One of my writings [ Scorched Earth ]

[Sesetsu]

Warning scenes within this story are graphic and violent. Some may even be disturbing to some so please read at your own discretion. This is also unfinished and it its crudest form any comments will be appreciated. This is also one of the shortest I am currently working on.

Scorched Earth: Soldier of the sands

The World

The sound of gunfire crackles in the distance as round after round is fired. Large plumes of smoke rise high in the sky staining the clouds. The city was a battlefield the sound of gunfire more common then even talk. It was a large city situated in the middle of a large desert. Its buildings short hugging to the earth constructed mainly of mud brick but some of concrete. Many have fallen victim to the battle there walls peppered with holes or there roofs caved in. Many had whole walls removed along with sections of there roofs. A loud thunderous boom is heard over the gunfire and another building is clamed. The large shell striking its side and a massive explosion consuming it shortly after. This city had always been a battlefield the sound of gunfire was nothing new. This war had been raging for years now with no end in sight. Some would say there where no longer sides but merely soldiers living out there lives fighting knowing it was all they had left. They clung to the battle field like a child to a teddy bear or blanket the one thing left sustaining there sanity.

A young boy maybe about sixteen runs through the streets. he wore lose fitting cloths like that you would expect to see in the desert. The light colored robes hung lose around his body his long dark hair hung down hiding his eyes. In his hands he held a rifle as he ran hugging it tightly against his chest. This too was a sight all too common in this world scorched by the flames of war. The rifle was what you would expect an AK-47 or at least one of its many variants or successors. It was one of the cheapest and easiest to acquire weapons. The boy ran as fast as he could his feet barely making contact with the ground. He kicked up very little dust as he ran through the many alleys and streets. For a city filled with battle not a soul was around him as he ran. Although there was none around him living bodies littered the streets. The light sand stained dark with the blood of those dead and dying. Worn out the boy stops to catch his breath looking around him frantically searching for any sign of movement.

A loud crash of metal could be heard as a nearby building blow apart. The bricks that once formed its walls flew through the air many chipped or shattered. The more visually imposing object the one that drew more attention then the flying bricks stand just on the other side of them. A large humanoid like machine stood where the building had been only a moment before. It stood atop two large metal legs that pressed hard against the ground bearing the machines great weight. The screech of metal on metal could be heard as the large machine tried to move about. It's large bulky top shifted and turned its top was a large block of steel many antennas and other gear protruded from it. Its two arms where only half as long as its legs as it stood nearly fifty feet in the air. Its arms did not resemble that of a humans but more of a gun its large circular casing had only one hole and that was its barrel. Such a massive gun that when you looked down the barrel you could easily see the grooves cut within it. You could run your hand down the gaps of steel that round about the barrels inside. Although impressive in its own it was not the steel monsters only weapon. A large multi barreled gun took its place on the front hanging down from its main body. It sat just ahead of its legs and swiveled back and forth as it searched for a target.

A near constant thunder could be heard as copper shells fell from the weapon like rain. The rounds where fired at such a rate one couldn't make out one shots sound from another. The rounds passed high over the teenage soldier colliding with an unseen target with loud metallic sounds. Another loud thunderous boom shook the building as a large weapon is fired off in the distance. Within a moment of the first boom a second much louder one sounded just ahead of the young soldier. He stood watching what was happening high above him in shock. The front of the giant steel monster is consumed with fire as a large shell collides with its hull. As the smoke and flames dissipate a large hole is seen in the beast’s armor. Sparks shower down from the wounded machine as it struggles to turn and face its enemy. The walls of the newly formed hole glows so intensely from the heat of the impact it could even be seen in the middle of the day. Another burst from the multi barreled gun is let out the shells crashing down on the nearby buildings. Another explosion and the once imposing appearance of the giant machine is shattered as it stumbles back falling to its side.

It comes down with an even more earth shattering sound as it flattens several buildings as it lands. A fountain of sparks is seen from the second hole before a massive explosion consumes it and the nearby buildings. Large pieces of steel rain down on the city blobs of molten steel splatter onto nearby buildings scorching there surface. The shock quickly disputes from the young soldier as gunfire erupts behind him and bullets landing around him. Sprinting to the side the boy heads off onto a side street. The air is filled with dust both from the wind and the battle. A swift wind blows pushing the painful sand across the boys face. He flinches against the wind as he runs. The path grew narrow as he went to a point where only one could pass through such a street at a time. The sweat dripped down from his face as he ran his breathing labored as he went. If not for the battle one may even be able to hear his heart beating against his chest as he raced through the streets. Ducking into a small indent in the wall he waited breathing heavily. He sat there for a few seconds as the distant footsteps grew closer.

In one fluent movement the boy stepped out from the wall firing down the alley as he ducked into a hole on the other side. His pursuers return fire the bullets shipping away at the wall between them. His pursuers where two men dressed nearly just like him but there robes where of a darker color there faces covered by there hoods. Waiting for a second the boy waited for the right moment to strike. The bullets stop as the cloaked men must reload the boy jumps from his cover and opens fire. A few cries of pain are heard as the boy empties the rest of his mag on them. The men fall to the ground with there rifles still in hand. There was a few sounds but there where to low to hear as the men bled out. There robes had many holes in there front from the rounds that had passed through them. The boy lets out a sigh of relief as he carefully makes his way over to the bodies. Reaching over to one of them he empties his pockets taking the two mags he finds. Searching the other body he finds nothing and returned to his path. Hitting the mag release he drops the empty mag from his rifle replacing it with one of the ones he got from the body.

The mag hit the ground with a metallic clang as he shoved the new one into the receiver. Cocking the rifle he slowly started back down the alley his breathing now more labored then before. As he sucked the air into his lungs the sweat soaked his collar. Reaching the end of the alley he goes to turn but is surprised by another ambush. Another cloaked man lunges toward him pushing the boys rifle to the side. The boy squeezed the trigger but the rounds landed harmlessly in the wall of the alley. The man drew a handgun from within he cloak and brought it up. Squeezing the trigger once he disables the boy sending a bullet through his elbow. Small flakes of bone could be seen on the surface of the wound as the boy cried out in pain. Stumbling back he fell against the wall. The boy slides down the wall his eyes full of tears as he looks up at his attacker. The man levels the gun with the kids head and stands there for a second. In that time the battlefield seemed to fade away the gunshots only a distant memory. All was silent and peaceful for that one second of horror for the boy. But that silence was short lived as the crackle of gunfire returned with the squeeze of the trigger. The blood splattered the wall the boy had leaned against. The blood began to pool under the boy as the man turned and made his way to his next target. This too was a sight common in this world where war was all that was left where fighting was the only thing many could do.

The year is 2023 and the world has become a battlefield. For that last eight years the world has been consumed by war. Many would say that the fighting is all that’s left but some say it will pass with time. It started nearly twenty years ago when the world realized how limited oil really was. Back then funding for new forms of energy wasn’t as much as many thought would be needed. Seven years later wars where fought over oil but they were minor but yet tensions grew. The middle east turned on even its self grabbing at each others oil. Powered by greed many counties took advantage of this sending in there own armed forces. Claiming the be on a peace keeping mission many of the worlds great powers took control of the oil. This lasted for nearly a year before the middle eastern counties revolted. Under the guidance of one of the many religious leaders a rebellion was formed. At first they acted as many in the past using indirect attacks and hit and run tactics to wear down the great powers. Soon after marshal law was implemented in the entire middle east. Civil unrest erupted and riots filled the streets in protest to the action.

