It was around 11 pm. What I confirmed using the moon that was in the sky. It glowed gray, which made the atmosphere even more suffocating than it was.
I looked back and saw Neturno with an expression of discontent, in addition to his unmistakable tic of always touching the scar he had on his cheek. He held his sword as if his life depended on this Quest... Well, he was right.
My vision soon adjusted to the terrible darkness that filled my eyes. I soon saw Mars and Venus walking together, almost crouching. Mars held Venus's arm tightly. Both had a sad and somewhat troubled face.
They were almost glued together... The idea crossed my mind... Maybe they weren't just fellow soldiers. They had something for each other, I'll have to talk to them after all this.
"-Earth are you there?" The voice sounded from my military helmet. This communication technology developed by the Federation was indeed a marvel for joint attacks.
"-Yes, I'm Pluto!" I said pressing the button that was on my right index finger with my thumb. "- What it was?"
"Northern attack did not report to headquarters... I sent a signal to them but they didn't respond." Dozens of possibilities crossed my mind, if this situation happened in just one more training operation, in one of the hundreds that we have already carried out, it might not be a big deal, maybe an error in the transmitter since it was just a prototype. But we were in a real situation, it was for real.
We were in their world. The first time that humanity finally managed to enter the mythological world.
29 years since the beginning of this war between the two races, but also between the worlds.
The war raged in the Fythers Lands, staining both armies with blood.
Although our numbers were much higher, most of the deaths overall were the lives of human soldiers and civilians. This is all thanks to the suicide missions the federation has given us. We were acting almost like we were pieces on a board of leaders from the North and the South.
"Did you also try the Hyder code?" Then the hiss of Pluto's voice rang in my ears. "Yes, I also tried the heat and heartbeat transmitters but none of them gave any signal.."
They found us, and possibly already knew our location at that time.
"And now general?" Pluto's inquiring voice came through my helmet. The voice was unsteady and barely audible. Our situation was dangerous.
"Continue there at the central station. Pay attention to the heat sensor from sector 06 to 43." he said taking the helmet off my head. My vision from a green due to the night vision lens went to complete pitch black, it only took a few micro seconds for her to get used to the darkness around me. My hair swayed in the forest breeze, the temperature must have been below 10°.
"Contact the attack south and east, and tell them to change the blue formation to the red formation, towards Bilewh Plain." I completed by signaling those behind me to rest. "As you wish sir."
The loss of the northern attack complicated things, they must be dead by now... But what I really thought, was how could they be caught so easily?
It was a very capable squadron, plus of course they had an Echolocator among them, plus of course at least 7 tall and 30 capable soldiers, and not even the remains of a fight, or the noise of the Necklaces if each, either they were ambushed, which I doubt very much since I would hear some remnants of the battle or the other hypothesis that was clearer to me... There was no doubt... among them there were at least 2 or 3 Obsidines.
"-Form in pairs! You have 20 minutes to rest... I suggest you rest a little or save energy for a possible conflict." Everyone looked at me with a certain anxiety, and even a certain fear for the situation they were in.
"-Sir..." I looked at the voice. It was Uranus, and she had fear in her eyes, as her cheeks and face, besides being red from the cold, were shivering incessantly. "...we're going to die, aren't we?" She asked sobbing and almost releasing all the tears she had.
I was somewhat worried by my answer, as I didn't want to be skeptical about our chances... they were slim, almost nil. But to say that at this moment in the place we are, would completely take away everyone's hopes and even their strength.
Hopeless soldiers who might stay alive would just be bodies waiting to be killed...
I looked into each of their faces one more time. everyone was waiting for my answer and listening attentively, especially Uranus who was sobbing and had almost empty eyes.
My role as general of humanity in this war was to inspire the future generation... as was the case with Mars, who was only 20 years old and already in the position of high command of the army. He was a prodigy at the Necklace of Ice... maybe one day he could surpass me.
This was also the case for Venus and its gravitational force collar, as well as Neptune and its earth collar.
"-Our chances are low..." everyone looked at me with astonishment and shock, Uranus was shocked and his body seemed to give in to the ground at any moment. "Although..."
Uranus' gaze went from the ground to me again. "...I give you my word, that I will do everything I can to make sure you all get out of here alive."
