"I, I don’t really know. Stuff happened. I had no control" Sain murmured, his voice soft and barely audible. He just lay there in the bed now and looked away from the old man, his eyes fixed to his front but on nothing in particular.
"Is there something wrong, as I said before, you do not have to answer if you do not wish to" asked the old man whilst his mouth curled into a gentle smile. Sain continued looking away from the group and then shook his head before exhaling slowly and deliberately.
"No, no, there's nothing wrong" Sain replied weakly.
"It's just that it's not a happy subject for me, and I'm not comfortable sharing it with strangers" Sain stated rather bluntly, his voice taking on a more forceful tone. Broderick didn’t show any real reaction and just stood up, his joints cracking audibly.
"You have been through quite a bit haven't you son. I am sorry for all these sudden questions, especially right after you woke up. And I apologize again, I did not intend to appear forceful" Broderick stated and exhaled in a manner mirroring that of Sain. He looked down at the youth and smiled once again.
"Sain. I will leave you to your rest now. Please be aware however that if you need anything, anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask and I will provide what is in my means" Broderick stated and placed a hand on Sain’s knee for the briefest of moments. The old man then turned to leave and gestured for the other three people to follow him. They did so silently, not even speaking like the entire time they had been standing nearby. Sain blinked as a question suddenly came into his head.
"Oh, um before you go. I have some quick questions. Do you know who actually imprisoned me, and um, what is the date today" Sain asked, his gaze turning to bore into Broderick’s back. The old man turned back to face the youth, hands clasping behind his back. Broderick surveyed Sain for a moment and actually appeared to think on something. He shrugged as if he was dismissing a thought.
"You were in the custody of a Gestonian prince by the name of Bradley. A rather vile man. And the date is the eighteenth of the second, the year seventeen hundred and eighty five" Broderick stated, his gaze locked on Sain, studying his reaction.
Sain just felt a cold shiver run down his spine at the answer. A Gestonian royal and Bradley of all people. He had always heard dark rumors about the man, and now he wondered if the dark haired man from his memories was actually the prince. His thoughts then turned to the date mentioned by Broderick and his shock transferred into his facial expression. He slumped back onto the pillows and blinked stupidly.
"Five years. I was locked up five years" he murmured softly to himself as he did the mental calculation. That made him nineteen years old. An age he did not feel in the slightest. He took on a grim look and lifted his hands to cup his face in them for a moment as he composed himself. Looking up, long hair fell over his eyes and he blinked. He had long hair. He did not realize, brushing it aside almost on instinct he looked at Broderick almost pleadingly.
"So, so what happens now? I can't exactly go home now can I?" Sain asked of Broderick, his voice bitter. Suddenly serious, Broderick straightened up and stood tall, a foreboding presence emanating from his frame even as he cast a look at Kasui.
"Well, Kasui here has her orders to take you back to her country in the Samite Union, where you will no doubt be the subject of many tests. After that, I cannot say what might happen to you. However, it is most likely that you will be released in the future, to do whatever you wish with your life. But as for why you cannot go home, you may have to enlighten me as to why you think that to be the case" Broderick said in a firm manner, an eyebrow raised and most likely waiting for the youth to share more information.
Sain flicked his eyes to the dark skinned woman and saw a mild indifference in the dark woman's eyes, like she didn't really care what happened to him. He just scowled, resigning himself to the fact that he wouldn't be making any decisions of his own for quite some time.
"Well great. That’s just peachy" Sain whispered softly to himself and rolled over even as he pulled the bed sheets up over his head to hide himself. He heard a chuckle from the old man as his suggestion for information went unenlightened. Sain frowned sadly under the protection of the bed sheets and just pulled them tighter, sensing the group moving off.
"Well, you get some rest now and try to come to terms with what has happened to you, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask" Broderick spoke out, his voice a bit more distant than earlier. Sain stayed silent though, sinking into his sullen mood.
Getting comfortable on his pillows, Sain thought about the situation he was in. He was nineteen, yet in reality he felt much younger, due to the years of his life that he had missed out on. His teenage years had barely begun when everything happened in Rindai. Besides that, a lot could have happened in those five years. Sain hadn't even thought to ask of the world's political situation. When he had been in Rindai, all he had known about both the Samite Union and South Island Republic was that they were small groups of nations formed for protection against the world powers. The Union in particular was made up of various warlords and dictators, yet now those very people would no doubt be in charge of his fate.
Thinking about the world brought his mind to those that he had left behind in Rindai, his father Regas, his brother Niall and various other friends. For all he knew, Regas and Niall could have died in the empires fratricidal wars.