While the situation in the middle east degraded a much graver problem began to rise. While many thought global warming would bring floods and powerful storms the complete opposite was happening deserts began to grow. They had always been growing but they began growing faster year by year. Global temperatures continued to rise as the great powers of the world continue burning through the last remaining oil. Air quality continues to drop in many countries as the old and young begin to suffer. In some countries like china epidemics spread due to the extreme conditions in some areas. Droughts in Africa destroys the small amount of food they are able to produce. The death toll spikes with a two hundred and fifty percent increase in deaths. By 2011 civil war breaks out in the middle east as its people reach there limit. The major powers of the world increase there arms forces trying to keep control over the oil.

Oil becomes more and more valuable as it starts to run out. Many countries have hit a critical point there economies crashing from a lack of oil to support it. In 2013 the major powers declare war on the middle east taking the last of the oil by force leaving them with nothing. Many other countries seeking favor with the middle east side with them for the promise of oil in the end.

2015 all the major faction meet in one massive battle as the allied forces attempt to defend the oil they have taken. The first major battle of the new age ends in nothing but a massacre. A small nuclear device is detonated as the allies lose control of the oil pumps. The blast destroys what’s left of the oil fields killing off thousands of people. Open war is declared between them as the battle spreads all around the world. Even in the shadow of such things global warming still hangs in the minds of many. The growth of deserts in the past years have been dramatic and continues to grow. By early estimations the world will become a desert within the next five years. Droughts wreak havoc on the many factions as civil unrest grows. Food supplies become limited as the world heads into another major crisis. Even among the flames of war the problem with the planet is evident.

2017 Many countries now rely on there armed forces to keep control. Civil unrest threatens to throw the whole world into anarchy. Even as food is limited and civil unrest plagues them nearly all the factions continue with the war. By now the massive walking tanks known as HMVs or Humanoid Multipurpose Vehicles have appeared on the battle field. They where created for both the shock they made on the battle field and to replace the basic battle tank. There use of two legs allowed them to move where tanks could not and made them more maneuverable in tight places. There sizes range from nine feet to nearly sixty feet tall. There are many uses for them from moving materials to combat. There heavily armored legs and hull made them more then able to take a few hits. Due to there design they cold use armor much thinker then any normal tank and became more common then them as time passed.

2019 As the last bits of power fade from the many once great nations governments fade away. Discarded by the people governments no longer exist seen as unnecessary and the cause of the war. As scientists predicted much of the world has been consumed by the deserts. Even as the world lies in such a state the sound of combat never fades away. Remnants of the governments or at least there once great armies continue to clash in the sands. Groups of people come together trying to make a living in the sands forming small settlements.

2020 The settlements begin to grow as they scavenge of the corpse of the last great age. Many adopt some form of self government but without any real center of power. Some adapt scavenging parts and materials from the wasteland that has become the world as a way of living. Many of the larger cities have been abandoned due to the intense fighting that had been carried out within them. While some are avoided due to former soldiers using them as bases in order to raid nearby settlements.

2022 The once barren wastelands are full of life. Settlements dot the sands all across the world. Many larger ones form governments to keep control and the world begins anew. Major corporations that hid themselves away when the war started reappeared. They helped rebuild with the massive amount of resources they hid away before the war. Soon the world was split again between three major corporations seeking to control the new world. With there power and influence they forced the settlements into armed confrontations over the few resources left. Even so many settlements have chosen to stay neutral and others banded together for there own protection. Progress has never stopped even with the war and everything that followed. Human kind continued to push on developing new technologies or adapting old ones. Even though the last war still scars the land even weapon technologies are being produced for the new age.

2023 and not much has changed over the past year. The three factions still argue over the few resources but nothing too major has happened for a while. Every so often a settlement would be attacked sometimes the attackers succeeded and sometimes not. Death still claimed many father, mother, son, daughter many died as people fought over what was left. Many fight to defend themselves others out of greed and even some just for the fight. Day after day life goes on in this world and people continue going on any way they can.

Chapter one: The Trial

The year is 2025 two more years into mans grim future. One of the last soldiers of the people stands trial for his so called crimes.

It was a large room but the light fell to darkness long before reaching the walls. A single light high above placed a small circle of light within the darkness. In that circle stood a young man bound by chains. He looked to be about twenty but his eyes where that of one who had lived much longer. They sat like rocks the look of ones youth and hope was long gone from his eyes. He stood around five foot seven his body covered by a tattered cloak. All that could be seen from the cloak was his extended hands and the heavy metal cuffs that bound them. His hair was a worn black it was long yet weightless and hung lightly in front of his face. It was without grooming but still it sat neatly upon his head. His skin had a light tan and had become coarse from the relentless sands. His hands worn from battle and the tight gripping of weapons and controls as he laid in wait. The cloak that covered his body was thin and light but its color dark near black but still looked like brown . Burns, cuts, bullet holes and stains dotted across the cloak its edges ragged and worn. This look was that of a broken soldier one who had fought for those around him but in the end lost everything.

There was a loud click as the hum of electricity filled the room for a moment. Several more lights high above had come to life. They lit a large stand that sat fifth teen feet or so in the air. It was about twenty feet from where the young man stood. The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the darkness. Several men stepped out from the darkness high above him. They all wore heavy robes there faces ravaged by the signs of aging. They made there way across the stand until finely taking seats at its center. They looked down at the young man for a few seconds as if surprised by his appearance. There where three of them that sat at the stand. All of them look similar with only slight differences . They where all a bit on the hefty side which was only made worse with there heavy robes. There faces covered by wrinkles and spots there hair a bright white. There robes a vivid blue tailored and cleaned to the highest degree.

“To think one mere boy could have done so much damage” The man in the center speaks his voice ragged and worn from age. “In the end we found that his family was killed along with most of his town on one of the raids we did on Futech last year” The two on the sides raised there eye brows in interest in the short story. “For that year he set out and became a mercenary and was quite good at it” The two sat back in there seats as they listened. “So what is his name? I’m sure you know since you know everything else about him” The man on the left had asked as he rested in his chair. “Yes his name is Cluesev but he is better known as Cluesev the long shot by the mercenaries and civilians of the sands” The center man pulled a large folder from his robes and set it down in front of him. “He is known by this name due to a shot he made a few months ago I believe you all know what it was, the shot that claimed the life of one of us brining us down to the mere three we are” The man pulled from the folder several papers he then ran his fingers down them reading there contents. “His longest known shot was nine and a half kilometers made from within his HMV that was the one that hit the refinery last week it struck the main line causing a major fire that spread throughout the facility destroying it completely”

