
"Since your little foray ahead of us, we've been able to lighten up the load on the gun crews. They can get some much needed rest now, thank you."
"Are the reinforcements fitting in fine?"
"I have a feeling there'll be a lil' head clashing with their artillery officers, so it may be important for you to step in."
"Shouldn't they respect your age well enough?" I ask him, not sure why they'd be quick to dismiss an aged soldier. Given the profession and the severity of the situation. I would've thought his veterency would be well respected. And that it would silence any complaints by its mere presence.
"They'll make a jab at my eyesight as many often do. But, regardless. With all these new lads coming in. You'll need to make a point of straightening out the pecking order. The lads trust what a Valkinva' has to say."
"I will take that into account, thank you." I tell him with a nod as I moved closer to see what he was dealing with. I wasn't sure about how advanced and modern the fort was, by our nation's standards anyway. So I did not know if he was working on a handicap. But, he had performed more than well enough so far.
I would go as far as to say that he was doing an exceptional job, covering so many guns. With a stretched-out batch of crews to man them as well! I can't imagine it was an easy job. But, again, no one was to expect an easy time given what we faced.
"So, do you believe that we should make a habit of this?"
"Talking? Na."
I nearly smiled, but I held up my stoic reserve, "No, going out there and beating them back far enough to ensure the gun crews can rest."
"That is something you will have to judge for yourself. I'm no witch, thankfully." he tells me before he starts to tug on some of the ropes. A sharp rattle then filled the air when he pushed down on some small levers.
"We will need to be able to work together far better than we ever have in the past. We won't make it through this siege otherwise."
"I admit I don't share the optimism."
"Then," I sigh, "at least keep quiet about those thoughts?"
"Can do."
"So... Has everything been alright for you... Since we parted ways at the aelenvari flower?"
"As alright as alright can be right now. We've been pushed back from our centuries-held fronts and are facing a new kind of war. One these Unionists have held in reserve intentionally to catch us off balance."
"The airships..."
"Monsters we have no answer for." he remarks before he looked towards a large steel door on one end of the room.
"Do you think the mountain cracker has a chance?"
"It was designed for the largest of monsters we were aware of the enemy having. But, with how tough those mountain-shelled beasts are, I can say with confidence that it could bring one down."
"Everything is in order with the mountain cracker, then?"
"No..."
"Then it is urgent you elaborate." I tell him as I come over and plant my hands on his vast table.
"This is a very specialist gun, we need to train the strongest lads how to operate it."
"We can give you that time."
"It's not just that, Valkinva', the munitions store for it have been emptied."
"What...?" I let out in shock.
"You and me both. Largest of the guns here, hardest to move, yet, when the fort was left abandoned. They emptied the stores only for that gun."
"I was under the impression our stores were sufficient..."
"Well, someone has made a fool of us all, then. A saboteur likely made their way to the gun before hand."
"One soldier can't empty out such a grand weapon store on his own, surely?"
"I'd rather not think on the idea of more than a man being involved with this." he let out distastefully as I wandered closer to the steel door.
"Someone had tried to seal it shut?" I ask him as I noted the distorted metal in some spots. Even the thick, solid bars it used for locks had been snapped off.
"Yes, we assumed it was some half-implemented plan to deny the fort to the Unionists. But, no, clearly not."
"Any idea where we can even find more munitions for this gun?"
"This is my first time ever working with a mountain cracker, so no. If I was the Orchestrator of the Artillery for this place, maybe, but, you know."
"We'll have to fashion our own, I guess..." I comment with a shrug. Not putting much thought into it when I made the comment.
"That may work, actually."
"It might?"
"Yes, that hammer-ball using one of you. I saw his work out there. An impressive display of making solid rock mould itself into what he wants it to be."
"I've only ever seen him make spikes of it. And I doubt they'd survive the trip through the barrel."
"Well, I implore you then to test if he can make the largest round shot we've ever seen."
"I'll make a point of it, we can even mix the two together to give your men the training time they need!"
"Best not keep us waiting, then, Valkinva'." he tells me with a grin as he starts to bring out more items onto the table.
"Of course, until we meet again."
"See you soon, then." he tells me as I leave the room. And, as I did so, I let my magic run loose so I could find my Ammimpaurst brethren. It seems he was still out on the roof of the fortress. So I went up there to meet him.
Glancing about the lightly manned rooftop before I found him talking with some of the men. Whatever it was about, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. But this problem I had been made aware of was more important. Besides, we needed the gun crews at the ready to handle the enemy when Wing-Head Allyoceer came back.
"Oh, watch out. Tip of the wing is here with a stern expression on the other side of the narrow slit." Lavauroas remarked as I approached.
"Unless Battcomm Rohlant has relieved you of your posts, I suggest you get back to them." I tell the idle men before turning my attention to the largest among them. The giant I met covered in stale alcohol in a now-gone monastery.
"So, whatchu want?" he asked as he began to lean over the thin defences. While the weight of his weapon anchored him to the ground as he tempted fate with a wide lean.
"To enquire about your abilities."
"You saw them, what's to ask about?"
"I need to see to what degree you can manipulate the earth you apply your magic to."
"Not following, get to the point."
