ELIJAH

	Another day of MUTT training done for my section and me. I sent my men to their barracks to get some rest while I wiped the sweat from my brow, thankful that Lycia was at least cool inside. Whether that was because it was so deep inside the mountains or because of enchantment magicks that kept the air cold, I didn't care which, but all the heat generated from inside this WarMUTT was something else. I couldn't imagine what it was going to be like out in the bush. If only I could conjure up some magic, but all this damn aether was stifling. We had been at this all week, ironing out any issues we had with the controls, learning how to maneuver as a team, how to find cover and stay on the move, all of which was something else entirely when you sat in a six meter tall mechanical monster. Finding cover would be particularly difficult depending on where we were deployed, and if it was an urban environment ‘cover’ became ‘concealment.’ Not exactly ideal. I set my MUTT down in its bay and opened the cockpit, watching as others from Lucas’ section milled about on the training ground.
	“How ya holdin’ up, Lieutenant?” Asked Dylan over the comms.
	“I'm fine. How are your men?” I asked him, “You are responsible for a section now.”
	“They’re doing good, Loo,” He answered, “Got ‘em running drills now with the aether rifles, makin' sure they keep the fire rate low so they don't burn through the barrels. We'll be cuttin’ up those Crowns like butter before the week is through!”
	“Good work, Dylan. Where's Lucas?” I inquired, certain I already knew. His men were lazing about by their MUTTs and I was becoming increasingly irritable just watching.
	“Oh, he's at the range, too. I figure he's just as smart with the rifle as you now.”
	“Good, that's great,” I answered with a hint of sarcasm,”What about his men?”
	Dylan took a moment to answer, probably asking Lucas himself, I figured.
	“He has them running laps.”
	“Laps?” I parrotted, staring at the layabouts. I decided to feign ignorance for a moment, “Aren't they used to the MUTT controls by now?”
	“No, sir, I mean they are running laps themselves,” Dylan explained, “Lucas said his section is half Evoker and half Magehand, says they keep butting heads and fighting over tactics and leadership.”
	An issue that I had become painfully aware of throughout the week. Our Evokers and their Magehands were having a time of it cocking things up between each other, squabbling over shit that didn't matter. What should we name our platoon? Should we go by Evokers or Magehand? Which group takes priority, which one is better? To hell with them all, I'd sooner whip the lot of them for insubordination and call our platoon the Bloody Drongos.
	I took a deep breath and sighed, “I see. Is it working?”
	“Not a clue,” the avalonian answered, clearly remiss of how his fellow second lieutenant handled his section. I understood, but it didn't make me happy.
	“Get him on the horn for me.”
	“I'm here,” Lucas piped up.
	“What the hell is going on with your section?” I demanded.
	“Dylan already did such a good job telling you-”
	“Cut the shit. I want to hear it from you, Lieutenant Akkerman, or am I going to have to have you disciplined for dereliction of duty?” I threatened him, knowing disciplinary action for negligence tended to end with a flogging.
	“No, Lieutenant,” he answered quickly, getting the message that I was in no mood for his nonsense.
	“I'm looking at your men right now and they're all sitting and spinning over here like it's a real piss up! Get your ass over to your section and carry out the discipline yourself. You'll be leading them in the field so lead them in laps.”
	His response came after a few moments, “Yes, Lieutenant,” he grumbled.
	Now I was getting irate, “Excuse me, I didn't quite catch that.”
	“Yes, Lieutenant!” He barked his affirmation. Good. Maybe I could still whip him into shape before we were shipped out again. I could hear Dylan snickering over the radio, which I considered for a moment whether he deserved to catch a few strays for. His section seemed to be performing well, and he was keeping up in his duties.
	In the end, I decided I hadn't yelled enough, “Lieutenant Bailey, have you got something to add?”
	“No, Lieutenant!” He immediately understood my meaning. Good. He rarely needed coercing, unlike Lucas. I waited in my MUTT for when Akkerman eventually showed up to find his section dozing off. I could hear him screaming at them from here, which caught them by surprise, and each of them practically leapt out of their skin to get to attention as he labasted them with swears and slurs I hadn't heard in years. It seemed he was taking out his frustrations on them now, which made me smile, maybe they'll get the message if he jumps down their throats more often.

	After watching them run laps a few times, I decided I had had enough time putting off my paperwork and made my way out of the training area and to the office where I would no doubt spend hours mindlessly filling out reports. Come the end of training I would be making Dylan do this for me. Farmer that he is, he seemed to accept any duty without hesitation, and the extra work would be good for him. He always seemed to have energy for it.