The young man laughed as they talked amongst them selves. His voice unlike his appearance was crisp and powerful. “You think it will end with me!?! you think I’m the only one who believes that this is wrong!! You think you can just throw away peoples lives like there nothing as long as you get what you want, So… so many have died because of you so many have fallen on the battle field in your name and yet you pay no head to the cries of those left behind the pain of those left to pick up the pieces and carry on!! And even then you take what you want you… you…” The chains rattled as he took a step toward the men. The chains tightened as the link connected to the chains binding him to the ground reached its limit. “You took everything from me from all who fight beside me you took every last bit from them and in the end I gave you what you wanted and still… still…” The young mans voice trembled as he spoke his anger and sorrow bubbling to the surface. “You took there lives the only thing they had left the only thing they had been left with after the things they had been forced to go through, you… you people aren’t human no one with a heart could do such things and in the end send some to death for your own satisfaction I won’t let you get away with this I won’t let you burn away what’s left of this world!”As much as he wanted to fight as much as he wanted to charge them his arms and legs sat motionless bound by chains. The chains between his arms swayed back and forth as he stood glaring at the men high above him. The man in the center leaned forward resting his arms on the counter in front of him. “There may be others but with your death will bring a great blow to them both physically and mentally and even better so if we can convince you to tell us where all your friends are hiding’’ A smile creeped its way across the young mans face as he erupted in laughter. The men stood and began making there way back into the darkness. Soon after they left the room through an unseen doorway the platform once again went dark. The light in the center of the room dimmed the darkness stopped only just before consuming the man. Still laughing he fell to his knees the chains rattled loudly as he dropped to the ground. “Sorry Jess I won’t be keeping my promise after all”

[Sesetsu]

Apparently there's to many students for all the creative writing classes so those who applied for it have to bring something in. I was thinking of bringing this in through I haven't gotten to far into it so I was just wondering what you guys think of it any comments would be appreciated.

Edit: Rereading it myself and since I haven't posted the next chapter yet it may cause some confusion but the Trail happens two years after the beginning of the story and sets an image of what the future holds for the main character. I will be adding the next chapter soon just have to finish it.

[KiraRin]

If you want some creative criticism (please don't take this personally), you need to double check all of your punctuation:

The city was a battlefield , the sound of gunfire more common then even talk.

There are a few more, but I'm not editing the entire chapter :p

Also,in creative writing, try not to use the same words so much in the same paragraph. Especially at the start of sentences. It kind of interrupts the flow for the reader:

Many have fallen victim to the battle there walls peppered with holes or there roofs caved in. Many had whole walls removed along with sections of there roofs.

Also, double check some of the spelling:

there = their
clamed = claimed
where = were
there = their
battle field = battlefield
there = their
(from the first paragraph).

Otherwise, I really like the ideas in there, you just need to work on the flow and tidy up the mistakes, as they are quite distracting at the moment.

H.

[Sesetsu]

Thank you and I don't take it personally I have a tendency to ignore such things while I'm writing but I intend on fixing them before handing it in. I'll do r run through before posting the next chapter.

[Sesetsu]

Most that I have written really late and at many times right before passing out so please ignore my horrible grammar and such.


The World


The sound of gunfire crackles in the distance as round after round is fired. Large plumes of smoke rise high into the sky staining the clouds. The city was a battlefield the sound of gunfire more common then even talk. It was a large city situated in the middle of a large desert. Its buildings short hugging to the earth constructed mainly of mud brick but some of concrete. Many have fallen victim to the battle their walls peppered with holes or their roofs caved in. Some had whole walls removed along with sections of their roofs. A loud thunderous boom is heard over the gunfire and another building is claimed. The large shell striking its side, and a massive explosion consuming it shortly after. This city had always been a battlefield the sound of gunfire was nothing new. This war had been raging for years now with no end in sight. Some would say there where no longer sides but merely soldiers living out there lives fighting knowing it was all they had left. They clung to the battle field like a child to a teddy bear or blanket the one thing left sustaining there sanity.

A young boy maybe about sixteen runs through the streets. He wore lose fitting cloths like that you would expect to see in the desert. The light colored robes hung lose around his body his long dark hair hung down hiding his eyes. In his hands he held a rifle as he ran hugging it tightly against his chest. This too was a sight all too common in this world scorched by the flames of war. The rifle was what you would expect an AK-47 or at least one of its many variants or successors. It was one of the cheapest and easiest to acquire weapons. The boy ran as fast as he could his feet barely making contact with the ground. He kicked up very little dust as he ran through the many alleys and streets. For a city filled with battle not a soul was around him as he ran. Although there was none around him living bodies littered the streets. The light sand stained dark with the blood of those dead and dying. Worn out the boy stops to catch his breath looking around him frantically searching for any sign of movement.

A loud crash of metal could be heard as a nearby building blow apart. The bricks that once formed its walls flew through the air many chipped or shattered. The more visually imposing object the one that drew more attention then the flying bricks stand just on the other side of them. A large humanoid like machine stood where the building had been only a moment before. It stood atop two large metal legs that pressed hard against the ground bearing the machines great weight. The screech of metal on metal could be heard as the large machine tried to move about. It's large bulky top shifted and turned its top was a large block of steel many antennas and other gear protruded from it. Its two arms where only half as long as its legs as it stood nearly fifty feet in the air. Its arms did not resemble that of a humans but more of a gun its large circular casing had only one hole and that was its barrel. Such a massive gun that when you looked down the barrel you could easily see the grooves cut within it. You could run your hand down the gaps of steel that round about the barrels inside. Although impressive in its own it was not the steel monsters only weapon. A large multi barreled gun took its place on the front hanging down from its main body. It sat just ahead of its legs and swiveled back and forth as it searched for a target.

A near constant thunder could be heard as copper shells fell from the weapon like rain. The rounds where fired at such a rate one couldn't make out one shots sound from another. The rounds passed high over the teenage soldier colliding with an unseen target with loud metallic sounds. Another loud thunderous boom shook the building as a large weapon is fired off in the distance. Within a moment of the first boom a second much louder one sounded just ahead of the young soldier. He stood watching what was happening high above him in shock. The front of the giant steel monster is consumed with fire as a large shell collides with its hull. As the smoke and flames dissipate a large hole is seen in the beast’s armor. Sparks shower down from the wounded machine as it struggles to turn and face its enemy. The walls of the newly formed hole glows so intensely from the heat of the impact it could even be seen in the middle of the day. Another burst from the multi barreled gun is let out the shells crashing down on the nearby buildings. Another explosion and the once imposing appearance of the giant machine is shattered as it stumbles back falling to its side.

It comes down with an even more earth shattering sound as it flattens several buildings as it lands. A fountain of sparks is seen from the second hole before a massive explosion consumes it and the nearby buildings. Large pieces of steel rain down on the city blobs of molten steel splatter onto nearby buildings scorching there surface. The shock quickly disputes from the young soldier as gunfire erupts behind him and bullets landing around him. Sprinting to the side the boy heads off onto a side street. The air is filled with dust both from the wind and the battle. A swift wind blows pushing the painful sand across the boys face. He flinches against the wind as he runs. The path grew narrow as he went to a point where only one could pass through such a street at a time. The sweat dripped down from his face as he ran his breathing labored as he went. If not for the battle one may even be able to hear his heart beating against his chest as he raced through the streets. Ducking into a small indent in the wall he waited breathing heavily. He sat there for a few seconds as the distant footsteps grew closer.

