Eternium Chapter 9

Eternium Chapter 9 Into the swamp

14:30 Operation Swamp Track- Convoy is on route to testing grounds in Gelbleck Swamps. Mission is to test capabilities of Tank Units in marshy terrain. Operational commander is authorized to use escort Gracia DarkForge, local of the area, to ensure safe travel during the operation. During the mission several tests are to be...

...In actuality, the mission is to investigate the potential nest of violent creatures that have attacked and razed half a dozen villages in close proximity to the swamp. Using the power of a full assault group of the new Tank Units developed by The Besuld Empire's military research division, they are to eliminate any hostile threats, and ascertain the viability, reliability, and effectiveness of these new weapons of war in a real military operation.

The men on the top of the tanks sway to and fro as they climb over the rough terrain of the hills nearby the swamp. Gracia sits in between one of these men and Jamard, who has his helmet hung over his face so he can relax. She nervously grips the unloaded MK3 APP Rifle Jamard gave her. Its nothing like the MK4 he showed her earlier. It looks much more simplistic. The grip is wooden, most of the barrel is a whitish iron like material.

“The MK4 is still a prototype technically. Its really expensive to make, since a lot of the materials are pretty uncommon. So despite the fact that its drastically superior to the MK3, we still use the tried and true because its cost to make is fractional to the MK4. Of course, the higher ups would never dare say that, so they make up excuses like weapons safety and side effects of usage to push back the completion until a more cost effective version is made.” Gracia remembers his words as he plops a MK3 rifle into her arms. “It works just like the MK4… just… not as well.” He says offhandedly before sitting down, leaning against one of the tanks crenelations. “Might want to take a seat, these things get bumpy.” He jokes, then pulls his helmet over his face, folds his arms, and, as far as she can tell, starts taking a nap.

She has no idea how he can manage to sleep when she's barely able to stay sat upright. Every other bump nearly sends her sprawling into the middle of the platform. Even as they get closer and closer to the swamp, and the hills slowly smooth out, he doesn't budge. She look over the others in the defense platform. The all look relaxed, even the ones who seemed to have taken her warning seriously earlier about how dangerous these things were. As much as she didn't want it to, their nonchalant faces made her angry. They have no idea what these things are, how dangerous they are… and even as they get closer to those things nest, there isn't a worried face among them.

“Don't worry about it. I've been with these guys through 3 wars and more battles than you will ever see. They've been to hell and back, for them this is just another day on the job.” Jamard says, his voice slightly muffled through his helmet.

Gracia's head snaps back to Jamard in surprise. “You were awake the whole time… weren't you.” She mutters indignantly.

“There is a difference between you and I, you see, even though you know what your up against, your still worried, even though deep down you know how its going to end.” Jamard says calmly.

“And how can I be any different? Nothing is ever certain until it has happened. Even if victory is certain, a stray bullet can still kill you.” Gracia angrily retorts.

Jamard laughs. Its a genuine laugh. Under his helmet she can see his smile. “Of course your right, but here's the thing. When you know victory is certain, you can go into battle not worrying about your death, because you know that even if somehow you die, it will not cost you victory. That if defeat is certain, you can go into battle without fear, because all you have to worry about is doing as much damage as you can. And that no matter what, as long as you do your best, there is nothing else to do except accept whatever outcome fate gives you. So when you go into battle, do it without fear or worry, because even if you die, your men will fight on, without fear or worry.”

Jamard pulls his helmet up to see all of his men looking at him proudly, in unison they raise their guns.

“FA VA!”

15:00- Tank Unit arrives at outer edges of swamp. Unit takes a brief pause to reorganize and prepare for tests.

Sniff sniff “Augh crap that's just awful.” Jamard pinches his nose to guard it against the putrid swamp odor. “I've trudge through trenches, body strewn battlefields and mile long no mans lands, but this is without a doubt the worst smell I have even smelt.

“Your just not use to the countryside.” One of his men pipes up. “Back at home we had a cattle pen that smelled so bad people from the nearby town would take a mile wide hike to get around it!”

“Alright, get the eternium fuel cells switched out so we can get back to it!” Jamard bellows out, and the men around him scatter to get their tasks done. “The sooner were out of this putrid place the better.” He mumbles to himself.

Within a few minutes, the tanks fuel cells are switched out, and the 6 tanks begin their expedition into the swamp.

The tanks exceed their desired performance, able to plough through the muck and mud of the swamp with ease. Its sheer size though, forces them to constantly be moving, otherwise the treads risk getting stuck in the mud.

The swamp is eerily quiet. No movement, no signs of life that isn't plants. Not even insects. Its as if the swamp is truly dead. 1 hour into the expedition the group makes it to a small piece of solid land that exists within the swamp. In ages past, this used to be the home of a notorious bandit gang, until the invention of the APP Rifle saw the groups extermination and the site being completely destroyed.

As the group arrives, they finally allow the tanks to stop and give the engines time to cool off...

