Kismet’s Tale

The areas of Alzed covered about three-hundred seventy-two miles of land. That doesn’t cover the impassable terrains, and mostly the area is a steppe with two rivers running along a V-line, and flat grasslands on the northern side of the land.

Arriving in the land the first thing that Mavin Tomas did was appear before a crowd of villagers who were unsure why they were leaving. Mavin Tomas took a step in front of them. His presence was surprising to the villagers. Who doesn’t know of the young master of the Tomas Family? The one who had made their land prosperous?

“Citizens,” Mavin Tomas addressed them. “Over the past years, we’ve made improvements on our land. Through my Cousin, Lord Derrick Tomas, and his dearest Wife, Lady Elma Tomas. We’ve been improving our lives, and also through their support, I’ve been able to do the impossible and rid our land of the predators that our ancestors had dreamed of exterminating.”

He proudly stood while saying that. Behind him were the soldiers that he brought with him. He didn’t lose out to their stature, and it was natural for them to stand behind their leader.

“Citizens, brothers and sisters of Lazon, I ask that you vacate this area until our soldiers are able to contain this threat. I am personally leading this incursion, and it will be dangerous. This is a strict operation, and although I cherish my people, there will be punishments if you ever crossed this land before the operation is over.”

His voice became steel, then soft as he continued. “Please, leave this to me, my citizens.”

The crowd cheered as he finished what he had to say. Mavin Tomas bid them a silent goodbye, and directed the soldiers and the Hounds to start their patrol. It was a war-like situation where soldiers of different regiments gathered. Most of them were brawny soldiers, rugged men carrying their machine-guns and gatling-gun, pointing them at the highest peak on the flat mountain of Alzed.

On the defense line the embankments were being made. Hastily poured concrete defense structures were drying up. The Vulcan-unit variant, the Constructor Model, was using large metal claws and counterweights to carry prefab modular constructions to cover the defense lines.

In the air there were airships barely flying twenty meters off the ground, lowering multiple Vulcan-units on the ground. Flyers, who were armed to the teeth, did a long aerial reconnaissance over one-hundred meters, surveying the area. Mavin Tomas showed his presence, boosted morale, and went to the mobile command that had arrived first.

Entering the mobile command, Mavin Tomas was greeted by Sir Esme, Overseer, and the Commander of the 1st Regiment of Alarava. He was a seven-foot tall man with wide shoulders. He was one of the few people who could tower over Mavin Tomas.

He studied Mavin Tomas for a moment, then made the customary head-to-heart salute necessary. “Lord Constable Mavin, I’m glad that you are here.”

“Likewise, how are the preparations?” he shook Sir Esme’s hand firmly. They went to the map of Alzed. Sir Esme pointed on the map, tracing a finger around the upper northern parts.”

“Our aerial recon revealed that there are areas around the north of Alzed that had started gathering. One of our soldiers reports that the demifiend cattle that have been tamed were looking up,” he produced a set of photos that have pictures of the demifiend animals looking up to the top of the peak. “I had been unsure what to make of your fears, but your achievements alone did not let me dare to think of your warnings. There is something coming, and the areas around Alzed are starting to buzz.”

There was gloom covering the peak of the half-mountain of Alzed. There was a clear hole in the middle of the half-mountain as if it was heaven’s entrance. The pillar of light encircled the half-mountain peak of Alzed.

“I would never do something unsure. The preparations are done. What about the tanks that Jorvi had promised?”

“They should be lowered soon.”

Mavin Tomas and Sir Esme left the mobile command and saw the Hounds lowered. The caterpillar threads with a 4mm long barreled gun attached to it. Each of the tanks were composed of a five-manned crew each. The Commander, the driver, the gunner, loader, and the co-driver.

“Each tank will be accompanied with a Vulcan-unit. They are armed with forearm mounted gatling guns that are supported with counter weights and deployable tripods to stabilize their aims. Most of them could move well-enough that they could combat any ten meter to fifteen meter demifiend that may come out of the hole in the sky.”

Mavin Tomas nodded. “They are going to keep their distance. We will focus on long-range doctrines. We’re going to saturate them with overwhelming firepower. How are the pulverizers?”

“Most of them are in Vaaksi. We have fired measuring shells to estimate the firing distances. There are about ten artillery units that are on-standby and are ready to fire round after round. There are batteries in Karka as well, milord, but it would be best if they are only used to support the southwest. They cannot go past the estimated area.”

Sir Esme pointed on the south of the Alzed where the two shallow rivers passing through the steppe were. ”We have defensive structures that have been made in this area. We have flooded the areas around by opening the dams. We have our observation balloons equipped with communication equipment to trace the flow of the enemy, but the constant downpour will make it hard for them to observe the area.”

Mavin Tomas set aside the map and pointed in the direction of the north east of the area. “I want every airship capable of flight and artillery to make a downpour in this area. They are out of reach, would fare better. Focus on the bigger targets while the smaller and medium-sized are taken on by the ground units.”

“Roger, that,” Sir Esme then placed a marking on the map and then pointed a finger. “Most of the regiments will be sending units to cover the incursion zone. I’ll have the regiment purge any runners. The garrisoned soldiers of our cities are ready if any of these beasts comes t our cities.”

Mavin Tomas nodded. He explained. “Sir Esme, there is no need to domesticate these foreign animals. We will kill them here and make sure that only their bones remain. It will be a long night coming for us,” he looked at the officers in the mobile command. “There will be losses in lives. But if we want to stop this flock then we need to decapitate the head of the flock.

“The Exiled One will come and try to take the lands. If the Exiled One gets off our land, then it will be disastrous. Some may ask why I do not take the hands of others. But without the proper equipment, and without the unity that we have strived for, how will they understand what its mean to fight?

“My brothers and sisters of Greater Lazon.  The enemy will have giants, monsters, and every horror the in-between could offer. But we have something to protect from them.”

Mavin Tomas unsheathed the black-iron saber in his sheath with malicious intent.

“We have steel and gunpowder! I have planned for this day and we will show them why Greater Lazon is the Shield of the Magnar-Azia!

“Purge the monsters of the in-between!” Mavin Tomas roared. “We shall cleanse the Exiled One’s flock with our unity and strength! Do not give them a single quarter! Purge them in the name of Greater Lazon, OUR HOME. "

Fanatical fury rose within the people as storms gather.