In one fluent movement the boy stepped out from the wall firing down the alley as he ducked into a hole on the other side. His pursuers return fire the bullets chipping away at the wall between them. His pursuers where two men dressed nearly just like him but there robes where of a darker color there faces covered by there hoods. Waiting for a second the boy waited for the right moment to strike. The bullets stop as the cloaked men must reload the boy jumps from his cover and opens fire. A few cries of pain are heard as the boy empties the rest of his mag on them. The men fall to the ground with there rifles still in hand. There was a few sounds but there where to low to hear as the men bled out. There robes had many holes in there front from the rounds that had passed through them. The boy lets out a sigh of relief as he carefully makes his way over to the bodies. Reaching over to one of them he empties his pockets taking the two mags he finds. Searching the other body he finds nothing and returned to his path. Hitting the mag release he drops the empty mag from his rifle replacing it with one of the ones he got from the body.

The mag hit the ground with a metallic clang as he shoved the new one into the receiver. Cocking the rifle he slowly started back down the alley his breathing now more labored then before. As he sucked the air into his lungs the sweat soaked his collar. Reaching the end of the alley he goes to turn but is surprised by another ambush. Another cloaked man lunges toward him pushing the boys rifle to the side. The boy squeezed the trigger but the rounds landed harmlessly in the wall of the alley. The man drew a handgun from within he cloak and brought it up. Squeezing the trigger once he disables the boy sending a bullet through his elbow. Small flakes of bone could be seen on the surface of the wound as the boy cried out in pain. Stumbling back he fell against the wall. The boy slides down the wall his eyes full of tears as he looks up at his attacker. The man levels the gun with the kids head and stands there for a second. In that time the battlefield seemed to fade away the gunshots only a distant memory. All was silent and peaceful for that one second of horror for the boy, but that silence was short lived as the crackle of gunfire returned with the squeeze of the trigger. The blood splattered the wall the boy had leaned against. The blood began to pool under the boy as the man turned and made his way to his next target. This too was a sight common in this world where war was all that was left where fighting was the only thing many could do.


The year is 2023 and the world has become a battlefield. For that last eight years the world has been consumed by war. Many would say that the fighting is all that’s left but some say it will pass with time. It started nearly twenty years ago when the world realized how limited oil really was. Back then funding for new forms of energy wasn’t as much as many thought would be needed. Seven years later wars where fought over oil but they were minor but yet tensions grew. The middle east turned on even its self grabbing at each others oil. Powered by greed many counties took advantage of this sending in there own armed forces. Claiming to be on a peace keeping mission many of the worlds great powers took control of the oil. This lasted for nearly a year before the middle eastern counties revolted. Under the guidance of one of the many religious leaders a rebellion was formed. At first they acted as many in the past using indirect attacks and hit and run tactics to wear down the great powers. Soon after marshal law was implemented in the entire middle east. Civil unrest erupted and riots filled the streets in protest to the action.

While the situation in the middle east degraded a much graver problem began to rise. While many thought global warming would bring floods and powerful storms the complete opposite was happening deserts began to grow. They had always been growing but they began growing faster year by year. Global temperatures continued to rise as the great powers of the world continue burning through the last remaining oil. Air quality continues to drop in many countries as the old and young begin to suffer. In some countries like china epidemics spread due to the extreme conditions in some areas. Droughts in Africa destroys the small amount of food they are able to produce. The death toll spikes with a two hundred and fifty percent increase in deaths. By 2011 civil war breaks out in the middle east as its people reach there limit. The major powers of the world increase there armed forces trying to keep control over the oil.

Oil becomes more and more valuable as it starts to run out. Many countries have hit a critical point there economies crashing from a lack of oil to support it. In 2013 the major powers declare war on the middle east taking the last of the oil by force leaving them with nothing. Many other countries seeking favor with the middle east side with them for the promise of oil in the end. 2015 all the major faction meet in one massive battle as the allied forces attempt to defend the oil they have taken. The first major battle of the new age ends in nothing but a massacre. A small nuclear device is detonated as the allies lose control of the oil pumps. The blast destroys what’s left of the oil fields killing off thousands of people. Open war is declared between them as the battle spreads all around the world. Even in the shadow of such things global warming still hangs in the minds of many. The growth of deserts in the past years have been dramatic and continues to grow. By early estimations the world will become a desert within the next five years. Droughts wreak havoc on the many factions as civil unrest grows. Food supplies become limited as the world heads into another major crisis. Even among the flames of war the problem with the planet is evident.

2017 Many countries now rely on there armed forces to keep control. Civil unrest threatens to throw the whole world into anarchy. Even as food is limited and civil unrest plagues them nearly all the factions continue with the war. By now the massive walking tanks known as HMVs or Humanoid Multipurpose Vehicles have appeared on the battle field. They where created for both the shock they made on the battle field and to replace the basic battle tank. There use of two legs allowed them to move where tanks could not and made them more maneuverable in tight places. There sizes range from nine feet to nearly sixty feet tall. There are many uses for them from moving materials to combat. There heavily armored legs and hull made them more then able to take a few hits. Due to there design they could use armor much thinker then any normal tank and became more common then them as time passed.

2019 As the last bits of power fade from the many once great nations governments fade away. Discarded by the people governments no longer exist seen as unnecessary and the cause of the war. As scientists predicted much of the world has been consumed by the deserts. Even as the world lies in such a state the sound of combat never fades away. Remnants of the governments or at least there once great armies continue to clash in the sands. Groups of people come together trying to make a living in the sands forming small settlements.

2020 The settlements begin to grow as they scavenge of the corpse of the last great age. Many adopt some form of self government but without any real center of power. Some adapt scavenging parts and materials from the wasteland that has become the world as a way of living. Many of the larger cities have been abandoned due to the intense fighting that had been carried out within them. While some are avoided due to former soldiers using them as bases in order to raid nearby settlements.

2022 The once barren wastelands are full of life. Settlements dot the sands all across the world. Many larger ones form governments to keep control and the world begins anew. Major corporations that hid themselves away when the war started reappeared. They helped rebuild with the massive amount of resources they hid away before the war. Soon the world was split again between three major corporations seeking to control the new world. With there power and influence they forced the settlements into armed confrontations over the few resources left. Even so many settlements have chosen to stay neutral and others banded together for there own protection. Progress has never stopped even with the war and everything that followed. Human kind continued to push on developing new technologies or adapting old ones. Even though the last war still scars the land even weapon technologies are being produced for the new age.

2023 and not much has changed over the past year. The three factions still argue over the few resources but nothing too major has happened for a while. Every so often a settlement would be attacked sometimes the attackers succeeded and sometimes not. Death still claimed many father, mother, son, daughter many died as people fought over what was left. Many fight to defend themselves others out of greed and even some just for the fight. Day after day life goes on in this world and people continue going on any way they can.






Chapter One: The Trial

The year is 2025 two more years into mans grim future. One of the last soldiers of the people stands trial for his so called crimes.

It was a large room but the light fell to darkness long before reaching the walls. A single light high above placed a small circle of light within the darkness. In that circle stood a young man bound by chains. He looked to be about twenty but his eyes where that of one who had lived much longer. They sat like rocks the look of ones youth and hope was long gone from his eyes. He stood around five foot seven his body covered by a tattered cloak. All that could be seen from the cloak was his extended hands and the heavy metal cuffs that bound them. His hair was a worn black it was long yet weightless and hung lightly in front of his face. It was without grooming but still it sat neatly upon his head. His skin had a light tan and had become coarse from the relentless sands. His hands worn from battle and the tight gripping of weapons and controls as he laid in wait. The cloak that covered his body was thin and light but its color dark near black but still looked like brown . Burns, cuts, bullet holes and stains dotted across the cloak its edges ragged and worn. This look was that of a broken soldier one who had fought for those around him but in the end lost everything.

