Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Education, Welfare, Training
[X] Censure
[X] Yes
[X] Censure
[X] Yes
From Star to Star
- Thread starter Polgas
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi Fantasy
-
- Tags
- original open voting
Ganhahsi 12
Winning Vote
[X] Education, Welfare, Training
[X] Censure
[X] Yes
You've made the arrangements with your cover story to hopefully last for the entirety of your trip down to one of the 3 planets in rebellion with the new recruits. Adora is coming with you considering her skillset differs and complements with yours and so is Aijolon, his recent decision with the strikes has generated plenty of ill feelings with other members of the order on the station and some time and distance would do everyone some good.
Traveling shouldn't present a problem with the smuggling routes now dominated by those affiliated by those working under the order and you've even heard that the rebels have taken their fondness of wearing masks and other esoteric gear to new heights. Probably a policy by your compatriots on the 3 planets to mask their deployment of their own new recruits on the off chance their shrouds fail.
What planet are you heading for?
[] Seshen
You and your company will be part of a general offensive to capture a vast and advanced(for the planet) industrial zone.
Owing to its value, the enemy navy has refrained from bombarding the region too much. Diversionary attacks will hopefully draw their attention during the operation.
You will specifically be deployed near an enemy city near the capital. You are to ensure the revolt inside the city on the eve of the attack against the garrison succeeds and hold the city so that a prong of the offensive can quickly pass through and attack the capital.
[] Aihti
Rather than fighting to control a city, your task is to rapidly march through prison work camps and deliver the freed prisoners to the rebel movement entrenched in the mountainous region next to the camps.
[] Rasab
Deploying near a large marshland, you will engage in surprise attacks on the enemy camps to divert their attention from their main offensive against the rebels.
Note: Short one for now.
[X] Education, Welfare, Training
[X] Censure
[X] Yes
You've made the arrangements with your cover story to hopefully last for the entirety of your trip down to one of the 3 planets in rebellion with the new recruits. Adora is coming with you considering her skillset differs and complements with yours and so is Aijolon, his recent decision with the strikes has generated plenty of ill feelings with other members of the order on the station and some time and distance would do everyone some good.
Traveling shouldn't present a problem with the smuggling routes now dominated by those affiliated by those working under the order and you've even heard that the rebels have taken their fondness of wearing masks and other esoteric gear to new heights. Probably a policy by your compatriots on the 3 planets to mask their deployment of their own new recruits on the off chance their shrouds fail.
What planet are you heading for?
[] Seshen
You and your company will be part of a general offensive to capture a vast and advanced(for the planet) industrial zone.
Owing to its value, the enemy navy has refrained from bombarding the region too much. Diversionary attacks will hopefully draw their attention during the operation.
You will specifically be deployed near an enemy city near the capital. You are to ensure the revolt inside the city on the eve of the attack against the garrison succeeds and hold the city so that a prong of the offensive can quickly pass through and attack the capital.
[] Aihti
Rather than fighting to control a city, your task is to rapidly march through prison work camps and deliver the freed prisoners to the rebel movement entrenched in the mountainous region next to the camps.
[] Rasab
Deploying near a large marshland, you will engage in surprise attacks on the enemy camps to divert their attention from their main offensive against the rebels.
Note: Short one for now.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Aihti
Aihti 1
Smuggling yourselves into the planet did not present a problem. Apparently, there was a massive rebel attack in one of the other worlds that is now occupying the attention of the overstretched navy.
The group took a month to acclimate with the environment, running drills around rebel occupied jungle, doing mock attacks on dummy work camps and pouring over all the topographic data you all could acquire from the rebel movement.
As you learned more of the rebels in the mountains living among them, you understood that they've been preparing for this for a long time. Shipments of arms are secured around their territory. Newly built settlements with minimal population. The rudiments of an industry.
All they need now is the population for it. Your raid will be one of several attempts at freeing people who have ample reasons to be motivated and give the rebel life a try.
From the looks of it, aside from the initial plan to essentially smash the camps, grab the slave prisoners and march as fast as possible with the group serving to ward off any pursuers another plan presents itself.
The camps have only rudimentary communication systems. Theoretically if you prevent an alert from being raised it would be about a week before anyone physically reached said camp to check. With how chaotic things are going to get pretending all's well might be the key to reach deep into the prison camp system and free one of the actual massive camps with an estimated average of one million prison laborers.
