"Well, let's get going then." Emma nods.
Breakfast, at first glance, seems like a very moderate affair. One that you shouldn't even note as an event -- it isn't until you taste the bowl of porridge in front of you that flavorful spices explode across your palate: heat, pungency, peppery, all twisting together into an interplay of flavor. The porridge nearly drips with butter and cream.
Thin slices of dried meat drip with fat and flavor, berries dried into the dusty protein, and herbs and spices round out the experience, turning each bite into a salty flavor burst. You're surprised, but devour an entire plate of the sticks.
The next is long, thin dried pieces of ...a fruit? A vegetable? Its a ruddy, rusty red, with dots of black. You pop one into your mouth. And chew. And chew. And chew. The material becomes softer, and it tastes close to an apple mixed with cherry but has the consistency of dried vegetable chips. You notice, after the first, that the Outlanders are pocketing these as opposed to eating them.
"Dried [cactus] fruits." Mellone explains, "Traditionally, every Outlander is to carry some dried food. These have the least scent, last forever, and are tasty."
"What was that meat?"
"[Beast of Burden]." Mellone nods, explaining, "They dry it out, pound it into dust, mix it with fat, berries, and spices. A traditional dish."
You put another dried [cactus] flower into your pocket and rise with your group
You munch on one of the dried flowers as your group exits the palace and travels down the main road under heavy guard. Nicole and Samkrend speak quietly together in a clump, while Rekhyt, Bat, and Atlan all do their best to stay far away from one another. Bat approaches first.
"I am Bat Samkrend. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise. Pheobe Gainer." You nod
"I am told that war is your strong suit. That you need soldiers." Bat nods, "I'm the current [Marshal] of our military forces."
You fight the urge to raise a brow. "And you have many soldiers?"
"A great deal. Some are more loyal to me than my father. I have a great many contacts within the temple of War, as well."
You stay silent.
"I would love to see you fight." He bows, his expression never changing as he drifts away to stand with his guard.
The temple of Money is free of the common folk, and the guards gleam in gold and silver ornament. The priest bobs his head respectfully when he meets Samkrend. The Khan introduces you, and the priest doesn't bow to you, only looking at you with contempt. After you tour the temple in silence, you are allowed into the Samkrend's family vault.
Piles upon piles of gold and jade coins lay neatly stacked in great piles upon pallets of wood. Banknotes and deeds lay on desks, and a young priest is pouring over figures upon folded and wrinkled paper -- your datapad pings.
"At [0900] this morning, Crusaders have completed the evacuation of Achmil, in farming district seven of the Holy Fortress-State of Pheonix. Current civilian casualties report being as low as two hundred individuals, out of the town's three thousand and ninety-seven inhabitants. Crusader casualties are currently at thirty-five. "
A brief image appears on the screen -- a figure strides across the battleground, massive and bulky in the heavy Crusader armor, his face hidden beneath a gas mask. A heavy steel shield is strapped to his arm, and one hand gleams with the silver of cybernetics. He shreds apart Insects with a cutter hilt and a sawn-off inferno shotgun. Crusaders follow him, laying down suppressive fire and holding their ground. A great beast rises from an alleyway, lunging at Eric -- the head of a barker hangs loosely from its neck and human twists' face in perpetual agony beneath that. Great, sharp tentacles lash out--
Eric twists, lopping them off and sending a spray of ichor across the street. He levels his shotgun, and Inferno explodes out, sending superheated magnesium and white phosphorous burning out across infected flesh. The creature screams as Eric ruthlessly unloads shell after shell into it. When it stops twitching, he moves on.
Atlan sniffs, playing with her hair. You didn't even notice her approach. "The North has far more money than this old fool." She explains quietly. "And the Temple of Money is based there. Great deposits of gold, silver, iron. Rare metals too."
"No doubt valuable." You offer politely.
"Of course." Atlan shrugs.
[-][17] Her sleeve rides up when she rubs at her face once, and you notice a thin spider-work of a brand across her forearm.