There was a loud click as the hum of electricity filled the room for a moment. Several more lights high above had come to life. They lit a large stand that sat fifth teen feet or so in the air. It was about twenty feet from where the young man stood. The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the darkness. Several men stepped out from the darkness high above him. They all wore heavy robes there faces ravaged by the signs of aging. They made there way across the stand until finely taking seats at its center. They looked down at the young man for a few seconds as if surprised by his appearance. There where three of them that sat at the stand. All of them look similar with only slight differences . They where all a bit on the hefty side which was only made worse with there heavy robes. There faces covered by wrinkles and spots there hair a bright white. There robes a vivid blue tailored and cleaned to the highest degree.

“To think one mere boy could have done so much damage” The man in the center speaks his voice ragged and worn from age. “In the end we found that his family was killed along with most of his town on one of the raids we did on Futech last year” The two on the sides raised there eye brows in interest in the short story. “For that year he set out and became a mercenary and was quite good at it” The two sat back in there seats as they listened. “So what is his name? I’m sure you know since you know everything else about him” The man on the left had asked as he rested in his chair. “Yes his name is Cluesev but he is better known as Cluesev the long shot by the mercenaries and civilians of the sands” The center man pulled a large folder from his robes and set it down in front of him. “He is known by this name due to a shot he made a few months ago I believe you all know what it was, the shot that claimed the life of one of us brining us down to the mere three we are” The man pulled from the folder several papers he then ran his fingers down them reading there contents. “His longest known shot was nine and a half kilometers made from within his HMV that was the one that hit the refinery last week it struck the main line causing a major fire that spread throughout the facility destroying it completely”

The young man laughed as they talked amongst them selves. His voice unlike his appearance was crisp and powerful. “You think it will end with me!?! you think I’m the only one who believes that this is wrong!! You think you can just throw away peoples lives like there nothing as long as you get what you want, So… so many have died because of you so many have fallen on the battle field in your name and yet you pay no head to the cries of those left behind the pain of those left to pick up the pieces and carry on!! And even then you take what you want you… you…” The chains rattled as he took a step toward the men. The chains tightened as the link connected to the chains binding him to the ground reached its limit. “You took everything from me from all who fight beside me you took every last bit from them and in the end I gave you what you wanted and still… still…” The young mans voice trembled as he spoke his anger and sorrow bubbling to the surface. “You took there lives the only thing they had left the only thing they had been left with after the things they had been forced to go through, you… you people aren’t human no one with a heart could do such things and in the end send some to death for your own satisfaction I won’t let you get away with this I won’t let you burn away what’s left of this world!”As much as he wanted to fight as much as he wanted to charge them his arms and legs sat motionless bound by chains. The chains between his arms swayed back and forth as he stood glaring at the men high above him. The man in the center leaned forward resting his arms on the counter in front of him. “There may be others but with your death will bring a great blow to them both physically and mentally and even better so if we can convince you to tell us where all your friends are hiding’’ A smile creped its way across the young mans face as he erupted in laughter. The men stood and began making there way back into the darkness. Soon after they left the room through an unseen doorway the platform once again went dark. The light in the center of the room dimmed the darkness stopped only just before consuming the man. Still laughing he fell to his knees the chains rattled loudly as he dropped to the ground. “Sorry Jess I won’t be keeping my promise after all” The lights sat on only for a few more seconds as he looked up at them. Within that moment his world was once again plunged into darkness. “Everything will burn won’t it? just like he said it would, our hearts have long burned away from the hatred we have created and now all that remains are for our bodies to rot and turn to dust”






Chapter two: The Clay Fortress

The sun slowly began to rise over the large town and activity began to spread about its streets. It was a decent sized place and had probably one of the best positions in terms of economy and defense. It lay on the major cross roads between many of the larger cities and got its fair share of trade. For defense it was positioned on the side of a large rock outcropping that rose a few hundred meters into the air. It sat slightly inlet into the out cropping a large wall encompassing the outer section of the town. The walls and buildings where made mostly of mud bricks and other easily available building materials. The buildings ranged from small and stout to a decent size and height. The wall which shielded all that wasn’t by the outcropping was of similar construction.

Originally it was constructed to keep the sands at bay and to protect the city from sand storms but as the city grew it began to play a more important role. It formed the front line during attacks guards would scramble about the wall fighting off anything from bandits to the corporations. Attacks on the town became common but few ever did any real damage to the town until now.

The sun sat low in the sky behind the great rock outcropping the town sat even in the morning in the darkness. The shadow of the outcropping war far out past the walls but its size quickly shrunk as the sun continued higher into the sky. Already the day was hot and yet it has only just started the dark figures of the night guards slowly move about the walls. They wore dark heavy clothing to fend off the bitter cold of the desert nights. As they slowly made there way to the towers that dotted across the wall man with brighter lighter clothes replaced them. Along with small towers the walls where covered in weapons.

There where several recoilless rifles and two large gattling guns. The recoilless rifles sat on large bipods atop the walls the gattling guns both sat in large towers. The towers had thick walls much thicker then the others. Their tops had a large window like opening that went nearly entirely around the towers. In this gap of mud and stone sat the barrels of the steel beasts that guarded the town. One looked off at the distant dunes to the northwest as the other gazed across the barren waste of the southwest. The town was peaceful it was quite it was what many wanted what many desired and what some despised. Some hated the peace that was found in some places of the world some wanted to turn the whole world to ash. In this world stood few symbols of hope or serenity and the clay fortress that stood in the back of the town was one of them.

The walls stood to protect the hope created by the people and the fortress stood as the hope itself. It was inlet into the stone face of the outcropping standing high above the rest of the town. It was constructed of the heavier clay and sand that is found around the town. It was a dark red color in contrast to the dark gray of the stone. It was like one of the castles seen in the past the walls layering one atop another. Small towers shot out from the rock wall and hung high above the town. There where four layers of walls made of a mix of the dark clay and sections of stone. This fortress was the last resort for the people of the town in times of need. During attacks or bad sandstorms the people would retreat to the fortress for protection. It stood as the peoples greatest achievement there embodiment for there hope for the future. It also stood as a reminder to what the world was the pain and war that ragged across the globe. The mass of stone and clay reminded them that not to far off suffering was common along with it death.

As imposing as it was it was nothing compared to the noise of the town as the sun rose high above. Once in a while a group of people would appear in the distance one could see them long before they reached the town. They traveled slow and steadily to the town carrying with them the goods they wished to sale and trade. Traffic in and out of the town was pretty big for its not so big size. It was larger then many other towns but paled in comparison to many of the larger cities. Another thing that made it stand apart was its tightly packed buildings and organized construction. The town sat upon a grid work of dirt and stone road and pathways. The buildings constructed with the greatest of care to many it was like a paradise in the sands. As one drew close to the town they would see the large walls ahead of them as they approached. Soon they would see one of several of the great gate houses and the immense traffic in and out of them.

Large steel gates hung in the towers during the day allowing access into the city. During the night they where lowered by chains into place making a wall of steel and wood to keep out all who dared try to break in. As you got close you could make out the guards as they walked about the walls always looking out for any threats. As one passed through the gate house it would open into a large plaza like place where traders and venders traded their wares. The town itself had few exports of its own and made its way off the trade done within its walls. Traders and shipping companies would house in one of the towns many inns or spend their time in one of the bars as they passed through. The only thing the town had to its name was the small stone and heavy clay exports all else was made from the traders.