What plan was ultimately decided?
[] Go Loud
[] Go Quiet
You peer at the nearby work camp with a light guard inductees around you. Taking in your first but not last target in the raid. Minimal guards who are dying of boredom and lax in their patrols confirming what the rebel scouts have said. Your rats have even infiltrated the camp and begun to follow the guards.
You head to back to camp and make the final preparations but what kind?
[] Normal
You go over with your group the plan one last time. Where and when to hit and after a meal get an early sleep with the sun just starting to dip. You plan on attacking in the dead of night.
[] Mystical
The coffin is ready for you. You will be entombed and buried in the region you will be working on. Traditionally, the republic's mystics would normally have several of their number practice entombment to greatly enhance their control over the lay of the land.
You don't have the numbers and resources to do a similar feat but you can replicate it in a lesser fashion. With time to prepare and do this right you will now have the ability to mystically direct your company from afar while you can relay to them all the information you've acquired as well as serve as the hardware for your company to communicate with each other.
Your bond with your animals has also given you the ability to easily draw knowledge from animals of similar stature around the region.
While you would not be there to lead you trust Adora and Aijolon to cover for any errors the inductees are going to make in their first taste of combat.
The group took a month to acclimate with the environment, running drills around rebel occupied jungle, doing mock attacks on dummy work camps and pouring over all the topographic data you all could acquire from the rebel movement.
As you learned more of the rebels in the mountains living among them, you understood that they've been preparing for this for a long time. Shipments of arms are secured around their territory. Newly built settlements with minimal population. The rudiments of an industry.
All they need now is the population for it. Your raid will be one of several attempts at freeing people who have ample reasons to be motivated and give the rebel life a try.
From the looks of it, aside from the initial plan to essentially smash the camps, grab the slave prisoners and march as fast as possible with the group serving to ward off any pursuers another plan presents itself.
The camps have only rudimentary communication systems. Theoretically if you prevent an alert from being raised it would be about a week before anyone physically reached said camp to check. With how chaotic things are going to get pretending all's well might be the key to reach deep into the prison camp system and free one of the actual massive camps with an estimated average of one million prison laborers.
What plan was ultimately decided?
[] Go Loud
[] Go Quiet
You peer at the nearby work camp with a light guard inductees around you. Taking in your first but not last target in the raid. Minimal guards who are dying of boredom and lax in their patrols confirming what the rebel scouts have said. Your rats have even infiltrated the camp and begun to follow the guards.
You head to back to camp and make the final preparations but what kind?
[] Normal
You go over with your group the plan one last time. Where and when to hit and after a meal get an early sleep with the sun just starting to dip. You plan on attacking in the dead of night.
[] Mystical
The coffin is ready for you. You will be entombed and buried in the region you will be working on. Traditionally, the republic's mystics would normally have several of their number practice entombment to greatly enhance their control over the lay of the land.
You don't have the numbers and resources to do a similar feat but you can replicate it in a lesser fashion. With time to prepare and do this right you will now have the ability to mystically direct your company from afar while you can relay to them all the information you've acquired as well as serve as the hardware for your company to communicate with each other.
Your bond with your animals has also given you the ability to easily draw knowledge from animals of similar stature around the region.
While you would not be there to lead you trust Adora and Aijolon to cover for any errors the inductees are going to make in their first taste of combat.
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Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Go Quiet
[X] Mystical
[X] Mystical
Aihti 2
Winning Vote:
[X] Go Quiet
[X] Mystical
Your breath is the wind. Your sight the creatures of the land. Your skin the very earth itself. Your sense of your former self rapidly losing its cohesion or meaning.
What does it matter if you previously were stuck in a humanoid form?
What does it matter if you remain technically bound to its form. Their lips still painted red and their mouth having the the copper scent of blood from the blood rites they just so recently finished.
With but a thought you could shift your core to somewhere better. Safer. You could even spread it all around so there wouldn't be any core at all.
Just as quickly your soul or souls as the case maybe asserts itself and puts a stop to these dangerous lines of thoughts.
It is supremely uncomfortable. Being hot and cold at the same time. An ill fitting suit a few sizes too short or too big at the same time. Gorging on rotten fruit that is too delicious to refuse.
Pushing pass that you begin to parse the information you've been receiving.