	When I finally reached my office I noticed Captain Bennett was sitting in his, listening intently to someone speaking on the radio. Two others were with him, lieutenants like me who I assumed were in charge of the second and third platoons in our company. One was a taller man with long, rounded ears and short dark hair. He had an aquiline nose and sharp eyes like Captain Reis, while the other was a short woman who barely came up to my belt, her auburn hair tied up in a braid atop her head.
	I approached, and Captain Bennett wordlessly bid me to wait at the threshold of his doorway. I obeyed, listening in.
	“They’ve been sighted pouring over our lines at Lightning Ridge and will be in Balonne within the hour,” A voice I did not yet recognize explained to the Captain, “We are going to be sending several Panthera companies to push them back. We need a Capra company to strike behind and cut them off from their lines. You and the sixty-second company are up.”
	“I understand. I’ll inform them at once, Colonel Adams,” He said grimly.
	“That is all,” the Colonel said before I heard a click indicating he had ended the transmission. Bennett sighed wearily, rubbing both eyes between one hand while he shut off the radio with the other. He turned to me expectantly. I entered the room and took my place beside my peers.
	“This is Lieutenant Elijah MacGellar, a former Evoker. MacGellar this is Lieutenant Gavin Wilhelm, a former Magehand in charge of second platoon, and Lieutenant Amelia Springvale, a transfer from Panthera, she's in charge of third platoon,” he waved a hand to the elf on my left and the gnome to my right respectively.
	“I gave each of them a polite nod before looking back at Bennett.
	“Crowns giving us trouble, sir?”
	“That's the rough of it. Crowns are pouring over through our lines in a new offensive, starting in Balonne heading for Maranoa. They're trying to cut through the middle of Queensland all the way to Whitsunday, or so says Serpentes.”
	“Why on earth would they try something so stupid?” I asked, completely caught off guard, “Aren't they afraid of being surrounded?”
	“They got guts, that's for sure,” said Amelia, not pleased in the slightest to admit it.
	Captain Bennett shook his head, “They think if they cut us in half they can take Brisbane unopposed and the rest of us will capitulate. They're sure to hit other areas to probe for weak points as well. Still, it's another desperate ploy in a long history of desperate ploys. Those damned Crowns have a nasty habit of putting all their stock into one big push,” He spat, clearly none too happy to be put in such a situation, “We will be moving out within the hour. Do you think your men are ready for combat?”
	I nodded where the other two hesitated, “We've seen combat before. That much won't be an issue. Whether we're ready for MUTT combat is a different story. Do we know how many of theirs will be with the regular forces?”
	“No. We suspect they will use their usual tactics of smashing through our defenses with MUTTs first, followed by infantry. Your men won't have too much of an issue swatting flies before hitting their heavier units from behind.”
	“No, sir, I think we can handle that just fine,” I answered truthfully.
	“Good. Go get your platoons ready, our company will be moving out within the hour.”
	“Yes, Captain,” I saluted before I took my leave, the other two following me out.
	“I hear you are having trouble with infighting,” Gavin said, sounding genuinely worried, “My men have been butting heads since our two companies were merged. Is it the same for you?”
	“Here and there. Guess they haven't gotten used to the idea that we're all part of the same unit now,” I grumbled.
	“Perhaps a proper name for our company will change that?” Amelia suggested, “If we're under a new name, we could feel like we're part of a team.”
	“Maybe we should break up the sections to be a mix of both so they're forced to work together?” Gavin added. Both suggestions were decent ideas, but we didn't have time for that now.
	“We can worry about that after the mission,” I answered.
	We headed straight to the barracks. One week of training and it was back to the front. Typical. That was just how things were, sink or swim, the enemy wasn't going to wait for us. My men leapt to attention the moment I walked in, as did Gavin's and Amelia's. Dylan and Lucas were there with their sections as well, which I was thankful for.
	“At ease,” I said, waiting for everyone to relax their posture, “I have bad news and worse news. Bad news is the Crowns are pushing into our territory.”
	That had gotten a few scowls out of the men. Good, that would motivate them.
	“The worse news is we gotta go clean up the mess the regular forces are leaving us by killing every last Crown that's set foot in Balonne.”
	“By ourselves, sir?” Asked one of Dylan's men.
	“No, not by ourselves. Panthera will be sending several companies to hold the enemy back while we get to nip the bud at the stem. We leave in forty, so get ready and get in your MUTTs.”

