The sister's body was quickly put into a blood capsule. Her death will not be forgotten. She will serve the lord as she loved. As her body floated inside the capsile, a faint golden light started to radiate. She might be dead, but her faith was still alive.
As she was transported into storage, I kept looking, pondering.
As the other soldiers put the remaining corpses into other available capsiles, I went around to grather intel on what happened. The base was a wreak. Out of our initial 1000, only 278 left standing. I noticed the mech was in critical condition, most likely from the wolf like creature that attacked before.
I kept walking until I came upon a wounded soldier being interrogated. I went to listened to what he had to say.
He whispered while trembling.
"The battle was going well, we were equally tied, with their forces being slowly chipped away. We kept our defensive stand, with our walls and flame standing strong. We were moments away from victory, then… then it appeared.
It was bigger then anything we had seen. It's body, it…. had a wolf like head, yet it's body seemed closer to a crocodiles. That abomination it.. it was certain, that it was a mutation far beyond what we could handle.
We quickly scanned it, and realized to our horror that it was a mid stage mutation.
A corruption sin of wrath, known for their aggression and animal like behaviour, but why was such a threat here. We were no were close to dealing with it."
I listened closer.
"It tore through our walls like it was nothing. We did everything we could, but our weapons left not a scratch. With the monster in front and the heretics following behind we were out of option, and out of desperation we used one of the tank as a live bomb in hopes to kill it. The explosion nearly killed all the heretics, yet all it did was injure the monster a bit.
Then it once again lunged towards us, but then… the sister saved us. She used all of her faith into shielding us from that monster, but…. was not enough it was not enough. It broke though the shield and mortally injured the sister. We though we were doomed, yet the monster paused for a moment and ran away.
We are relieved to have survived, but it was our loss this time."
Hearing his story, it was conflicting.
I went to the place where the fight took place. The ground was charred and body of fellow men and heretics piled. Yet what caught my attention was on the side where the monster was presumed to be.
A huge pool of mutated blood.
I realized the beast was actually severely injured and bleeding, no wonder it ran.
Through the broken wall I looked at the distant fortress and thought:
"This might be our only chance at victory."
I quickly gathered all the remaining captains I had assigned. Only 3 of us left. Me, ocer, and mein. She had been in the base in the attack witnessing the beast head on, yet she had survived through her own sheer will. She will be a great source of information.
We quickly discussed what to do going forward.
Kortwil: "I have gathered everyone at this critical moment to give an important order. It is now that we must strike when the creature is weak."
Mein: "Captain with all due respect we are in no condition to launch an attack. Most of my men are severely injured if not dead and we have no means to defeat that creature."
Ocer: "What she says is true, it would be close to suicide to launch an attack this quick after our recent loss."
Kortwil: "I understand that we are in no condition to attack but we must do it now as it is our only chance. I inspected the grounds where the fight took place and noticed a large pool of blood. Most likely the creatures."
Mein crossed her arms, jaw tight.
Mein: "And I advise against it, Captain. The 'chance' you see may be the very thing that kills us all."
Kortwil: "As your captain this is an order mein. You are in no position to refuse or have you turn traitor now."
Hearing this mein jumps up from her seat.
Mein: "No position. If I may CAPTAIN you were the one who abandoned your post to go about your own in the battlefield. In my eyes you are in no position to order this."
What she says is true. I clench my hand, not out of anger but guilt, but this is not time to be having inside conflict.
Kortwil: "I understand that you are dissatisfied with my action and I assure you that in due time I will atone for what I have done but believe me that it is now that we must take action when the beast is weakened or else our death is most certain."
I looked around the room with mein giving me doubtful glances, then I looked towards ocer. His eyes asked me a simple question.
Ocer: "Are you sure about this."
Kortwil: "Yes."
Ocer: "I see. Mein, I know that you are angry at him for his past action but I can assure you that what he says now sounds like the most logical thing to do."
Mein: "How can I lead people to their death when all I can rely on is assurance? I still have respect for you sir Ocer but what is to say that what he says is nothing more then ramble of a madman."
Ocer: "Please mein."
A silence falls the room.
Ocer then grabbed his relic wrapped around his neck.
Ocer:
"I, Ocer, paladin of His Lord, swear this oath —
If this path leads to ruin, may I be denied His embrace in death."
Both me and mein was shocked for a bit. To take an oath in the lords name to not receive his embrace was something worse then death, yet he put his trust in me.
Mein: "..."
Kortwil:
"I Kortwil of the paladin of his almighty in his name take an oath that I will not redo my past mistake and avenge those fallen from that foul beast.
I understand your pain mein, I am ashamed of what I had done but the beast bleeds and if not now it may come back stronger later, so please, lend me your trust."
I looked at Mein with anticipation. I may be the leader but without everyone's trust, especially one of the commander that I trust to lead, the battle was over before it even begun.
Mein: "….. Fine. I shall put my trust in you, this once, Not for you but for the faith Sir ocer has put on you. I shall rally what is left of us. Until then think of how not to kill us."
She turned and started to leave but not without a final say.
"Do not waste it."
As she left the room there was a silence in the room.
Ocer: "What now kortwil."
Kortwil: "We finish what it started."