Exactly 8,940 prisoners. 567 will require assistance slowing their retreat considerably upon liberation. 23 dying while tied to wooden poles driven into the ground. Survival is uncertain for the prisoners kept there the longest even if they received the order's mystical healing.
The camp staff number 867 all in all with 649 being armed slave task masters.
The location of the camp's master, their food storage, ramshackle armory and most importantly their communication system with the wider world.
You begin to give orders to your company in the cover of darkness. The best rock or dirt mound to hide in. When to rush a watch tower or guard outpost now that its occupants have started to nod off. Who in a barracks is trying to sleep but is still awake that needs to die first before their sleeping friends.
There are now 423 armed guards remaining.
When Adora and her team breaches the coms building and successfully disables it is when the first time an enemy realizes they are under attack.
Luungaal the inductee, their fellows have chosen as their overall commander has forgone their combat blade in favor of their plasma rifle. One of the staff in a non-combat role along with several of their friends watching was in the process of murdering a slave serving the camp staff themselves. The slave is already heavily wounded and is another invalid for the retreat.
Accurately judging that it would take too long to encircle and kill the staff members silently before the slave expired, they make their choice and unslung their rifle. Brand new. Never been fired in anger until now.
A burst of shots saw all staff members dead and the camp slave and slave master alike waking in earnest.
Later after the battle would you, Adora and Aijolon decide to rebuke the Luungaal for their decision?
[] Yes
[] No
The armory or the shack where all the excess weapons has not been secured yet and you are uncertain who will reach it first with the inductees and the camp guards racing for it. The company has several automated all terrain drone mortars that are positioned with a few inductees outside the camp.
A volley from them now would deny the weapons to the enemy but if the inductees reach it first or are able to take control of it regardless of who gets there first it, it could be looted and sent back to the rebel movement.
Do you order the mortars to fire at the armory?
[] Yes
[] No
Aijolon has not been idle and near the battle's end and was able to capture the camp warden alive with you guiding his steps preventing the warden from slipping away by himself.
As dawn rose with the prisoners realizing they have been freed the camp is busier than ever. Preparations for evacuation are underway. What motorized vehicles and draft animals present are being used to carry all those that require assistance.
As for the staff both armed and not who survived the attack, there are 177 people with non-military professions including the warden and 203 guards.
As part of their first acts of freedom some of the former prisoners have organized their fellows to execute their former captors. The company is trying to talk them down from such a drastic measure when some of the inductees have floated an idea.
Give them the meanest, cruelest and most sadistic members. Owing to the circumstances it has the ring of justice to it as they advocate.
Do you agree?
[] Yes
[] No
[X] Go Quiet
[X] Mystical
Your breath is the wind. Your sight the creatures of the land. Your skin the very earth itself. Your sense of your former self rapidly losing its cohesion or meaning.
What does it matter if you previously were stuck in a humanoid form?
What does it matter if you remain technically bound to its form. Their lips still painted red and their mouth having the the copper scent of blood from the blood rites they just so recently finished.
With but a thought you could shift your core to somewhere better. Safer. You could even spread it all around so there wouldn't be any core at all.
Just as quickly your soul or souls as the case maybe asserts itself and puts a stop to these dangerous lines of thoughts.
It is supremely uncomfortable. Being hot and cold at the same time. An ill fitting suit a few sizes too short or too big at the same time. Gorging on rotten fruit that is too delicious to refuse.
Pushing pass that you begin to parse the information you've been receiving.
Exactly 8,940 prisoners. 567 will require assistance slowing their retreat considerably upon liberation. 23 dying while tied to wooden poles driven into the ground. Survival is uncertain for the prisoners kept there the longest even if they received the order's mystical healing.
The camp staff number 867 all in all with 649 being armed slave task masters.
The location of the camp's master, their food storage, ramshackle armory and most importantly their communication system with the wider world.
You begin to give orders to your company in the cover of darkness. The best rock or dirt mound to hide in. When to rush a watch tower or guard outpost now that its occupants have started to nod off. Who in a barracks is trying to sleep but is still awake that needs to die first before their sleeping friends.
There are now 423 armed guards remaining.
When Adora and her team breaches the coms building and successfully disables it is when the first time an enemy realizes they are under attack.
Luungaal the inductee, their fellows have chosen as their overall commander has forgone their combat blade in favor of their plasma rifle. One of the staff in a non-combat role along with several of their friends watching was in the process of murdering a slave serving the camp staff themselves. The slave is already heavily wounded and is another invalid for the retreat.