	We had three airships made ready for our immediate departure, the Usurper being our lead ship with the Captain, my platoon and our MUTTs all brought aboard. The other two platoons were on the Cinder and the Vicki Maiden, two airships of similar size. Our three ships left as soon as they were undocked, and we raced southwest to Balonne. Every soldier was in their Harrier Es, the armor of which I noted was much heavier than the Harrier Ds I had become accustomed to seeing. Each section was armed with two aether rifles, a spitfire and a torch. Lucas, Dylan and myself were each wielding aether rifles ourselves. I had expected some protests or winging over the radio for being thrown to the wolves, but I heard nothing. It seemed to me the others felt as confident as I did.

	It didn't take us too long getting to the east side of Balonne, our ships dropping us off not too far from the frontlines where we made for the brush to cut through to the south, making for Lightning Ridge.
	“Switch to local channels,” I announced to the men.
	“Switching to local channels,” they confirmed.
	“Sixty-second company, sound off,” I broadcasted through the locals, getting the roll call started as each rider called out their number. Good, we weren't missing anybody.
	“Follow me.”
	The sounds of battle were fierce, we caught glimpses of the enemy MUTTs that had run into the Panthera companies running a counter offensive just south of the town of St. George.
	“Careful. Don't engage just yet,” Captain Bennett warned. He was keeping an eye on us with the high-powered periscope on the Usurper, unless he was a diviner and he never told me. We continued forward until we came close to a clearing where I switched my manascope over to see enemy mana signatures. I could already tell there were a few vehicles, and man shaped signatures told me there were quite a few mages like us. Only difference was they didn't have five tonnes of aether-powered steel between them and us.
	“That's the target, cut them off!” Bennett confirmed in my earpiece.
	“Moving in!” I shouted, bursting from the brush and barreling through the column of soldiers and vehicles. Hover trucks, lorries and men, all preparing to put down weapon emplacements, sandbags and other fortifications. The charge I led with our WarMUTTs stomping through put a quick stop to that. Someone shot the hover truck and it ignited, bursting up into the air before tumbling back down in a smoldering heap. Several soldiers scrambled for cover, their purple uniforms a blurred mix as they ran this way and that, looking for cover. There wasn't much in the way of cover when it came to MUTTs, though, and I slammed my Harrier's fist through a pile of sandbags, slaughtering the men hiding behind them.
	One of the lorries made a break for it, heading north in a futile attempt to escape. Another MUTT belonging to one of my men – Louis, I think – stopped it short by placing himself in front of it, the vehicle crashing hard against his leg. He barely budged.
	Some of the mages let loose their fire spells at me, and I flinched back for a moment before they dissipated right in front of me. I knew our WarMUTTs were practically impervious to magic but I couldn't help it, it was instinctual for me at this point. I pointed my rifle and fired, and they were gone.
	Many of them already began their retreat by now, and that was our signal to double back and hit the enemy MUTTs from behind.
	“Good job, everyone. Phase two, third platoon, stay here and catch any straggles, keep your eyes open on both sides. First and second platoon, Gavin, Dylan, Lucas, you're with me.”
	“Copy that, Loo,” I heard Dylan answer. I swear I could hear the smile on his face, like he actually enjoyed this. Knowing him, he probably did.
	“Lieutenant!” Someone shouted over the radio. I turned to see one of the WarMUTTs in my platoon were slowly sinking into the earth, a group of Crown magi casting from afar. 
	“Earth magicks,” I warned, “Kill the mages!” The magic itself was quickly interrupted by our aether fields, but earth magic was not like fire, little by little, they could gradually turn the ground beneath our feet into quicksand and immobilize us. Even if the magic was interrupted, the earth remained changed. Physical objects were not halted by aether. I fell back, getting out of their casting range while firing back at them.
	Another of our MUTTs was caught in the shifting ground, trapped. Another group of mages began to cast an ice spell, the air above us being filled with shards as sharp as knives, ready to plunge down on our heads.
	I killed a few of them, but the spell was released. Some of them bounced off harmlessly, but the two trapped in the earth took the brunt of them, the blades of ice cutting right through them. I heard their dying gasps over the radio and grit my teeth.
	“Spitfires, target the mages!” I bellowed, “Get some fire down south!”
	The rest of 62nd Company obliged, and a volley of spitfires rained down on our enemies, scattering them to dust and turning the ground to the south into glass. The enemy was in full retreat now.
	“What now, Lieutenant? Should we give chase?”
