It had been three weeks since Jamal's speech for a new life, and a new life it had been for the people of Port-O-Bea. Their city was slowly turning into ruin with each passing day, as the former city military was getting more desperate in their attacks. Despite continuously gaining more reinforcements by the day, did the citizens of the area not give in, and those fighting pressed the assault. By this point, the military had only held about fifteen percent of town but was heavily fortified through the strategic pullbacks, and now even the fiercest of resistance couldn't get through.
Jamal Wrint still liked himself a challenge, even ignoring the other members of the team wishing for any solution to come about. Holed up in the bar that Sera was told to be a resistance bunker, had now become the rebelling force's temporary headquarters, as dust covered the ground from recent artillery shells.
"Jamal, the people are starving and starting to wonder if this is all worth it." Jamal was instantly asked once he had walked in, by one of the resistance aides they had gathered only a few days after the frontlines started to stabilize.
"We are working to get more food into the port as soon as we can, although the blockade Youden set up isn't helping." Jamal nodded in assurance, as he continued towards the building's steps.
Just before reaching a door, he could look through the window at the destruction only a few miles ahead. Black plumes of smoke rose into the air, as small explosions still rocked the foundation from such a distance. It was risky to even stay here, but the quicker they were able to get the planning across the better it would be.
"How are we doing today guys?" Jamal opened the door to see Heskins, Leon, and Hops while the rest were at home with Ula.
"Considering how static the frontlines have been, you could say things are starting to get antsy around here." Heskins shrugged his shoulders, "I mean, it's early November and the food crisis is getting worse by the minute. Not to mention the whole other war happening outside the city!"
"Ah, the Great War of Worlds I think they're calling it." Leon answered after some thought, "Even after the complete annihilation of the Nikao population and military isn't enough the deter the other nations from fighting for peace. We must hold up our part."
"At the rate we're going, we may get actually get-" Jamal looked to make sure no one was nearby and the door was closed, "We may actually get pushed back, but hear me out."
"Wait what!" Hops and Leon roared in surprise, as Heskins kept his mouth shut looking at the map on the table showing the current battlefield.
"I know, but I have a plan. Keep quiet will you?" Jamal had put a finger to his mouth to signal.
"You expect me to tell Alice that we might actually lose all the progress we've spent the last few weeks on. I've been promising her the city life in Saputa, not for it to all be wasted." Hops began to fume. "I swear on my powers you better have something up your sleeve."
"Oh, I do." Jamal started to grin, "It took me a while to gather all the resources we needed for it, but I have a plan to get us into open ground by tonight. No more standstill."
"And if this fails?" Leon questioned.
"Well, if better not, because we're concentrating a lot of our forces into this objective. Otherwise, the city is lost."
Silence filled the room, as everything they had worked and planned out was supposedly depending on a future attack. Saputa's sole chance of coming back was depending on Jamal's ambitious goals and even then did they go too far at times. Should they be prepared for the inevitable?
"Jamal, I don't kno-" Heskins started to say.
"It's too late, I already have the prepared forces on standby before I got here. It's all or nothing. I went over the plan with other people leading the charge, and they told me that if I do pull this off will it be worth it."
The others could only gulp, as Jamal raised his fist and ignited it on fire. The men could only watch as the bright fire swirled around it, and illuminated the dark room with his heat alongside it. Nothing was piercing the silence in the air, until Jamal opened his mouth and took a deep breath, one of worry or insecurity, who really knew?
"Alright, I need all three of you to come with me. And follow carefully. Elsewise we shall all have died for nothing. Because I intend for this entire engagement to end today!" Jamal opened the door and turned towards them, holding a face full of fury and yet a deep passion for what was to come. A better future for all children and people. And would it be needed for the fighting ahead.