Accurately judging that it would take too long to encircle and kill the staff members silently before the slave expired, they make their choice and unslung their rifle. Brand new. Never been fired in anger until now.
A burst of shots saw all staff members dead and the camp slave and slave master alike waking in earnest.
Later after the battle would you, Adora and Aijolon decide to rebuke the Luungaal for their decision?
[] Yes
[] No
The armory or the shack where all the excess weapons has not been secured yet and you are uncertain who will reach it first with the inductees and the camp guards racing for it. The company has several automated all terrain drone mortars that are positioned with a few inductees outside the camp.
A volley from them now would deny the weapons to the enemy but if the inductees reach it first or are able to take control of it regardless of who gets there first it, it could be looted and sent back to the rebel movement.
Do you order the mortars to fire at the armory?
[] Yes
[] No
Aijolon has not been idle and near the battle's end and was able to capture the camp warden alive with you guiding his steps preventing the warden from slipping away by himself.
As dawn rose with the prisoners realizing they have been freed the camp is busier than ever. Preparations for evacuation are underway. What motorized vehicles and draft animals present are being used to carry all those that require assistance.
As for the staff both armed and not who survived the attack, there are 177 people with non-military professions including the warden and 203 guards.
As part of their first acts of freedom some of the former prisoners have organized their fellows to execute their former captors. The company is trying to talk them down from such a drastic measure when some of the inductees have floated an idea.
Give them the meanest, cruelest and most sadistic members. Owing to the circumstances it has the ring of justice to it as they advocate.
Do you agree?
[] Yes
[] No
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Yes
[X] No
[X] Yes
[X] No
[X] Yes
Aihti 3
Winning Vote:
[X] Yes
[X] No
[X] Yes
The rebuke comes after the battle when everyone has time to unwind and rest. The practice of having meetings to discuss a recent battle dates back before the founding of the order or the republic when the prophet was still waging her war of conquest and liberation. Although technically according to the oldest in your soul gestalt the practice was already present in some form before the prophet amalgamated it into the new society she was building.
It has many forms but generally in the discussion everyone is allowed to speak their piece no matter their rank or status. All three of you as the senior members agreed to bring up the rebuke later after the overall battle has been talked about but it seems like the inductees have pre-empted you. After a while one among them as does the rebuking for you three. Citing the jeopardy in which Luungaal placed the mission, the entire company and everyone they saved.
Whether or not they deserved rebuke became one of the more discussed topics. Eventually, you three also chimed in and also agreed that the rebuke was the right call but kept it short given that it was already discussed and you three sensed that the company was fairly divided on the issue and it would take time for them to resolve issues like saving the innocent over the overall mission.
===
Where one rebukes one must also applaud and Luungaal was also cited for his general bravery in delaying the enemy from securing their armory when it became obvious that they were going to reach it first. The surroundings mostly devoid of cover forced them to stand their ground as a rush of enemy guards came for them. Their forms are mostly proof against most small arms fire but in that fight it was certainly put to the test. Right now they are the most wounded in the company though still able to continue fighting.
===
The worst of the camp wardens were executed. The recently freed prisoners that wished to do the deed wanted to do worse but their fellows and some among the order dissuaded them on the value of a swift death on moral (torture is bad) and practical grounds(we need to prepare to leave).
===
The company was elated. After their first successful battle, they were eager for more and several camps fell one after another. No deaths from the company so far, although they've begun to accumulate walking wounded. You note that Luungaal who was wounded in the first camp seems to have recovered from his wounds, it fits with his first awakened soul being the Champion and already he is displaying the famed durability and regeneration they are known for.
===
Right now the company is at the limits of your magical senses, entombed as you are and connected to the regional leyline. You've been sending most of your rat soul companions beyond into the first true city that lay in your path.
It appears no one knows yet that the company is on the cusp of attacking the city with an estimate of half a million slaves. It is promising that your soul companions have detected significant number of the enemy garrison has left the city to reinforce other places. You guess that the remaining are mostly on the lower half in terms of quality.
Still that leaves an unknown number of enemy forces now alert and ready for any trouble. Being about a hundred strong this would be horrible odds even with their individual worth as a better soldiers but things are not so lopsided in terms of numbers.
As many of the now freed slaves flee towards the mountains a significant number are fired up by the zeal of abolitionism, justice and vengeance and will be taking part in the assault. About ten thousand freedmen with most having basic firearms.
