Major Marc, a seasoned officer with a weathered face and a scar running down his cheek, surveyed the scene with a mix of pride and trepidation. He watched as his men, meticulously inspected their weapons, he saw some soldiers hands shaking slightly, their eyes darting nervously about. He knew that fear was a natural part of war, but he also knew that fear, if unchecked, could lead to panic, chaos, and defeat.
"Alright, boys," Marc said, his voice firm but reassuring. "Let's keep it down. We need to be sharp and focused. This isn't a game. It's real."
He watched as the men nodded, as they realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Remember your training," Marc continued. "Stick together, look out for each other. We're a team, and we need to work as one. We have a job to do, and we'll do it right."
He paused, his gaze meeting the eyes of each man. "You're all strong, you're all brave, and you're all capable."
He turned to leave, but then he paused, his gaze lingering on a young soldier, barely out of his teens, his face pale with fear.
"Son," Marc said, his voice is softer now. "It's alright to be scared. It's a natural feeling. But don't let it paralyze you. Embrace it, channel it into your determination, and use it to keep you going."
The young soldier nodded, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.
Marc continued his rounds, making his way through the encampment, ensuring that his men were prepared, that they understood the gravity of the situation. He stopped at a group of mechanics, their faces smudged with grease, as they worked tirelessly on the tanks.
"How are we looking?" Marc asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"We're good, Major," a mechanic, a burly man with a gruff voice, replied. "The tanks are ready to roll. We've checked everything twice, thrice."
"Good," Marc said.
He moved on, his gaze sweeping across the camp.
___________________________
__________________________
Around a large, makeshift table, a group of officers huddled together. Colonel Hans, his expression unreadable, leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the detailed map spread out before them. The markers on the map, painstakingly placed, outlined their planned route, the anticipated positions of the enemy, and the strategic points that would be targeted.
Just as Colonel Hans was about to finalize the battle plan, a soldier entered the room.
"Sir, we have important information." He handed Hans a small, handheld device. "Sir, look at this. It seems they somehow found out about our attack."
Hans took the device, his fingers tracing the outline of the screen as it flickered to life. The grainy footage displayed a gathering of tribal warriors, their faces determined and fierce, alongside their beasts, all poised for battle.
"We got this information from the plane we sent for reconnaissance," the soldier explained. "We believe there are at least over a thousand people here. There are also many other people hiding in the jungle whom we have not been able to identify."
A stunned silence descended upon the room. Hans, his brow furrowed in confusion, stared at the screen, his mind reeling. Because he couldn't understand how the people of this tribe knew about their plan. How they knew that they would attack this village.
"How did they know that we would attack this village?" Hans muttered, his voice laced with frustration. He turned to his officers, his gaze piercing. "But that's not the point now. We can figure it out later. We need to focus on the attack."
The other officers, their faces betraying a mixture of shock and concern, exchanged worried glances.
"Colonel Hans, what is our plan now?"
"We will change the plan," he finally declared, his voice firm, his eyes flashing with a steely glint. "First, the air force will go and bomb them, targeting their gathering points and any visible defenses. We need to create chaos and confusion among their ranks. Once we have softened them up, the infantry will advance, supported by our tanks. We will push through their defenses and take control of the village."
He paused, surveying the room to ensure he had everyone's attention. "Additionally, we will only use coded signals for communication to prevent any information leaks. Each unit will have a designated signal to follow."
The other officers nodded in agreement.
"It's good for us that they're gathered in one place. We can eliminate them more easily now."
★★★———————————
The Kutu village, nestled beside the sprawling Green River, was a bustling hive of activity. Warriors from five different villages—Omo Valley, Mursi, Mokoro, Nana, and Tara gather here.
Kuto, normally known for its skilled hunters and its rich farmland, had become a temporary fortress. Warriors, clad in a patchwork of furs, hides, and crudely fashioned armor, moved with practiced grace. Their weapons – spears, axes, and bows crafted from bone and wood – were honed to razor sharpness, their surfaces polished smooth. They checked the tautness of their bowstrings, whispering hushed prayers to the forest spirits for guidance and protection.
The sound of hammering echoed through the village, as villagers hastily reinforced the wooden walls, adding extra layers of protection against the impending threat.
Lira, the daughter of Krulos, were brought news of the Empire's invasion. She had spoken of steel beasts that moved on wheels, of men who wielded weapons that could hurl death from afar. Also, power that defied their understanding.
So they all gathered in Kutu village. Since today the imperial soldiers will attack here.
It starts to rain. The warriors stood behind towering trees, their bodies camouflaged by the dense foliage, waiting for the enemy to make their move. Their Therizinosaurus, with their long necks and sharp claws, grazed peacefully nearby. The Brontosaurus, their thick hides glistening in the rain, their massive forms a source of both fear and pride.
In the village, nestled amidst the towering trees, stood a clearing. A rough-hewn wooden platform had been erected, serving as a makeshift command center. From this platform, Krulos, and Astra, surveyed the scene.
"They are not coming yet," Krulos said. A bear's skin hung over his shoulders.
Astra, a man of imposing stature, his physique honed by countless battles, nodded grimly. He wore a loincloth adorned with intricate tattoos. His eyes, were filled with a burning rage.
"Just let them come," Astra growled, his voice laced with a savage fury. "We will teach them the meaning of fear. We will show them the wrath of the forest."
"I agree," Krulos said, his gaze hardening. "We will make them pay for their insolence. We will offer them as sacrifices to the Forest."
"The Forest will be pleased," Astra said, his words a venomous hiss. "With the blood of our enemies."
"Hahahaha!"
Krulos and Astra continued their grim strategizing, their voices a low murmur against the backdrop of the falling rain. But their conversation was abruptly interrupted. A collective gasp rippled through the gathered warriors as something caught their eyes in the darkening sky.
"Hmm, isn't that the creature that dropped numerous white material like leaves on us a few days ago?" Astra said, his gaze following a dark shape high above. "It said that we must become citizens of the Empire."
"Hm... However, I'm surprised they can write on such a thin leaf-like material."
"Ah, that's it. Um... I don't know what species this animal is, but its roar is very loud," Krulos acknowledged, his voice laced with a hint of fear. "Looks like it's going to drop that leafy thing on us again."
"Are these people going to ask us to submit to them again? Or something else?" A murmur of concern rippled through the gathered warriors.
Suddenly, the earth shuddered.
Boom!
The sound was deafening, echoing through the forest, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Boom!
Another explosion ripped through the air, closer this time, sending shockwaves through the trees.
Boom!
A third explosion erupted, this time closer still, shaking the clearing and sending the warriors scrambling for cover.
"What's going on?" A chorus of panicked voices erupted as the villagers scrambled to understand the sudden assault.
"It's the work of those creatures. Look at them attacking us from the sky!" Astra roared, his eyes fixed on the darkening sky.
Their eyes followed the dark shapes, now clearer in the falling light, as they circled above. The air pulsed with the relentless roar of their engines, a sound both terrifying and alien. The sky rained down fire and destruction, explosions erupting around them.
The villagers were in shock. The Empire's attack had begun, and it was far more ferocious and destructive than they had ever imagined.
The air filled with screams and shouts. Their home, their forest, was being torn apart. The warriors, their faces etched with fear and defiance, prepared for the fight of their lives.
The Empire, they realized, was not just a threat but a force of unbridled power and destruction. The war they had been anticipating, the war they had prepared for, had just begun. The first tremors of their world were shaking them to their core.