Unable to quieten the worries and concerns running rampant in his mind, Sain closed his eyes tight as he felt tears threaten to spill over. Everything had just happened so fast. Was this another trick by his captors? Some test to see how he reacted. He just let out a sob and let the tears spill over, tasting salt as they ran down over his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and longed for the peace of sleep.
Chapter 24
* * *
"These Imperials are dug in deep. We haven't been able to cross the street anywhere and are pinned down in any building we possess on the beach side" Major Irwin stated as he tapped a finger on the map laid out on the table all the officers stood around. Victor stared at it rather intently before looking up at the Major. The other officers were looking at the Major just as intently.
"We need more armour then sir. Or even some mages to help us punch through" came a statement from Lieutenant Cyrus who stood hands gripping the edge of the table. Victor scowled at the man's words. He wasn't exactly providing helpful advice.
"Don't think that is going to happen Lieutenant. If anything, the mage company is being rerouted to the port. Our landing craft didn't even make a dent on the coastal fortifications there" another officer replied and Victor turned his gaze to the man, locking eyes with him. Captain Becker looked straight back at Victor, a sly raise of an eyebrow adding to an already vexed expression. There was a silent communication there and Victor smiled wryly. That was when Major Irwin spoke up again.
"And that is why command wants a full company from this part of the line. To help take the port" Major Irwin stated. There was a dull boom then and the building they were in shook, plaster falling from the ceiling and sprinkling onto the map. Victor idly leant down and swept the plaster from the map and onto the bathroom floor. Everyone else was quiet, simply think on the Major's words. Victor scowled and looked up and around them. They were currently in the amenities block of the cafe, as it was the most protected structure, even if there were gaping holes in a few of the walls and roof. It smelled terrible as some of the sewerage had come back up and was on the floor.
"We will be pulling out of here and leaving this area to the other companies. The Colonel wants us there now. He intends to assault the port from the land within the hour. So get your platoons ready and march them through the trench to the north. Dismissed" Major Irwin finished and turned around, heading over to the makeshift communications area. He stooped and started talking in quiet tones with the technician there, no doubt relaying the information to headquarters.
Victor turned away and made his way out of the amenities, Cyrus and Becker in tow.
As soon as they exited, the trio jumped down into the trenches and crouched, making their way through it. The engineers had already extended and deepened the system of trenches in a matter of hours, as they seemed to provide most of the cover in the area. Victor splashed through some areas filled with water and marines. Every marine he passed from his company, he grabbed and spoke into their ear, giving them the order to start moving through the trenches to the north. No doubt the Captain and Lieutenant were doing the same in the other direction.
Making his own way north now, Victor shuffled through the trench, finally coming to an area where he could stand up as it was deep enough in the sand, even if there was water around his calves. He could feel it in his boots and it was not a nice feeling.
Looking back the way he had come, he could see a line of men all following him. Further down he could see the other company Sergeants and ranked officers. Realising he was on point he gulped. He still didn't how he made it to his forties. Over twenty years in the army and he was still breathing and kicking. There were very few that could boast such a thing.
Turning back to the front, he continued his slow walk through the water and sand until he came to a bend in the trench and beach. Stepping over the corpse of a marine, he scowled deeply. The top half of the man’s head was missing and the sand was a mess of blood and brain. Poor bastard. Victor turned around and stooped, scooping out sand and piling it where the man’s head was, trying to cover it. The marine following him gulped and copied the sergeant until the man’s head and shoulders were completely covered. Victor didn't need two hundred marines seeing a dead comrade up close. The beaches were already littered with corpses of their friends and family after all.
Victor kept moving forward, now having to crouch down to keep under the edge of the trench and as he came around the bend, he saw the port and its docks in the distance. Squinting his eyes, he saw a wire fence line and a large stretch of open ground behind it. A number of vehicles were parked in front of it and a large number of people moved freely between them. Frowning, Victor advanced and saw a number of generators between the vehicles.
As he approached, he heard a shout and a woman broke off from one of the vehicles, a personnel carrier that seemed to have been turned into a mobile headquarters. She didn't seem worried in the slightest as she came towards Victor, a clipboard in her hand.
"What company are you?" she demanded, flipping through a list. Victor frowned and looked the woman up and down, noting her ranking insignia. A Captain. And by the looks of her, in a communications role.
"Captain. Second Company, First Battalion, Seventy Sixth Regiment. Where do you need us" Victor asked as the woman looked up and past the Sergeant, no doubt looking down the line of those behind him. Her eyes came back to Victor, a stern look in her eyes.
"Gather on the right side of the beach. You will see a car park on the street. We have shield generators set up there and a number of vehicles. Get your orders from the Lieutenant Colonel there" the Captain stated and stepped to the side, allowing him to go past. As he did and the rest of the company followed, the Captain started noting down the numbers of marines passing her. No doubt getting an estimate of their company’s size after the initial invasion.