	“The plan remains the same. Third platoon, Amelia, cover our rear and make sure they don't come back! Second platoon, Gavin, get your men up that road, Dylan, Lucas, you and your men are with me, let's go!”
	“On it,” Lucas answered.

	The trek north was surprisingly quick. We were unhindered by any more mages, and swept away any infantry that dared to poke their heads out and snipe at us. The first MUTT we came across was one of our own, a Panthera WarMUTT missing its cockpit and about half of the rest of the torso. They peppered this one with aether weapons, no doubt. A few meters north of him was an enemy MUTT burned to a crisp, a Harrier of their own by the looks of it, or what was left of one. Damned Crowns. For the amount of MUTTs they always seemed to have, they must have captured factories of their own, or had enough engineers with some know-how to get their own production started.
	An aether beam soared overhead and I immediately took a more evasive stance, ready to dodge left or right should I get the chance. The enemy was close now, I could hear the battle they were having with Panthera and see more fire.
	I checked behind me to make sure my men were still with me, Dylan and his platoon bringing up the rear.
	“Fan out, ten meters apart! Make sure to surround the enemy, don't let one of them escape!” I ordered, and marched forward as each of us moved together in a row. We met the enemy with their backs to us, they were hammering Panthera pretty hard and it was easy to see why. There must have been forty of them, with several Mules pinning down Panthera's units.
	“Bring down their support units first, focus fire, then hit the main forces from behind!”
	I took aim and let loose with my aether rifle, several of my platoon following suit. Together we took one of the legs out from under the first Mule. The metal groaned before it tumbled down, its cannon firing off one last shot before it erupted on the ground in a fiery blaze that several of its escorts were caught up in. They ignited like a cascade of fireworks, the aetheric flames from the Mule bursting their engines.
	I turned to see second platoon performing just as well, and within mere moments we had cut down the enemy artillery that was harrying our forces.
	“Good job, Lieutenant Wilhelm, now let's pour it on the rest of ‘em!”
	With the Mules gone, the enemy MUTTs were firing in both directions with Panthera now able to return fire while we pinched them between us. I ducked behind one of the fallen Mules, Dylan falling in behind me as well as several other men. A stray spitfire round caught one of his men out in the open and he disappeared in a flash of fire. Dylan audibly gasped over the radio.
	“Return fire!” I heard Gavin give the command, and his platoon lit the enemy up with aether beams and fire.
	As soon as the enemy fire died down I poked around the side of the downed Mule and joined in on the assault. By the time our barrage was done there were hardly enough of them left to call it an assault force; the few that survived the onslaught could barely move their MUTTs, their joints practically fused together from all the aetheric flames.
	“Looks like we won!” Dylan cheered.
	“We're not done, yet,”I corrected him, “We still have the stragglers to deal with.”
	“What, are we capturing these ones?” Lucas asked, his sarcasm plain. I watched as one of the enemy riders forced his way out of his cockpit, the hatch nearly completely fused together. He took in the carnage surrounding him, his eyes wide as saucers. Hesitantly he lifted up his hands to surrender. I grit my teeth.
	“No. Kill them.” I answered curtly.
	“What?” Gavin was beside himself, “Captain?”
	“You heard the Lieutenant,” Bennett answered back, “We do not accept surrender from the Crowns.”
	I took aim with my aether rifle and fired without a second thought, and the man disappeared in an instant.
	“I expect you all to follow orders. Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with accordingly,” I warned, the barrel of my rifle still hissing from the heat. The rest of the company began hunting down the survivors and eliminating them. I felt a small amount of satisfaction, but there were more Crowns to kill.
	“This is Major Doren with the two-oh-three Panthera company. Good work, sixty-second,” A voice came over the radio, “You really saved our hides.”
	“Just doin’ our jobs,” I answered as the last of the Crowns was executed, the battlefield now a warning to the enemy, “Amelia, report.”
	“Nothing on the southern front, they've routed,” she answered, "I thought of a name for the company, Lieutenant MacGellar.”
	“Let’s hear it,” I replied with little enthusiasm.
	“Aries company,” Amelia announced proudly.
	I pulled my manascope up and rubbed the tired feeling from my eyes, “I don’t follow.”
	“Well, you know the story of Chrysomallus?”
	I sighed, “Can’t say that I have. Get to the point.”
	“Well, he was a mythical ram with wings and fleece of gold, and even rescued Phrixus. After he was rescued, the ram was sacrificed to the gods and became Aries.”