===
Finaly there is you.
Do you exit your burial and join the battle in your usual humanoid form?
[] Yes
I will be the best in terms of raw fighting skill and mystical power. This might be the one factor that tips the battle towards our favor. With all three of you pooling your powers, sufficient displays of magical prowess might break the enemy garrison at once and rout them making the battle a mere formality.
[] No
Being aware of almost everything going on in the region has its perks and while it won't be as effective in the coming battle in the city it, we won't be in danger of being cut off and be attacked from behind by surprise. This gives your new freedman army an assuring psychological and a very good morale boost.
Additionally, I am in contact with the other attacking parties. A successful battle will force the enemy to once again redeploy against the threat that the company poses leaving other fronts to find a second wind. Being still entombed will allow better coordination.
In essence I am betting that those under my command can carry the day so that my entombment will aid in the future evacuation of the city and coordination with other fronts.
[X] Yes
[X] No
[X] Yes
The rebuke comes after the battle when everyone has time to unwind and rest. The practice of having meetings to discuss a recent battle dates back before the founding of the order or the republic when the prophet was still waging her war of conquest and liberation. Although technically according to the oldest in your soul gestalt the practice was already present in some form before the prophet amalgamated it into the new society she was building.
It has many forms but generally in the discussion everyone is allowed to speak their piece no matter their rank or status. All three of you as the senior members agreed to bring up the rebuke later after the overall battle has been talked about but it seems like the inductees have pre-empted you. After a while one among them as does the rebuking for you three. Citing the jeopardy in which Luungaal placed the mission, the entire company and everyone they saved.
Whether or not they deserved rebuke became one of the more discussed topics. Eventually, you three also chimed in and also agreed that the rebuke was the right call but kept it short given that it was already discussed and you three sensed that the company was fairly divided on the issue and it would take time for them to resolve issues like saving the innocent over the overall mission.
===
Where one rebukes one must also applaud and Luungaal was also cited for his general bravery in delaying the enemy from securing their armory when it became obvious that they were going to reach it first. The surroundings mostly devoid of cover forced them to stand their ground as a rush of enemy guards came for them. Their forms are mostly proof against most small arms fire but in that fight it was certainly put to the test. Right now they are the most wounded in the company though still able to continue fighting.
===
The worst of the camp wardens were executed. The recently freed prisoners that wished to do the deed wanted to do worse but their fellows and some among the order dissuaded them on the value of a swift death on moral (torture is bad) and practical grounds(we need to prepare to leave).
===
The company was elated. After their first successful battle, they were eager for more and several camps fell one after another. No deaths from the company so far, although they've begun to accumulate walking wounded. You note that Luungaal who was wounded in the first camp seems to have recovered from his wounds, it fits with his first awakened soul being the Champion and already he is displaying the famed durability and regeneration they are known for.
===
Right now the company is at the limits of your magical senses, entombed as you are and connected to the regional leyline. You've been sending most of your rat soul companions beyond into the first true city that lay in your path.
It appears no one knows yet that the company is on the cusp of attacking the city with an estimate of half a million slaves. It is promising that your soul companions have detected significant number of the enemy garrison has left the city to reinforce other places. You guess that the remaining are mostly on the lower half in terms of quality.
Still that leaves an unknown number of enemy forces now alert and ready for any trouble. Being about a hundred strong this would be horrible odds even with their individual worth as a better soldiers but things are not so lopsided in terms of numbers.
As many of the now freed slaves flee towards the mountains a significant number are fired up by the zeal of abolitionism, justice and vengeance and will be taking part in the assault. About ten thousand freedmen with most having basic firearms.
===
Finaly there is you.
Do you exit your burial and join the battle in your usual humanoid form?
[] Yes
I will be the best in terms of raw fighting skill and mystical power. This might be the one factor that tips the battle towards our favor. With all three of you pooling your powers, sufficient displays of magical prowess might break the enemy garrison at once and rout them making the battle a mere formality.
[] No
Being aware of almost everything going on in the region has its perks and while it won't be as effective in the coming battle in the city it, we won't be in danger of being cut off and be attacked from behind by surprise. This gives your new freedman army an assuring psychological and a very good morale boost.
Additionally, I am in contact with the other attacking parties. A successful battle will force the enemy to once again redeploy against the threat that the company poses leaving other fronts to find a second wind. Being still entombed will allow better coordination.