Beyond the colorful display of goods as one walked down one of the many streets they would find the many shops of the town. Small signs sat about outside the small shops colorful cloth flags hung down from the many bars that hung above the streets. Even farther into the town you would find the inns and the bars which would just as the markets and shops be filled with activity. Traders mercenaries and townsfolk alike quenched their thirsts in the bars and as the sun fell many would find refuge in one of the inns. For a town in nearly rivaled some of the smaller cities in terms of activity and profit. Even as many kinds of people from many different places gathered it was a peaceful place as people where to busy enjoying themselves to try and start any trouble. A little ways beyond the inn and bars sat the residents of the city and their homes.

This place was a place for refuge for the people it was one of the few places untouched by the grasp of the Organizations. Its good defensive position and the support of the people behind it the town remained neutral . It was like that for a few years no one really thought about the organizations within the town anymore they believed that they where perfectly protected from their corrupting reach. They believed peace was all that they had o think of. Even as the flames grew closer the people stayed ignorant to any thoughts or ideas of an attack. In the past they would not dare attacking but things where beginning to change something was happening. Outside the walls rumors had spread and the fear along with it.






Chapter Three: The New Guard

A young man lay motionless in his bed the room still dark as the light struggled to piece the dark cloth hung in the window. A light dust hung in the air as the mans heavy breathing filled the room with its only sound. The bed sat on the ground as only a mattress the man was nearly completely covered by blankets. His dark hair was all that was seen from the light and colorful blankets he laid in. Even as the sound outside grew he laid motionless still deep in sleep. The room was dimly lit from the light that dropped under the dark cloth onto the light colored floor. The room was small and nearly void of anything. A small scrap metal dresser sat in the corner next to it a pile of light cloaks. Next to the dresser and cloaks sat a Ak-105 its stamped steel a dark black color its stock a light weight plastic. Several mags and a box of ammo sat dumped across the floor the rounds spread about around the box and gun.

The sound of a creaking joint could be heard as the door on the far wall slowly opened. The bright light of the next room filtered in through the new opening a dark figure stood blocking much of it. The figure was lean built and seemed to be relativity young as well. The bright light from the next room made it difficult to make out who it was in the door way. Reaching down the figure grabbed the sleeping man and began to violently shake him. “ Ohh my god where under attack there’s fires and explosions everywhere!! Wake up damn it!! Where under attack!!!” The once lifeless body that sat sleeping in the bed sprung up from its laying position. With a sort of flail he tried to get up from the bed as his legs where entangled in the blankets falling to the ground with a loud thud. Soon after the room was filled with a loud laughter as the second person walked over pulling the cloth down from the window flooding the room with light.

Another young man who looked about eighteen or nineteen stood looking down on the hunched figure that sat on the floor. Rubbing his side the one sitting on the ground looked up at the one laughing. His hair was a light blond and was cut short falling only slightly down from his hair line. He was thin wire like his tight robes only furthered that appearance. They hugged tightly against his body revealing his small frame but he wasn’t short he stood about five foot ten. Even though he stood above him his appearance was far from intimidating his face spread wide with a smile that some would think impossible. “It looks like that did the trick you seem to be wide awake now” He continued to smile as he walked back over by the door. Standing in the door he turned back to the still sluggish moving figure that struggled to its feet. “You know for a guard candidate your pretty pitiful in the morning Cluesev what if we really where attacked? You would probably sleep through the whole thing without even knowing it”

Cluesev slowly got to his feet tossing the blankets to the side back onto the bed. The dust kicked up by the little commotion floated through the air made obvious by the light that it danced through. Cluesev stood a little shorter then the other at about five seven but his body was more rugged . His size was about average but his body looked more built but not more then you would expect. His stomach and his arms are still smooth but one could still see the power of which his muscles held. As he moved into the light it was easier to see him as he moved about gathering clothes. He was slim but built his skin had a rough like look but was smother then what one would think. His dark hair hung lightly down stopping just a little above his eyes. Grabbing a set of light robes he pulled them on searching through the pile of others. After a few seconds he found what he had been searching for pulling a light pair of boots from the pile. Sitting back down on the bed he pulled on the boots and began tying the laces .

After finishing with tying his boots he stood back up and looked back over at who was standing in his doorway. “You know Gale there are better ways of waking people up!” Cluesev glared over at Gale as he still smiled standing in his doorway. Gale just kept smiling as he turned and led the way out of the room. Turning Cluesev grabbed his rifle and several of the mags stuffing them into his robes. With a quick stride he left the room to catch up with Gale. His house was small his room opened up into a living room and kitchen the two where both in one large room. The many cabinets and food containers sat on one side of the room a small wood stove sat next to them tucked into the corner. A small table and cushions was what made his living room. Within a moment he had crossed the room and headed out his open front door. Sliding it shut he followed after Gale down the street. It was still early in the morning but the streets where as busy as any other day as people rushed about.

People walked about in all directions headed to and from the markets and inns. Some carried goods others strode by with nothing but they all had something to do as they went about. Holding the rifle close to him Cluesev made his way down the street catching up to Gale. “Hey Gale where’s your rifle?” Gale gave a quick glance back as he pushed his way through the crowd. “I’m having Lesh swap out the firing pin and rework the insides thing was shot after the practice op out in the desert last week.” The crowed slowly thinned as they made there way toward the true center of the town the town hall and the guards command and training center. “Well that’s what you get for using a M-4 I told you there a pain not only that but there expensive for the junk they are.” Gale didn’t try to argue he simple rocked his head a little back and forth. “Well I can hit my targets allot farther out then you!” Cluesev let out a small laugh as the crowds thinned to a point they no longer had to push their way through. “Ya that’s when and if it decides to fire that thing is nearly useless!”

“Well that’s why I have this!” Gale reached into his robe and wrapped his hand around the grip of his handgun. It was kept under his robes holstered on his side. With a quick yank the holster strap unclipped and he pulled the gun from his robe. It was a custom Berretta 9mm it had the barrel extended grip was replaced with a form fitting rubber one and the frame dilled out fro the lightest possible weight. The slide and breach had been reinforced the hammer and firing pin swapped out for heavier higher quality parts. In terms of sidearm’s it was probably the best one you would find around but it was still juts a side arm. The dark steel and rubber of the gun soaked up the sun and slowly woke from its cold slumber. “ya but your still screwed if anything really happens is that’s all you have.” Reluctantly giving in gale slid the gun back into its holster and clicked the strap back over it. They continued for a little longer before reaching a large starch white building.

The color came from the ground limestone from a small quarry that was a few miles out from the town. It had long stopped producing stone the guards command and training center one of the last building to be made using the stone from it. Pushing the heavy metal doors open Gale and Cluesev headed into the building shutting the door behind them. The floors where a patchwork of steel plates that went throughout the whole building. Several voices could be heard all about as classes where going on. The first years had to sit through endless classes and even the second years of the academy had nearly nothing but classes. Once you became a third year the real training began and by the end of that year it was decided whether or not you would be a guards men or what job within the town you would be given. The clang of steel was heard with every footstep made by the two as they made their way down the hallway. After passing nearly a dozen doors they headed into one of the classrooms.

