Eos

Prologue

-Day 109 of the Arnorian Rishelian War

The Rishel Republic Army warships fled across the sky, ten miles in pursuit was the Arnorian Imperial fleet. The Rishel Republic was a coalition of democratic states which support each other economically but with one army to serve the entire republic. The Arnorians are a militaristic nation using its military might to conquer territories to further expand their borders, now they set their sights on the Republic of Rishel. The Arnorians first invaded Rishel lands three months ago, currently Republic forces are fighting defensive battles unable to repel the Arnorian horde. Soaring through the sky the Republic fleet of warships traveling in a “V” formation made haste looking for a strategic place to hold their ground and fight. The large airships shaped like flying triangles with the front point chopped off. At the sides and rear where six large fans which kept the mechanical ships in the air. The side hulls of the ships contained many large square port holes which were firing ports for the large breach loading 200 pounds cannons used to fire devastating volleys of iron into enemy ships or bombard the ground. A top the flat deck which was a run way for the twelve biplanes kept inside interior hangars, and to the side a large four story command tower. On the bridge Admiral Aldrich Command of the third fleet aboard his flagship the Kallisto, looked out with his looking glass through the gray sky searching for a suitable place to stand his ground.
Through the looking glass the Admiral spotted tall dark jagged mountain peaks rising above the cloud line. “Helm! Take us to the peaks and lower our altitude so that we are below the cloud line.” Aldrich commanded in a firm confident voice. Aldrich had been in the service for six years and had seen combat before fighting pirates to protect trade routes within the Republic, he wore a dark grey fatigues, black well polished boots, black epaulettes on his shoulders, gloved hands, and a black cloak; and many medals decorated his chest honoring his service to the fleet.. Aldrich was in his late thirties, tall, with dark long hair and a beard. He carried a holstered pistol at his side, and held a small baton decorated with gold facings and symbols of Rishel, the trademark item of a fleet admiral.
A dark overcast created a foreboding sense and atmosphere as the hulking ships traveled and descended below the cloud line, the Arnorian fleet ten miles behind followed in turn. Below the cloud line the jagged mountain range provided excellent cover for Aldrich’s fleet. At the base of the mountain side a large town of two thousand inhabitants sat under the mountains shadow.
Aldrich surveyed his field of a soon to be battle, and began the deployment of the fleet. “Have the Evander take up a position behind the first mountain, the Klio down the range in support of the Evander. I want the Amarad behind the second peak with the Tempest support her. Have the Zephry and the Albatros behind the third. And I’ll take the Defiance and the Armageddon, we will head one mile from the rear of the main force and wait above the cloud line.”  The Kallisto set up a series of flags which were the commands to the rest of the fleet and they went to their designated positions as the Kallisto led the rest to the rear. Twenty minutes later the Arnorian fleet of twelve ships broke the cloud line. The Evander sent up a yellow signaling to the hidden fleet to open fire. The warships rose from their concealed positions, and fired their broadsides hull down into the first of the Arnorian ships. Puffs of white smoke covered the Republic ships as their guns opened up in a thunderous volley, scoring hits on the first three Arnorians. The lead one was buckled as the one hundred or so rounds crashed through her hull causing some of its ammunition to explode in a fireball incinerating the gun crews, her side fans had been damaged and now the ship struggle to stay in the air. In return the Arnorians faced their broadsides to their enemy and returned the favor. The battle had now begun.
Seeing the first flashes of the guns from his position Aldrich commanded his detachment to launch all biplanes and equip them with fifty pound bombs. With the commanded given through the mega phones the biplanes on the deck sprang to like as the propellers began to whir and start up engineers and ground crews making last minute checks, pilots and gunners scrambling to their planes. With in six minutes all thirty six fighters from the three airships were airborne and on their way to the fight. “Now all airships are to follow me, we will rise above the cloud line and move above the battle.” Aldrich commanded with a smile knowing already the battle would be his.
At the mountain range the Rishel warships fought on from their cover in the outnumbered fight. Gunners loading and fire, impervious to the immense noise of the guns as thy fired and the heat of the gunpowder, did as they were trained load shoot repeat. Already the Klio been sunk and crashed into the mountain side exploding in a ball of flame a dark black smoke rising from its wreckage the Zephyr and Albatros had been hit and moderately damaged. Though for their sister ships the Evander, Amarad, and Tempest had taken considerable damage. Coming at the sixty miles an hour the biplanes reached the battle zooming past the beleaguered battleships and began strafing runs on the enemy gun ports and to bomb the command towers. On sight of the biplanes the Arnorians manned their Anti-Aircraft guns, large quad machine guns which sent a hail of bullets into the air shooting down what biplanes they could. Six of the Arnorian ships had been successfully bombed though not all hit the command towers some hit the decks.
Steaming over head the Aldrich’s detachment angled their ships and fired at the Arnorians from above. His accuracy was deadly striking commander towers and fans. The Arnorians out maneuvered and now taking hits from above, the front and sustaining fire from fighter planes gave the command to retreat. Aldrich’s forces were able to sink four enemy warships with only one loss of his own. Sadly though Aldrich saw a horrible sight as his victory was completing. An enemy warship coming low badly damaged and engines failing, began firing volleys at the town under the shadow of the mountain. Aldrich took action “Helm full speed ahead make for that last Arny ship. Weapons officer load the guns with explosive rounds. Stop that ship from killing Rishelian civilians!”