In essence I am betting that those under my command can carry the day so that my entombment will aid in the future evacuation of the city and coordination with other fronts.
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Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] No
Aihti 4
Winning Vote:
[X] Yes
You join the company and the attacking freedmen as they make their way towards the city.
It is impossible to hide an attack of this size so you don't bother with subterfuge. Anyway news of the surprise attacks all over the region has already raced ahead of you so the city is on alert.
Its getting dark when you see the city with your own eyes at its outskirts. Dusk casting your army in an other worldly shade of yellow and black hues.
Against this, arrayed against the army is the enemy and their own armed force. It seems like that the enemy has bulked up their force with a citizens militia. You spot many sporting civilian attire you associate with this world with patches and clustering around flags to mark them out. And the guns so many guns, the more well to do strata of the city have come out of the wood work to defend their right to own others.
You guess that the enemy are a little over a hundred thousand right now with reinforcements deeper into the city. Your rat companions have confirmed your suspicions that the militia upon hearing about the army of freedmen heading their way have come out in force to meet them in the outskirts of the city. Forgoing a more practical plan of defending and giving ground and waiting for reinforcements. The arrogance and pride of the militia and the fear of the destruction of their property however remote proving to be a deadly mix. They have leveraged their material advantage over the remaining garrison to dictate their battle plan.
Coincidentally, their defense plan has also made one of the company's riskier plans more plausible and so as the commanding officer for this battle you give the order for that plan to be enacted.
===
Your envoys to the enemy declare that they are protected by the Gods of this world. That they are proof against any weapon arrayed against them and that they will show a live demonstration of this by marching without arms right towards the center of enemy line where they could not miss even if they wanted to.
You lead the company and the freedmen your flock in a slow walk across the open field. Arms wide and open showing no weapons as you all walk to your date with history. News and hearsay would both magnify and diminish the story in equal measure. No, the enemy did not refuse to fire. On the contrary once the army was in rifle range they immediately opened fire. No, the deaths among the enemy were not the Gods striking them down in anger but poorly maintained show piece rifles exploding in the hands of the city's elect. No, we did not chant in one faith and retroactively say the words of prayer that would become more common in the future. It was a smattering of beliefs and half remembered prayers for all of the freedmen had next to no religious training. The company being the exception but considering they are basically otherworldly warrior sorcerers entire systems away this wasn't what the future expected. No, we did not walk up to an enemy still firing and snatch their weapons from their terrified hands that would reveal the trick.
Beyond the army standing in the middle of the field lay the mystical foundations of this miracle. Close to a thousand freedmen feverishly giving their life's blood to power the aetheric shield blocking the army. Thanks to the social investigation of the rebel movement you learned that being so far away and disconnected from the main rebellion meant that the locals haven't gotten used to any mystical techniques yet. A magic trick has a good chance of spooking them.
The parlor trick was effective but came at a cost with hundreds perishing to uphold the ritual. The mystical protection was not wholly effective and small cuts and wounds were taken by the freedmen with a few being shot and prevented from falling down by their fellows grasping their arms.
The enemy had few artillery pieces. Few enough that they could not affect the battle but you still had to pay attention to each round speeding towards the army and take the life of one of the freedmen linked to the shield so that the artillery round would bounce harmlessly along the ground. They would all later be confirmed to be duds.
The center of this ritual required either Adora or Aijolon to command and control. Though alive, they are incapacitated with the wounds they have taken as the central pillar of the mystical effort.
Which one did you three decide upon to be at the center of the foundation?
[] Adora
Support. Techno-sorcerer. Puppetry.
[] Aijolon
Frontline Combatant. Gunslinger. Telekinesis.
===
After the demonstration taking about half an hour you finish it by some light magical parlor tricks. A few freedmen had some skill to breath fire for local celebrations and parties and they do so while you guide the flames to the enemy, burning their flags one by one.
There was a moment of silence where the militia was unsure of what to do and you contemplated cutting down the most ostentatious looking militia commander with your sword. The range was a bit far but you were confident you could at least get a good chop in.
Fortunately that fire trick was enough for the garrison commander and they began their negotiations for a surrender with the militia following suit.
===
The swift surrender of a city just as night was only beginning in earnest has replaced the problem of winning a battle to one of occupation.