It was filled with people from eighteen to nearly thirty most hoping to become guards men or anything that could help the town. Many came forward but not many assed the first two course and even less with the third years. Every one sat in chairs most of them in the very center of the room. Some talked ad whispered but my and Gale sat silently in our desks after crossing the room. The seats where far from soft as we sat waiting fro our instructor . Ours was a angry person he seemed pissed off at all times. It wasn’t whether or not we messed around he was simply angry. He was a enormous man he stood a little over six foot and was built he was a giant of a man. His hands had even taking from the rest of him he could grip your head in arm lock. Unlike like most of the other instructors he wore a tight fitting black vest with a Kevlar vest which only made his appearance even bigger. The man stepped into the room his feet falling heavy on the floor.
There’s a loud click for every step as he makes his way to the front of the room. It was a decent sized room it had one large table in the front of the room and a small raised platform for the instructor. Other then those two things along with the students and their chairs the room was barren. As the man reached the raising he looked over the class. Nodding to himself he pulled a paper from one of his pockets. He was a massive man his clothes where the same as the students and worked to hid the massive muscles underneath. The instructor stood nearly seven foot and his body was built heavy not that he was fat but just big in general. Reading from the paper he looked around the room as he spoke. “From class 3 from the third year course conclusion that four will be staring immediate duty as a guard five as assistant instructors and the rest will be part of the escort groups along with other jobs.” He paused and looked up at his students as they eagerly awaited their results. Looking back down at the paper and coughing into his hand the man continued readying. “The students Bella” One of the few girls in the class smiled as her name was called but suppressed the want to yell and jump. “Cluesev” Cluesev gave a small smile as he leaned back in his chair. “Gale” Gale had nearly the same response as Cluesev but his smile was much bigger. “and Steltzer are to report to command tomorrow as wall guards the guard captain for the wall will inform you of your area or patrol and your duties for now head out and down the hall for your certification”

“Now for the assistant instructors.” After looking around at the four he had just called out he returned to the paper in his hand. Just before a could begin reading off the names for the assistant instructors another man entered the room. He wore a light colored tight fitting jacket the front had several large pockets. Its color mixed perfectly with the light sandy walls of the room the same for his pants. He had a small similar colored hat that sat snug on his head hiding his short hair. He was worn looking is cloths rough from over use. He was slim and was actually rather small compared to the instructor at the front of the room. “Sorry about interrupting you Mr.Haller but its about the F.A.T.S I need two of your students.” Mr.Haller looked at the man in curiosity before placing the paper down on the table. “So it was finely started about time we need a larger defense umbrella, so you want two new recruits to fill some slots uhh let me see.” Scanning across the room then looking at the paper he quickly came to a conclusion. “Gale, Cluesev get up here” Confused Gale stumbled to his feet and made his way over to the two men in a panic. “Ye…Yes Sir?” Cluesev as confused as Gale stood up and calmly walked over to Haller and the man stopping by Gale’s side. His rifle hung to his side and made a few sounds as the metal clip that held the sling to the rifle shifted around.

“You two will be going with Lieutenant Greevs here” Cluesev gave the man another look over before speaking. “If I may ask what is the purpose of this Sir?” Mr.Haller frowned at him before turning back to the class. “It doesn’t matter you have your orders now do as your told or have you not been paying attention all this time?” Even though he wasn’t satisfied with the answer he stayed calm and simple turned back to the lieutenant . With a quick and near flawless movement he rose his hand to a salute “Privet Cluesev Balsher at your command” Gale gave a disgruntled face before following after Cluesevs lead. He raised his hand slowly to his head and with a lifeless voice copied Cluesev. “Privet Gale Thruler at your command” The two stood there for a moment before the man responded with his own salute. “Its nice to have you aboard we don’t have much time I’m afraid as this is pretty much last minute I need you to bring all the gear you have along with all your weapons and a good amount of ammunition for them meet me at the Northwest Gate”. He turned and without hesitating left the two behind as he rigidly walked out the door and around the corner. Gale and Cluesev sat for a moment before looking at each other then at their now infuriated instructor. “Who the hell dies he think he is coming in here like that!?! Just taking two students not even caring how much work its going to be rereading all these dimwits files to replace them!?!”

His face turned to a dark red as he tossed around a couple of papers and stomped about at the front of the class. With every word you could see the bits a spit that spewed out as he yelled. “And what the hell are you two still doing here get out of my class room!!” Gale stood rigid stunned by his sudden change of personality. Haller was normally a calm person but he hated when people gave him more work as he was usually overworked as it was. Without saying anything else Cluesev started out the door Gale close behind. “Well I’ll go pick up my M-4 and the rest of my gear I’ll so you there” Cluesev gave a small nod. “Ya I’ll go grab my stuff as well see you in a while” They made their way down the hall and back out into the bright streets of the town. With a small wave gale went off toward the shops nearly bumping into some one as he turned down a side street. With him disappearing from view Cluesev started heading back to his house.

He looked up at the bright clear blue sky as he slowly walked down the street. There where a few people in the street but it was no problem to avoid them even as he looked up. Taking a step to the side every so often to avoid a carless walker. It took him a while but he finely made it back to his house luckily the crowd of people that usually clog the streets was a bit thinner on his way back. There wasn’t much for him to grab from his house as he had on him most of his gear. Which was next to nothing compared to others like Gale. Making his way into his house he went around opening all the windows. Light flooded into the small space he called his home as he went around collecting things. Setting them on the table in the living room a small pile grew made of anything from a canteen to a compass, and gun maintenance tools. Going back into his room he started scooping up bullets and putting them back in their box. After filling the box he set it out on the table before returning to the room.

Grapping the side of his mattress that sat atop a his makeshift frame he flipped it over. The mattress sat leaning against the wall blocking the rooms window once again. The frame was a crisscross of boards with a small opening in the center. A small square sat in the center of the frame and within that square sat a metal box. It wasn’t that big but it wasn’t all that small reaching over Cluesev grab the handles that protruded from either side of the box. With a quick jerk the box came free of its spot as Cluesev carried it into the other room. Setting it down of the table he took a better look at the box. It was made from a light yet strong steel alloy although at first the metal would look easy to get through it was much stringer then normal steel. Its surface painted a dull grey other then the handles the only things marking its surface where its locks. A single key hole sat in the center of the front of the box two large clip locks sat then on either side. Cluesev ran his hand over the top of the box removing in a streak a think layer of dust. It was the size of about two or three cash boxes and about one and a half tall.

He let out a sigh as he looked back on his past or at least what he could remember of it. He was adopted four years ago by a merchant in the town but he can’t remember anything before then. It was all just a blank not even a single detail of before then could be remembered . All that he had then was this box and he didn’t even know what was in it. Even though he had the key his adoptive father was unable to open the box. He himself couldn’t open for every time he did he would be over come by some fear or merely be unable to make any progress in unlocking it his body just froze up. He had always wanted to know what was in it but for the past year he had given up entirely. After wiping his hands off on his robe he went back into his room. Taking off the robe he tossed it to the side and started searching through the pile once again. After a while he pulled out a extremely thin black long sleeve shirt. It was skin tight as he pulled it on it formed to his body. Once he was satisfied with the fit he found a really light weight robe its fabric nearly a thin as the shirt. Pulling that on he grabbed a cloak from the pile then returned to the other room.