To fuel these massive tanks requires 4 eternium engines, 1 per track, to drive the beast forward. As heavy as some buildings, a massive amount of fuel is needed to drive the tanks. But this also allows for the genius that is the armor of the tank. On the outside is a steel alloy that protects the engines and other components of the tank from most attacks, but sadly, APP Rifles are capable, with concentrated fire, of melting through the tanks armor in a quarter of a minute of constant attack. This is why the tank has 4 eternium engines, despite being able to run on just 2. The fuel canisters where the eternium blocks are held are put around the center cage of the tank, forming a wall. By using the fuel as a shield, the inner components of the tanks are completely immune to hostile fire, as no weapon to date has been able to melt through eternium. The defense platform at the top is made of a heat resistant material, but is brittle to actual impacts. Its designed to at least resist a few shots from a APP Rifle before failing and giving way, allowing the men on top at least acceptably better protection. Sadly all this weight and extra fuel used to form the wall makes the engines heat up quickly over use. The tanks can only operate from 1-2 hours before needing to have the fuel cells cycled to maintain acceptably efficient energy usage.

Gracia walks with Jamard as he paces around the edge of the mound the tanks are sitting on.

“Somethings not right. This place is dead… even for a swamp. No mosquitoes, no muck fish… nothing. We've been going for a full hour and we haven't seen a single trace of life...” Jamard continues to pace as his men work to quickly exchange the fuel cells in the engines.

Rattle rattle

Jamard's head turns on a swivel when he hears a bush shake violently nearby.

“Battle stations!” Jamard barks out.

He dashes towards the lead tank, grabbing Gracia and almost dragging her with him as she stumbles to keep up. In less than 10 seconds the entire expedition is mounted up on their tanks, their guns aimed in all directions.

The air gets thin, the light fog that had permeated the entire swamp up until now vanishes, as if sucked from existence. A light breeze then blows across the swamp, coming from the center of it.

Jamard silently picks up Gracia's weapon and loads it, then hands it to her. Several seconds pass in complete silence, no one making a sound, all eyes searching for movement. A minute passes… two minutes… three…

“Stand down.” Jamard finally says, letting out a held breath.

The tension in the air unwinds as everyone puts their guns back where they were sitting.

He looks over to his left to talk to his second in command and gives an assertive nod. He nods back and opens the hatch to his tank, and starts talking to the tank commander.

“Everyone stay on alert until further notice, we are taking 2 tanks to investigate the disturbance.” Jamard says.

Without another word, Jamard's tank and the tank on his right start driving in the direction the bush is.

“Why are we going out with only two tanks? Doesn't this seem like a trap?” One of Jamard's men says.

“To poke the nest.” Jamard says confidently.

The two tanks move on through the swamp, until they loose sight of the other tanks.

“Start circling around the base for 10 minutes, then head back. Lets see if we can get a response.” Jamard orders as he sets himself up on one of the parapets.

The tanks circle the base 3 times, yet not a single sign of movement is found. Frustrated at the lack of anything worth noting, Jamard gives the order to return to the rest of the expedition. Upon finally reuniting with the rest of the squad, he orders a short break before commencing the second half of the operation.

As he rests his gun against the parapet he take a second to check on Gracia. To his relief she seems to be calm. He hopes that maybe seeing this is what she needed to move on and be able to start again.

“I gotsa your ration communder. Just upened it up from the bag!” Bargel says, handing a plate of rations to Jamard.

Jamard turns and reaches up to grab the plate from Bargel. “Thanks Bargel, go ahead and hand out the rations to everyone, we're going to rap up this operation soon.” Jamard says with a grin. He looks over to Gracia to explain to her that the operation is ending soon, when he catches something.

She isn't just calm… no… she's looking around… actively. She's scanning the swamp, but its not a panicked feared search like when they entered. No… she's LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. She knows what she's looking for. He looks at her arms and he nearly drops the plate from his hand.

She still has that rifle, loaded and ready to fire. A horrible feeling dives into his gut. Was he wrong this whole time? Did she really trick him into believing she was a survivor of these attacks? Had she tricked him into leading these weapons all the way here, into a swamp where an ambush would have been all to easy? He quietly lays his plate down and opens his mouth to speak.

“Gra…!” He stops as he watches her raise her gun quickly.

His instincts kick in from years of war, he grabs his gun, and starts bring it up to eye level, aimed at her head.

In his mind every action he had done in the past week are brought back to him.

Every tear that fell from her eyes.

Every fall when she almost gave up.

Every single time she looked like she was about to break..

Was it all a lie? A ruse to trick him and his men out here today?

What was she aiming at? One of his men? At a signal to initiate an ambush?

Dozens of questions rush through his mind as his gun slowly raises up to face her.

If she fires… does he shoot her? Does he capture her?

What if she's not lying… what if she sees something he doesn't?

He has no time to contemplate any of these questions. He has to take action now, or risk the lives of his men.

He closes his eyes as his gun levels at her head. His grip tightens.

'I'm sorry.'

BANG