The first order of business is one of subterfuge and pretending the city is to be garrisoned and will serve as a fortress. To sell the idea the population is in the midst of being expelled to prevent any civilians from being caught up in a battle. Fortunately as so many civilians took up arms as part of the militia were captured as prisoners of war, they have in effect already divided themselves among those interested in fighting and those that do not.
As predicted most of the population has taken the opportunity to flee. Most of the local civilian government bureaucrats were released to organize and lead the evacuation with an estimated time of starting at midnight. Each citizen being allowed one bag of belongings only.
The prisoners, ex-slaves and abolitionist sympathizers are also preparing to evacuate and retreat the other way with the most prominent abolitionists group centered around a medical organization with many of the city's nurses and a few doctors defecting to join the rebellion or more likely live in the mountains to care for its inhabitants a distinction that will soon become an issue you muse but that isn't one you are going to handle so you put it aside.
Another issue is one of sabotage. All of the military base and defenses in the city are being destroyed as best as the freedmen can handle but what about the city itself? A bridge leading deeper into enemy territory is slated to be destroyed after the civilians have evacuated but there is much more of the city that can be destroyed if the freedmen put their mind into it.
As the ranking commander and with little time to call a grand meeting to discuss the issue, the ultimate decision is yours to make.
[] Destroy.
As the nearest city towards the mountains, future attacks will most likely come from this city when the enemy reclaims it. The vital infrastructure such as water, electricity and transportation must be destroyed as much as possible to prevent or delay a counterattack from this angle.
If all else fails, fires will be started to burn as much of the city as humanly possible.
You don't have a clear picture but from what you can gather this "bloodless" capture of a city is the farthest any other attacking force has gone. The best the others have done is capture the outskirts and some portions of a city if they even dared do something so daring.
You can see from that angle, the destruction of this city will ensure this route will be one of the quieter ones in the coming war. The route will probably be relatively quiet in the war with most fights being fought between long ranging patrols.
[] Leave alone.
While there might be military grounds to enact an attempt at total destruction of the city's infrastructure, you have decided to give more priority to preserving the livability of a city. Seeing its preservation as a desirable component of how one wages war.
This might inspire the rebellion to take similar measures in the future or it might do the opposite if this does result in the enemy launching attacks from this city with the rebels considering sparing it a missed opportunity instead.
[X] Yes
You join the company and the attacking freedmen as they make their way towards the city.
It is impossible to hide an attack of this size so you don't bother with subterfuge. Anyway news of the surprise attacks all over the region has already raced ahead of you so the city is on alert.
Its getting dark when you see the city with your own eyes at its outskirts. Dusk casting your army in an other worldly shade of yellow and black hues.
Against this, arrayed against the army is the enemy and their own armed force. It seems like that the enemy has bulked up their force with a citizens militia. You spot many sporting civilian attire you associate with this world with patches and clustering around flags to mark them out. And the guns so many guns, the more well to do strata of the city have come out of the wood work to defend their right to own others.
You guess that the enemy are a little over a hundred thousand right now with reinforcements deeper into the city. Your rat companions have confirmed your suspicions that the militia upon hearing about the army of freedmen heading their way have come out in force to meet them in the outskirts of the city. Forgoing a more practical plan of defending and giving ground and waiting for reinforcements. The arrogance and pride of the militia and the fear of the destruction of their property however remote proving to be a deadly mix. They have leveraged their material advantage over the remaining garrison to dictate their battle plan.
Coincidentally, their defense plan has also made one of the company's riskier plans more plausible and so as the commanding officer for this battle you give the order for that plan to be enacted.
===
Your envoys to the enemy declare that they are protected by the Gods of this world. That they are proof against any weapon arrayed against them and that they will show a live demonstration of this by marching without arms right towards the center of enemy line where they could not miss even if they wanted to.
You lead the company and the freedmen your flock in a slow walk across the open field. Arms wide and open showing no weapons as you all walk to your date with history. News and hearsay would both magnify and diminish the story in equal measure. No, the enemy did not refuse to fire. On the contrary once the army was in rifle range they immediately opened fire. No, the deaths among the enemy were not the Gods striking them down in anger but poorly maintained show piece rifles exploding in the hands of the city's elect. No, we did not chant in one faith and retroactively say the words of prayer that would become more common in the future. It was a smattering of beliefs and half remembered prayers for all of the freedmen had next to no religious training. The company being the exception but considering they are basically otherworldly warrior sorcerers entire systems away this wasn't what the future expected. No, we did not walk up to an enemy still firing and snatch their weapons from their terrified hands that would reveal the trick.