Hearing a whirring noise, Victor looked up wide eyed and saw a half dozen Imperial fighters in the sky. Having disengaged from the ongoing battle over the ocean, they seemed to be making a pass over the makeshift headquarters on the beach.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion as his adrenaline surged and he heard shouts from those behind him. The fighters let loose a barrage of fire and their rounds hammered home, erupting into a colourful show of light as they slammed into an unseen barrier.
Victor blinked and then looked to the vehicles and those positioned around them, who seemed rather unconcerned. As the adrenaline left him, he scowled, remembering the Captains words about shield generators. They probably had those on the beach as well.
Looking back up to the sky, Victor blinked in surprise, realising there were suddenly far less fighters in the sky, and he turned his gaze to look up above the city, noting that there were now only eight airships. He felt his heart jolt and a wash of relief came over him. Something had to have changed somewhere. He had heard rumours of other offensives being launched in different areas and perhaps it was those that had pulled the other airships away.
Shaking his head, Victor cast his gaze back to the ground and kept walking, feeling as though the Federation forces had finally dug in. It was only the first day and yet the most critical. Seeing the car park mentioned by the Captain, Victor made a beeline for it even as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned in surprise and found Major Irwin behind him.
"Sergeant. Check up on the marines. There are a few with injuries. Make sure they are ready to go when needed. I'll go see what the Lieutenant Colonel plans to do with us" Major Irwin stated before letting go of Victors shoulder and making his way towards the car park with Captain Becker and the two Lieutenant's. Victor exhaled sharply and got to the task assigned to him, going around the company and checking up on his platoon and others, along with the other Sergeants under Major Irwin's command.
* * *
The whistles started blowing all along the line and Victor felt his heart skip a beat as the tank in front of him lurched forward. He was piled behind it with the remnants of his platoon, a mere nineteen of its original thirty. Beginning his slow trudge, he kept pace with the tank even as he looked to his right and then to his left. To the right was the street running parallel to the beach, and a number of marines trying to cross it into enemy fire. There were already screams and shouts over the zapping noise of energy rifles, as well as the occasional boom of grenades now that the explosives had been distributed amongst the invaders.
Feeling a tingle run over his skin, Victor looked up and noticed they had just passed through the outer rim of the shields set up for the headquarters. He could see the slight shimmer of light betraying its presence and scowled. These things should have been deployed on the initial assault.
As zaps sounded in the distance, Victor peered around the slowly moving tank even as it ran down the wire fence in front of it, crunching the makeshift barrier underneath. All along the line, the same was happening, dozens of vehicles lumbering forward and opening fire on the port and jetties in the distance. The zaps in the distance increased in frequency, and then enemy fire was upon them, ripping into the vehicles leading the charge and through the gaps between them.
"Keep your heads down marines! We have a ways to go yet!" Victor exclaimed and pressed up tight behind the tank, his hand actually on the metal of the vehicle. Looking to his right once more, he saw the vehicles on the beach, starting to pass under a section of cliff, barely five metres high. There were already federation soldiers upon it, dug into a crude fortification at the crest. It had been a priority position, and capturing it had cost many lives from what Victor had heard. Looking to his left now, he guessed there was around thirty meters from his position to the sea, and the vehicles on that edge were skirting the waves in their advance. Off in the ocean, he could see a few dozen boats approaching the docks as well, reattempting an amphibious assault. With the combined ground assault, hopefully the port would fall into Federation hands this time.
The line of marines and armoured units kept advancing Imperial fire, rounds of energy zapping over their heads or hitting the tanks and armoured vehicles. It was all small arms fire, so was not doing a whole lot of damage. It was more or less an annoyance. Before long, the sand turned into concrete and they started to move in between buildings and fortifications. As he passed a small barricade, Victor looked inside and saw the corpses of three Imperials, burnt and blackened. They had been hit by the opening salvos of the attack he surmised.
As the tank came to a shuddering halt, Victor peeked around the vehicle once more, looking to the front of the advance. There were a number of destroyed barricades, all smoking slightly, some actually on fire. It seemed to him th
e entire line of attackers had halted in amongst all the out buildings of the port, the warehouses and such.
Hearing chatter to his right rear, Victor turned and looked past the nervous faces of his platoon and caught sight of the high ranking officers, including Major Irwin. The man seemed to be arguing quietly with someone over a radio, the other officers listening intently. After a few moments, the Major scowled and gave the radio back to the communications specialist with them. The Major then peered around and spotted Victor.
"Hammond! On me!" he yelled and Victor felt a pit form in his stomach. Victor stepped away from his platoon and made his way over to the Major, swinging his rifle back over his shoulder, a scowl on his face.
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