The Temple of War is a block of a building -- a massive fortification of stone and cement, with sword-armed guards standing at the gate and rifles aiming down from murder holes. After a verification process that puts your Crusaders to shame, you are allowed in.
This temple isn't so much a place of worship as a military academy. Young men and women either train with various weapons or pour over crumbling military treatise under scarred veterans' watchful eyes. Bat approaches a man leaning heavily on a knobby cane. The two hug and exchange a conversation.
"Form up!" Bat barks sharply after a nod from the elder.
The youths scramble into formation behind older students, pulling themselves into crisp military lines and clasping their hands behind their backs in the manner of SEED Crusaders.
"Drop. Push-ups." Bat barks again.
The youths do so -- and you watch as they push themselves as hard as they can. It takes an hour for the last one to collapse to the ground in exhaustion, soaked in sweat and caked in training ground dust.
Bat nods. He embraces the elder once more, returning to Samkrend's side.
[19][20] There's reverence there from the priests. They watch Bat with wide eyes, stepping carefully around him -- but you notice something fascinating on the last hug. Branded on his forearm in the silvery Outlander script of ritual burn are the words 'Blood-Splatters'.
You draw close to Mellone, leaning over to her, "What is the Outlander's War God's name?"
"Uh...' Knife-Song,' 'Waste' and 'Blood-Splatters.'" Mellone mumbles.
You and your entourage are seated in front of the palace, at a wide stone table filled with [dallahs] of tea, bowls of bread, and pastry pieces. OF note is one that you would call [baklava], were it stuffed with nuts as opposed to dried fruits. It's delicious, creamy, sweet, and sticky-- and would give you indigestion in the hot noon-day sun. But the chilled breads and sweet buns provide relief, especially when you sip on the cold and bitter tea provided. A military parade forms up, and you watch only half-interested. Instead, your datapad chirping draws your attention.
And you almost immediately slam it into the table. The screen scrambles for a second -- there, standing side by side with Eric in a wide plaza is the Demon armor. Thornton Warmachines stand at his side, firing their heavy weapons and ruining buildings -- not to mention Infected. A Colossus rips through the city --
William in the Demonic Armor sprints forward, tanking las-gun blasts and ramming his shoulder into the Colossus's stomach. The creature sways back -- and William slams a gun into its flesh, holding down the trigger -- the Colossus screams in agony. Eric and the Warmachines concentrate their fire--
"...so you're saying that you use calvary still? Even though you have hovercraft?" Cephie is playing her part well.
"Yes. They're good for endurance. They can refuel from the land, not a hydrogen plant." Bat nods, and you drag your attention from the datapad to watch the parade. Outlander outriders sit mounted upon [beasts of burden], saddles tucked into soft fur. Packs of food and gear are piled high on the muscular beast's back.
"Bos Prime." Ethan murmurs, "And they're using them as mounts still."
"Backwards." Finn nods.
"Backwards." Ethan agrees.
"Bos Prime?" You question.
"[Those things. They're Bos Prime -- cattle, beasts of burden, walking nutrient gatherers. Highly efficient. Every SEED world has them.]" Cephie explains, drawing close, "[They process plant matter of all kinds into several products. Milk, meat, wool.]"
The aqueduct stretches for miles across the Outlands' badlands, all the way to a tremendous eastern mountain change that blooms with greenery and life. Rivers and streams flow down the mountains, some ending uselessly in the desert, while others are capped with human-made structures that divert water into the massive aqueduct. You inspect it visually from the hovercraft, feeling the wind whip past your hair from the open doors.
Rekhyt approaches, all smiles. "Impressive, isn't it?"
"Yes. Very. It must have taken a long time."
"No, just a great many lives." Rekhyt points and you notice shallow patches of green spreading out beneath it -- square mounds dot the landscape. "Mass graves, for all the workers."
Your stomach turns, just as the hovercraft begins its descent towards an ornate palace that sits high in the mountains, nestled among black rock and gleaming spires that have thrust themselves from the earth. A great cypress forest stretches out, filled with towering redwood and an abundance of fauna. Moss covers the ground where pine needles do not. After a short walk upon a smooth granite path, where you see red [deer] and grazing Bos within the bountiful temperate rainforest, the Redwood Palace looms overhead.