Beyond the army standing in the middle of the field lay the mystical foundations of this miracle. Close to a thousand freedmen feverishly giving their life's blood to power the aetheric shield blocking the army. Thanks to the social investigation of the rebel movement you learned that being so far away and disconnected from the main rebellion meant that the locals haven't gotten used to any mystical techniques yet. A magic trick has a good chance of spooking them.
The parlor trick was effective but came at a cost with hundreds perishing to uphold the ritual. The mystical protection was not wholly effective and small cuts and wounds were taken by the freedmen with a few being shot and prevented from falling down by their fellows grasping their arms.
The enemy had few artillery pieces. Few enough that they could not affect the battle but you still had to pay attention to each round speeding towards the army and take the life of one of the freedmen linked to the shield so that the artillery round would bounce harmlessly along the ground. They would all later be confirmed to be duds.
The center of this ritual required either Adora or Aijolon to command and control. Though alive, they are incapacitated with the wounds they have taken as the central pillar of the mystical effort.
Which one did you three decide upon to be at the center of the foundation?
[] Adora
Support. Techno-sorcerer. Puppetry.
[] Aijolon
Frontline Combatant. Gunslinger. Telekinesis.
===
After the demonstration taking about half an hour you finish it by some light magical parlor tricks. A few freedmen had some skill to breath fire for local celebrations and parties and they do so while you guide the flames to the enemy, burning their flags one by one.
There was a moment of silence where the militia was unsure of what to do and you contemplated cutting down the most ostentatious looking militia commander with your sword. The range was a bit far but you were confident you could at least get a good chop in.
Fortunately that fire trick was enough for the garrison commander and they began their negotiations for a surrender with the militia following suit.
===
The swift surrender of a city just as night was only beginning in earnest has replaced the problem of winning a battle to one of occupation.
The first order of business is one of subterfuge and pretending the city is to be garrisoned and will serve as a fortress. To sell the idea the population is in the midst of being expelled to prevent any civilians from being caught up in a battle. Fortunately as so many civilians took up arms as part of the militia were captured as prisoners of war, they have in effect already divided themselves among those interested in fighting and those that do not.
As predicted most of the population has taken the opportunity to flee. Most of the local civilian government bureaucrats were released to organize and lead the evacuation with an estimated time of starting at midnight. Each citizen being allowed one bag of belongings only.
The prisoners, ex-slaves and abolitionist sympathizers are also preparing to evacuate and retreat the other way with the most prominent abolitionists group centered around a medical organization with many of the city's nurses and a few doctors defecting to join the rebellion or more likely live in the mountains to care for its inhabitants a distinction that will soon become an issue you muse but that isn't one you are going to handle so you put it aside.
Another issue is one of sabotage. All of the military base and defenses in the city are being destroyed as best as the freedmen can handle but what about the city itself? A bridge leading deeper into enemy territory is slated to be destroyed after the civilians have evacuated but there is much more of the city that can be destroyed if the freedmen put their mind into it.
As the ranking commander and with little time to call a grand meeting to discuss the issue, the ultimate decision is yours to make.
[] Destroy.
As the nearest city towards the mountains, future attacks will most likely come from this city when the enemy reclaims it. The vital infrastructure such as water, electricity and transportation must be destroyed as much as possible to prevent or delay a counterattack from this angle.
If all else fails, fires will be started to burn as much of the city as humanly possible.
You don't have a clear picture but from what you can gather this "bloodless" capture of a city is the farthest any other attacking force has gone. The best the others have done is capture the outskirts and some portions of a city if they even dared do something so daring.
You can see from that angle, the destruction of this city will ensure this route will be one of the quieter ones in the coming war. The route will probably be relatively quiet in the war with most fights being fought between long ranging patrols.
[] Leave alone.
While there might be military grounds to enact an attempt at total destruction of the city's infrastructure, you have decided to give more priority to preserving the livability of a city. Seeing its preservation as a desirable component of how one wages war.
This might inspire the rebellion to take similar measures in the future or it might do the opposite if this does result in the enemy launching attacks from this city with the rebels considering sparing it a missed opportunity instead.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Adora
[X] Leave alone.
[X] Leave alone.