Tossing the cloak on the table he went over toward the cabinets that dotted the far wall. Opening one of the cabinets he started rummaging through tossing out several military rations and finely a large backpack. Shoving the rations into one of the forward pockets he made his way over to the table. Picking up the metal container he set it in the back pocket of the pack. The pack was a large and black it had metal tubing on its back side to help the carrier support the weight of their gear. Other then the box only the cloak and a handful of other things would fit in the back pocket. After shoving the rest of the gear into the pack he headed back into his room. On the far wall in the corner where the light never reached sat a single peg in the wall. Upon that peg hung the key for the metal case. It was on a metal ball chain and for its age sat sparkling with the little amount of light it could muster. Taking it down he stared at the key for a moment in his hand before putting it on around his neck.

After shoving the ammo along with the rest of the gear into the other pockets of the pack he again left his house. After taking a quick look back at his house he continues down the street. The streets again where crowded with people rushing to and from the market. Some carried some kind of goods while others just trekked back and forth with money or orders. It took him nearly twenty minutes to make his way all the way to the east gate. Passing through the markets was the slowest part as it was densely packed into the large streets filled with venders. The streets from the markets toward the gate had plenty of traffic as well as people came and went. Stepping toward the large gatehouse and the wall Cluesev looked around. At the front of the gate was just a large clearing filled with people and guards. The people had to be checked at random taking one here or there for security. Although the town had no enemies one could never be to safe.

Looking around there was no way to tell where they where supposed to meet. After awhile Cluesev decided to try a rather large group of people standing next to the gate just to the side of the opening. Fighting his way through the crowed he made it to the people and looked around quickly picking out the Lieutenant . “Cluesev reporting for duty” After giving a quick salute he went back to a relaxed state looking around the group. “Alright now all we have to do is wait for that Gale kid” The Lieutenant reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. After pulling one out he quickly struck a match from his side raising to the cigarette at it lit. Taking a deep breath he placed the now lit cigarette in his mouth. Letting it loosely hang he exhaled the lungs worth of smoke. They sat for another few minutes in silence before Gale arrived. The silence part applying only to them as the commotion around them was plenty enough to dull ones sense of hearing. Gale struggled through the crowd just as Cluesev just with a bit more flailing as he struggled to drag his gear through the mass of people.

As gale stopped over to the group the lieutenant tossed the finished cigarette to the side. “All right then now that where all hear lets move out I’ll explain things after we get going” There was a some what group approval as we all followed as the Lieutenant led the way. After a few minutes of walking we adjusted our course a little farther north away from the town. “Alright as you should already know my names Lieutenant Greevs you are to call me Lieutenant or Sir I don’t want to hear any other name out of your mouths” The longer they walked the farther the town was and the smaller it looked. At this point it was easy to count those who where in the group. Before it was hard just to tell who was in the group but know only they remained. There where five of them excluding the Lieutenant. “All right now we will go off down the line sate your name and your tag then your specialties” A persons tag is like a nick name or an add-on to ones name that generalizes their field of expertise.

Unknowingly the group had formed a sort of line first of course being the Lieutenant. The second was a thin man he looked like a a stick wrapped in sandy robes he carried a AK-74 on his back it was a LMG version of the gun its uper receiver among other parts heavier and thicker then normal. For such a small man such a large gun seemed out of place but he carried it without any look of burden. With a even weaker sounding voice then his body he responded to the Lieutenant. “Mcgraph the patchier I’m a medic Sir and a decent shot squad support” The Lieutenant gave a slight nod of approval. “Next” Cluesev was the third in line and looked up from the ground to answer. “Cluesev the quick shot battlefield logistics, rapid target dispatchment medium range to close up as well as hand to hand combat Sir” Looking back the Lieutenant eyed Cluesev for a moment. “Its odd for some one of your age to get that kind of tag and that is an odd weapon for a quick shot, you guys usually go for dual handguns and SMGs if I’m not mistaken” Cluesev shifted the AK on his shoulder it sat slung over his left shoulder up against the side of the pack. “Its to much of a pain to reload two guns at once and an SMG has less control and stopping power then a rifle I like my choice of weapon Sir I assure you it won’t effect my performance “ Looking back ahead the Lieutenant found himself satisfied with his answer. “Well then next”

The group had made a good distance between them and the town. For a while they had been going uphill and now stood nearly level with the giant rock that protected half the town. The one behind Cluesev was another giant of a man he somewhat resembled his instructor if it wasn’t for his shining bald head and large mustache. The mans head lacked even a single hair yet he had a large bush mustache of thick dark hair that went a good inch or two out from the corners of his mouth. Him like all those before him and behind him he wore light colored robes yet unlike the other these looked large enough to kill some one with. The sheer weight of the clothing could probably cripple the small or weak within an instant yet he moved as if they where nothing. With each step his feet seemed to sink into the sand much farther then the others. His voice was much deeper then most peoples and seemed to vibrate all around him. “Anti Tank Trooper Sir names John specialties tanking out armor if the name was obvious enough” The Lieutenant gave a small laugh as they walked. “A bit cocky but I like you alright next” Gale was fourth in line he wore nearly the same as before given the pack and two guns he now carried. His M-4 hung on his right as a Dragonaove sniper rifle hung on his left. He had a similar pack to Cluesev but his was smaller and lighter. “Gale the long shot, specialty taking out targets before they even realize there in range and before I get within theirs”

“That’s surprising I was just hopping to get some cannon fodder but instead I got two who might just prove useful, alright then next” The one taking up the back was a odd looking guy his hair was shorter and was messy. His face had been claimed by his facial hair as it spread across from ear to ear. It wasn’t fully grown but it was thick enough to give a full look. Despite that he was young although at first one might not see that. He had his hood up which made picking out his features a bit hard besides his face. He wore darker and thinner robes then everyone else and carried the least weight. “Chris the night eye specializations are night ops information gathering and scouting” As the town grew more distant a large building started to come in view as they reached the crest of the hill. A few hundred yards ahead of them stood a small castle like construction. A small outer wall and what looked to be a keep in its center stood in the middle of the sands. It was rather tall the tallest thing for as far as one could see. It stood nearly four stories and was made of stone slabs and concrete. The outer wall went in a large ring around the center keep and stood about five foot from the ground. There was short twenty foot gap between the wall and keep the flooring of the gap was stone slate.

The building was a large circle that rose up from the ground its top narrowed with a few windows high above. “This will be our home for the foreseeable future” The group had continued on toward the large stone and concrete structure for a few minutes in silence. But it didn’t last too long as Gale made his way up to the Lieutenant and started walking beside him. “So what’s this all about? what is the FATS ? What is it we do out here?” The lieutenant stopped suddenly and turned around to face the group. “I was wondering when one of you would ask. We are to be the front line the very first defense. FATS stands for Forward Anti-Tank Squad by the name we are an anti-armor squad but in reality we are to engage any and all enemies that we encounter. We are to hold the enemy for as long as possible giving the rest of the guard time to prepare.” Cluesev looked up at the Lieutenant and gave a small grin. “So we are the distraction force made to throw away our lives for the better of the people. From its position the Keep is a great defensive front but due to its distance from the town and it being up hill makes reinforcements or even escape once it falls is impossible. We are to fight to the last man to the very last bullet to delay them as long as we can”