Great pillars of redwood hold a glass ceiling aloft. The stone walls are graced with painted animal relief, and Barker Fur hangs from the rafters. Guards lounge nearby, but they seem less interested in you than in the forest near the palace. Pools of steaming hot water dot the glorified hunting lodge haphazardly, and leafy plants hang over them.
"Welcome to the [Redwood] Palace." Samkrend nods, gesturing with a sweeping hand over the courtyard, towards the pools hidden behind thin-cut, lacquered redwood screens. "Dinner will be served soon. Please, let our servants guide you to your rooms."
And they do. You collapse into a bed for a little while, pulling up the streaming app once again. Looking out through an opening in the wall, you notice the sun going down--
"It seems like the Crusader forces are being pushed back. The Temple Plaza has been lost, and the Crusaders are currently retreating across the ground. Air support is no longer viable." The blue humanoid reports, with a pout. "It seems the city of Achmil is about to be lost. Current Crusader casualties are at one hundred and twenty-eight. Of note, in Infected dead, is two Colossi, fifteen Insects, and a battalion's worth of Abominations. Stay tuned!"
Dinner service begins when night falls in the mountains. Snow drifts down from the sky, but the palace is quite warm. Roasts of all kinds dot firepits that smoke with aromatic woods. Chilled and warm tea sits offered alongside cold kefir. Groups mingle and form, but you have no mood for it. You eat quickly and ignore any conversation. The flavorful, herbed meats taste like ash in your mouth as you hurry back to your room.
Isela refuses to respond to your questions, only repeating two words: 'Opsec. Sorry.'
You want to scream at her, but you keep your cool, setting the datapad aside -- someone knocks at your door. Iyal stands in front of you, tossing reddish-brown hair over her shoulder. "[I was wondering if you would ever come to the hot springs.]"
She speaks quietly, tempting you.
"They're serving natural sorbet."
...natural sorbet?
You and Iyal/Cephie sit comfortably in the hot springs, munching on crushed ice covered in a sweet, sticky wine. You've been making small-talk for the last few minutes, but its slowed down as the two of you enjoy the rare treat in silence. Midnight came and went uneventfully--
"Want some drugs? I got some bug oil, [amphetamines], Smoke--" Cephie offers as Iyal.
Your datapad gives a ping, and you snatch it up.
"Or you could ignore me. Rude--"
"All Crusaders have been forced from the city of Achmil. It is a sad day indeed for the people of SEED--" The blue avatar sticks out a tongue and blows a raspberry. "Not! Now a word from our sponsor!"
Eric peels off his gas mask to smile at the camera. In one hand, he holds a bundle of wires and technology, in the other, a small timer that's ticking down. "Now, some of you might not know what this is, but this is a timer! Like a digital clock. This one is ticking down to midnight."
He holds up the bundle. "This is a fusion reactor's overload control matrix."
...5
...4
...3
...2
...1
The view switches -- and mushroom clouds explode across the city of Achmil. Debris and rubble spray out as abandoned buildings turn to glass -- and the Infected within the town turn to ash. Eric reappears, grinning, "I'm guessing, we just eliminated a few brigades of Abominations, maybe a couple of dozen Insects..and we probably may have damaged a Colossus. More importantly, we just disabled anti-aircraft in this region."
"...beautiful. But that's not all!" The camera angle shifts, the blue avatar appearing once again -- as dozens upon dozens of hovercraft streak out past the exploding town, raining autocannon round and las-fire across the blasted land, mopping up abomination and burning Insect. They fly towards plague territory. "Stayed tuned -- Captain Murdach is leading an assault on a nexus as we speak."
You begin to laugh, happily, hysterically, as Isela's name lights up on your screen. Cephie turned Iyal raises a brow. "Well, that lifted your mood pretty quickly."
You slump into the hot springs, wondering if you should scream at Isela or reward her.
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Topic: McCreary's Planet -- (FINISHED) (Read 252792 times)