	“A winged ram does sound pretty amazing,” Dylan pitched in. Several others of the company voiced their agreement, cluttering up the radio wave.
	I rolled my eyes, “Alright, alright. Captain?”
	“What the hell, why not? I’ll get that sorted. Well done, Aries company,” He said, sounding unusually proud, “Regroup and let Panthera take over from here.”

	We regrouped with third platoon and made our way back onto our respective airships. I joined Captain Bennett on the bridge of the Usurper, finding him standing at the radioman’s station. He looked at me for only a moment before turning back to the man, listening in with a headphone held to his ear. The intense expression on his face told me that something had come up, and so I stood aside and waited.
	After a moment he slammed a fist on the radioman’s desk and tossed the headphones back to him before he turned back to me.
	“Get your men ready, Lieutenant. We’re moving out again.”
	“Yes sir. What are we up against?” My mind was already racing. Was this just a diversion? Had we been fooled by the Crowns and they had taken a more important strategic point?
	“Just get in your MUTTs and listen to Crone’s broadcast, tune to two-oh-two-point-three,” He growled. I saluted and moved out at once, heading to the cabins below deck. I found the men resting and revelling in their victory, some of them dancing together with music from their portable radio, while some were still mourning the deaths of their comrades. Dylan in particular was looking distraught laying in his bunk, his eyes hidden beneath his arm. Lucas was sitting and staring out of one of the portholes listfully. Without a word I strode in and straight to the radio, tuning it to look for the channel Bennett mentioned, much to the annoyance of the men. After a moment of fiddling, I found the broadcast and listened intently.
	At first it was quiet, the sound of a microphone humming softly for a moment before the deep voice of Thaddeus Crone came over the radio waves and greeted us.
	“This is your Prime Minister, Thaddeus Crone. I regret to inform you that a terrible thing has happened. Our country has been locked in this war for little over three long years. Thousands and thousands of lives were lost due to the so-called Sovereign Convergence and their traitorous king’s ambitions. Many of our friends and family, those of us who are not human, were deemed lesser by these monarchists. We have been persecuted, chased out of our lands, beaten and even murdered by men longing for a bygone era from a world that had its chance. 
	They have killed the innocent in their homes, slaughtered our sons, our daughters, our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters. All of this you already know. You have waged war, fought battles, protected our people and given our foes the scars they will not soon forget. The pain and hatred we feel together has been tempered into a blade that shall strike down the vile king and his fanatics, and while they remain our greatest enemy, the grave news I must tell you today is this; we have a new enemy. 
	An hour ago we were attacked by a band of cowards and opportunists. Foreign powers have gathered together to take advantage of our struggle and to take what is rightfully ours. These murderous invaders have only just started. Just one short hour ago, they hit our homes in New Vaelyn and have made a foothold for themselves. They have won their first victory against an unguarded mining town, and act as if it was some hard won battle! 
	These weaklings have not yet seen the full might of the Federalist forces! We cannot allow these foreign mercenaries to butcher our people and steal our life and land! So I ask you, my fellow compatriots, to fight for just a while longer! We will not suffer this injustice! Your people need you, the enemy is all around us now, and we are the only ones who stand between them and the bloodthirsty hordes to our south and to our west! The Federalist forces will drive them out. We will meet them in battle and show them the strength of our resolve! They dared to set foot in the down under, and now we will put them down under!”
	The radio went silent, and like the rest of the room I was beside myself. We had been blindsided by a conglomerate of foreign powers. Things were bad enough with the Crowns to our south and the civil unrest, but now this? I looked at the faces of my men and found them all shocked, afraid and defeated. We had been fighting for so long already.
	“Look at yourselves,” I growled, “Feeling sorry? Feeling helpless?” I watched as each of them looked at me like wounded animals. Many of them, including Lucas, looked away in shame. Dylan stared at me with a hopeful look in his eyes, like I was the only one who was able to give him the direction he needed.
	“Pathetic!” I hollered, “How do you think the people living in New Vaelyn felt? If any of them are still alive, do you think they'd understand if we just gave up now with the enemy's hands around their throats? What about Joshua and Conroy, our dead comrades?” That had gotten their attention, I noticed, and they began to slowly straighten themselves up. 
	I continued, “They gave their lives to protect the people! To protect us! If they had not taken those spells, one of us could have! We cannot let their sacrifice be for nothing! We are going to the western front as I speak, and we are going to kill every last mercenary bastard and water our soils with their blood!”
	They each rose up and saluted me, giving a loud battlecry. Everyone but Lucas.

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