Hope appeared in everyone's eyes except Uranus, who was looking at me with a strange expression on his face. Suddenly Uranus leaned over his own body, squeezing him with his arms almost like a crying child.
Everyone's expression was one of shock at her instability, but no one said anything... they knew it could be themselves in that situation. Everyone was Broken, they just dealt with it in their own way.
Her face was flooded with tears, she sobbed each time a tear hit the icy grass at her feet. She looked at me with sadness on her face and almost sorry for something.
Mars put a hand on her shoulder and provided the care she needed. I wasn't the perfect example to deal with this situation... I was never good with words. Mars handled this situation.
"-You can rest now..." I suggested to everyone, at least those who weren't emotionally unbalanced. "... I stay on the prowl."
Some confirmed and settled in some places at least a little comfortable. Neturno crouched down and stood between two old logs, he took a small transparent bag, of course always looking to the sides... There was no doubt it was the illegal bag of sugar blocks that he always took hidden in missions.
I remember when the federation banned foods that they judged to be negative for individual soldier performance. Neturno wanted to kill the 4 rulers with his own hands... Especially when he found out that the banning of food would only last for soldiers and the lowest class of government.
I couldn't contain the smile that bloomed on my face, because looking back now, the years I spent in the academy and in command weren't as bad as time often told me... there were good moments.
I looked to both sides and saw Venus evaluating a large hexagonal stone she had near some trees. He was staring at her, but also at the symbols that were engraved in a golden color on the surface of the stone... he must have been trying to read the symbol.
Mars was still consoling Venus who was on her stomach with her hands on her knees beside a tree. She offered her some food.
With a jump I climbed onto a small rise of land that was in front of me. Whenever you found yourself in an unknown place, climbing natural points that are high is the best opportunity to recognize the terrain and where we would still walk.
I held a small fissure that was in that rock, and with an impulse and strength I launched myself upwards. The strength was enough and I managed to step my feet on the surface of the rock. It was at least 101 feet, as the canopy of trees that resembled the pines on earth, at least while they still existed, as much of the fauna and flora became extinct thanks to hundreds of years of conflict over humans' own control of the land.
Sometimes the idea that this conflict between the races was some kind of cursed karma for our sins towards the world and ourselves... Perhaps we are the ones who seek and ask for this war.
I looked at the horizon. There was a wide river a few miles away that broke into small streams.
The trees were so green some were different colors, some blue, red, purple and at least 7 big lilacs... they were beautiful and beautiful, as alive as the earth once was.
However, what most differentiated this landscape from one of the land, were some pieces of floating land that were connected by large wires to a larger one that resembled an island, in which vividly colored and almost transparent ores came out from the bottom of the island.
The island was just the right size and its circumference resembled the dark mangrove lake that lay beneath it.
On the horizon there was also a colossal circle of glass whose shape almost formed an arc... It was so symmetrical and uniform that it could only be made by hands.
The sun was setting and it was behind the glass circle, almost a mirror... and it gave off a light that almost blinded me.
The arrival of our mission was still at least 60 km to the right of Jinryos Mountain, the twin mountain of Infryos Mountain.
I always wondered how the federation knew the names of mountains, and natural formations of this land?... It was the first time we stepped here, how could they?
well maybe there were other reconnaissance missions and who knows human infiltrators in the society of Mythological beings.
They didn't tell me and omitted it, so why were we assigned to come here? My position as a pawn and just a military force was increasingly evident.
Many doubts and uncertainties flooded my mind, but the one that intrigued me the most was how?... Only then did my mind really think... More than shit... how could I not think of that.
Now it all made sense as to why the northern attack was unresponsive. In the federation's attack report it said that they were in a solid and fast formation... the Lingot formation that was almost impervious and indecipherable.
It consisted of six divisions of groups with 8 soldiers each, in which at the beginning of each group would be composed of two commanders, who would create liaisons where they would exchange information and orders from the general.
These groups would walk in sync and balance with the mountain range of Infryos, which was a perfect defensive barrier for joint attacks. It was a strategy that would defend the echolocator from attacks coming from the unprotected sides of the range.
It was impossible for one force to attack all ends of the formation if one side was attacked, the other would report to the commander who would in turn report to General Yogu.
There was only one reason they were killed so easily... The attack report was leaked to the Mytologicos forces.
There was a traitor.