305 We Kill and Eat Babies! (1/2)
UN Rear Trench Alpha Two, Mess Tentage
Mills ravenously wolfed down the helpings of fried hash browns and chili over grains before swiping down his mess tin with a hunk of bread. He burped out in satisfaction and dropped the mess tin into the barrel with other used tins.
Dozens of other Marines on rest rotation were gathered at the Mess tent having their mid day meal. There were also members of the voluntary corps made up from locals and ex slaves who worked as support staff like drivers and cooks mixed in with the Marines, chatting noisily away.
Mills ensured his water canteens were filled up before he exited the tent and headed to his unit's allocated bivouac. Suddenly as he almost to his unit's rest area, a siren screamed loud enough to wake the dead, followed by an announcement.
”Imminent enemy attack! All units to return back to your designated defense zones! Repeat! Imminent enemy attack! All units to return back to your designated defense zones!” The several loudspeakers mounted on poles around the rear zone of the trenches cried out where normally they would be playing some rock and roll music.
Mills cursed and he ran towards his tent shared with the senior NCOs. Some of his section had already suited up and ran past him without a word towards the entrances that led to the forward trenches.
He grabbed his body armor and weapon, before running out from the tent, strapping in his armor as he ran.
He ducked his head low as he entered the trench entrance, following the men in front of him as their boots storming loudly over the duckboards laid on the trench floor. He made a left at the first intersection and while others continued on in the maze of the trenches.
After another few turns among the communication trenches, before he arrived at Forward Trench Alpha Two, where he and his men were allocated to defend.
”What is the situation?” He asked as he swept past several Marines already up on the firing steps.
”Sarge!” A Signals corporal came up and reported. ”HQ relayed information that our UAV has observed the enemy is massing for an attack, beyond the forest!”
”Got it!” He turned to the Marines gathered at the firing trench and called out for a headcount while ordering two of his men to grab more ammunition from the ammo bunker.
Mills climbed up the firing steps and looked out across the pockmarked land towards the forest and sighed. ”It's gonna be a long hot day!”
-----
Imperial Line
Moel frowned as several men in richly embroidered tabards over their ornate plate mail stood before him with a hint of rebellion.
”My Lord,” One of the men with a hint of haughtiness said. ”You want us to risk our troops to save your daughter?”
The others watched with great anticipation as they knew the power of the Rothschild was waning.
”You are all powerful and rich,” The man who spoke earlier said again. ”Why would you need our help? We are just mere land barons! Our forces are much weaker than yours!”
Moel's face darkened as he glared at his barons before him. ”You need not know the reason why just follow my orders!”
”But my Lord!” Another Baron said with a mock distressed tone. ”If we lose our troops here, how will we be able to defend the land against the goblins and monsters that threaten our lands?”
”Yes! How can we protect our people if our troops suffer casualties?” The rest of the watching Barons suddenly cried out in injustice. ”How will we answer to our people? Who will compensate us if our beloved homeland is ravaged by those barbaric monsters!”
”Enough!” Moel roared out angrily, unable to contain his anger. ”Who is your liege lord here? You all taken an oath to service me and the Emperor! Are you rebelling now?”
”Eh...” The Barons looked at each other unease as the commander of the Scorpian Legion stood silently beside Moel. ”Rebel is too harsh a word!”
”We are just worried about our lands and people!”
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.
”Yes! Yes! How can we rebel? We are loyal to the Emperor!”
The Barons started to clamor about how loyal and concerned they are for the Emperor's subjects. Moel's frowned turned deeper and deeper and he glanced at the silent Rock next to him before he said softly, ”I-”
The Rock raised an armored hand up and took a step forward as he eyed the nervous Barons through his full helm. ”You have a turn of the glass to gather your men for battle. Not one sand more! Or face punishment by military law!”
The frightened Barons swallowed back any retort they wanted to say as they sensed the killing aura coming out from the Rock. ”Y-yes, my lord! At once!”
Moel watched the Barons scrambled away with a gloomy expression. He needed to show these Barons what happens if they disregarded his authority!
”You ready the troops,” The Rock suddenly said. ”I will have my Bronze men support the attack once the enemy's strength weakened.”
Moel nodded and watched the Rock walk away and whispered to himself. ”I will have to deal with you too later on!”
-----
Skies over Northern Front
The lenses of the Owleye UAV whirled and whined as it focused on the troop build up at the edge of the forest. It hovered in the skies and recorded every move of the unaware Imperials as column after column of armored infantry and cavalry marched into the forest and disappeared from the sensors of the UAV.
But it was more than enough for the Intel officers at the command bunker to gauge and estimate the strength of the enemy and also their estimated arrival time and direction of attack, allowing the Command Staff to effectively arrange and direct their defense in preparation of the attack.
The UAV continued to hum to itself happily as it watched everything happening below it, including the new arrival of a contingent of heavily armored troops that was different from the rest.
-----
Northern Front Central Command
Joseph watched the UAV feed on the display and pointed to the image, ”What do we know about this troops?”
The Intel officer assigned to Orwell's Point, frowned as he looked at the image. ”We have no idea, Sir. We have received no word nor Intel regarding this. Except, that those insignia belongs to the Black Scorpion Legion.”
”I heard of them before,” It was Joseph's turn to frown. ”They are considered to be the Emperor's elite enforcers.”
”Yes, Sir,” The Intel officer replied. ”From our records, it should be lead by a man known as the Rock.”
”Sadly we do not have any pictures of said person,” The Intel officer shrugged apologetically. ”But from what we know, he is kinda like the right hand man of the previous Bluewood Emperor.”