"Can you make a perfectly round orb that can fit tightly within the barrel of that?" I ask him as I gesture towards the vast weapon on my left. He then looked over it and whistled before he seemed to ponder it.
"Can give it a go, never had much reason to practice the shape of my attacks. Just swing and watch it all go." he explained before he dramatised his speech a little at the end.
And I stared at him hopelessly, "You've been in that monastery for how long?"
"Long enough to make use of the downslope brewery for meself." he laughed as he patted his armoured gut.
"And not one moment was spent refining our craft? That which you exist solely for?"
"Oh, stuff it, Shining Armour. All I ever did for years and years was train and fight. I am sure I have earned the right to learn new crafts."
"Drinking yourself into an irrational stupor is hardly a new craft..." I sneer out at him.
"No, but brewing is." he chuckled as he swung himself forward back to his feet.
"Well, now you can find a new craft. Making artillery rounds." I tell him as I turn to walk away.
"Best make a tactical effort with it, then, no? Take stone and earth from their side of the plains?"
"As long as you are not endangering this fortress I could not care where you practised it. So long as you ensure you report for duty when called upon."
"As expected." he told me with a nod.
"But, as you have spoken of it." I started to say, catching his wandering attention once again.
"Listening."
"Can you make a point of creating obstructions ahead of the fortress' lower half? Something to break apart the enemy as they advance on us."
"Can do, I know the ironcoats like their ducking-out-of manoeuvres."
"I was mostly just thinking in regard to breaking the enemy lines and funnelling them into a tighter, larger mass."
"Whatever leads to more of them dead." he comments with a shrug as I nod and take my leave. My point having been made to him.
Then, I came to a stop by the edge of the main fortress, on the side closest to the mountain cracker. And I turned my gaze towards where the Wing-Head had last been seen. She had been gone for some time now. But I had no idea what she was working with.
I at least had Valkinvar-Staguiffmani Dannatili to create a signal. Allyoceer was not likely to be as lucky. But it was too dangerous to send someone out there just to scout. Even from up here, I could spot juperse riders prowling about.
It was clear they had caught on to our efforts and were making a point of ensuring we stayed isolated. Though, they were pretty foolish if they thought only a few isolated riders would stop us. But with how reckless they were, there was no telling what they were capable of. Our devastating strike against them had only stifled them.
And like the student, freshly beaten down by their teacher, they had gotten up again. More experienced and more prepared than before. They had war-witches at the ready last time, but now they formed a great defensive screen. It would be stress tested again and again and it would break over and over.
But it was worrying to see this kind of endurance... I had grown used to seeing their armies routed. But now, I watched as they stood firm even in the face of such an invincible fortress. It really was all that this part of our country needed. With so many guns facing down at all points...
Yet, they stood their ground and crept ahead slowly in spite of it. They brought forward machines and artillery so they could fight us on equal terms. Field engineers and war materials to build with. And an endless line of men to throw at us as they did so.
Many would need Waionr's help today and in the future, despite their collective heresy. He was going to be watching us carefully. And we had to make sure we kept to our oaths. Lest we damn ourselves as Grand-Thoucomm Pathort had all that time ago...
Thankfully, my conscience was not disturbed right now. Our fire was indiscriminate. So it stayed within the rules of my Lord's domain. But, I also worried about the plans of the enemy.
The first time I saw those shadow-faced men. They marched forward at us with their pride held high. They kept us in a state of paralysis that we were not prepared for. Yet, now we might be...
We might be ready for them...
"GUNS ON THE LEFT PASS! GUNS ON THE LEFT PASS! COMMENCE FIRING!" someone shouted as he rushed out onto the roof. His voice and actions urging on the crews to get to work.
"Left pass?" I repeated quietly as I reached out for my blade. Summoning it into my grip as carefully as I could in the circumstances while I turned my gaze. Then, I saw it, a Valkinvar had shot out of the pass and scared off the riders.
Then another and another until an army followed!
"The Wing-Head!" I let out in surprise before I leapt off of the building to join them. She may have come with a new army and more Valkinvar than I thought possible. But I still needed to help her. She needed me to help escort the formals back to the fortress!
"WARD OFF THEIR RIDERS! THEN SPREAD OUT AND COVER THE EXPOSED FLANK!" Allyoceer roared to our sisters before she turned to me just as I arrived.
"Should I join them?" I asked her before she began to slap me away.
"Take position at the front, watch over from the first gatehouse." she told me, and I shot away to my objective the moment she finished. With a loud bang I landed on the attached wall and I rushed into the gatehouse.
"Get this gate open! And you lot, defensive line ahead of it!"
"YES, VALKINVAR!" a detachment of already prepared ironcoats roared back to me as they rushed out onto the plains. And while my sisters screened the far distance as the fortress guns came alive. I found myself ushering in another exhausted force into the safety of our stone walls. Like last time as well, along with whatever they could carry.
"Our army has gathered, Heretics. Where are your chances now?" I taunted as I smirked at all the new troops we had. But, more so, I was glad that we seemed to have lucked out in acquiring a whole wing of Valkinvar! We could win this!
With so many of us gathered here, we were guaranteed victory!