1

In the town called Eos under the shadow of the Semele mountain ranges the people witnessed its first sights of the war, finally coming to reality for the people living there. The massive battle fought over head caused every one to flee to the underground shelters. Though not everyone went a young man Madoc Yager was mesmerized by the raw power of the massive warships battling over head. Madoc is an average height man, well built from working construction, dark short hair and green eyes. He wore basic clothes of any Rishelian civilian, a tan tunic and brown baggy khakis. He witnessed the battle in awe and rejoiced just as the Republic forces pulled a certain defeat into a victory with superb tactical skills. Madoc and about two hundred of his fellow towns folk went to the out skirts of the town to watch, most of them young adults and teenager, the children and the old went to the underground shelter in the center of the town, among them was Madoc’s little sister Kristie Yager and his parents.
The Arnorian fleet began to retreat, battered, wounded and with four ship less. Though a straggler ship which was barely able to keep in the air came in close to Eos and turned her guns on it. Seeing the danger Madoc and the others ran to the cover of behind a cliff face. The warship’s side burst with white smoke a second later the sound of distant thudding, five seconds later the thunderous noise of the explosive shells struck Eos in an eruption of explosions. Destroying homes which had stood for over two hundred years, destroying the elegant town hall, a structure of white marble which stood four stories high, the statue of Hezekiah the founder of the Republic was hit and crumpled, the worst though was the underground shelter. The shells had penetrated its old walls and the earth above it. Those that did not die from the explosions began to burn from the fires started, people suffocated from the black smoke, people crowding toward the exit jamming it trampling each other screaming useless screams. After the volley the from the Arny scum a Republic ship came right up to it and blasted it point blank creating an explosion which sent shock waves to where Madoc lay. Looking back at his town Madoc realized what had just happened and sprinted to the shelter tears in his eyes, the others watched him and then they too realized the destruction and followed him.
Reaching the destroyed shelter, Madoc jumped through one of the holes of the roof into a room filled with black smoke. He could hardly see one foot in front of him. He tripped over dead charred bodies, stepped on and over the deceased. He could here no one, only the raging flames. The smoke inhalation began to affect him he began to feel nausea and began to cough from the volatile smoke. But then he heard the cry of help, he ran towards the yell recognizing the voice of his little sister Kristie.
He found her huddled in a corner, with their parents dead beside her. She was coughing and crying; Madoc picked her up and gave her a handkerchief to put over her mouth to filter the air. He ran towards the exit, he stopped in front of the door way it was blocked by bodies of the dead trampled by others and stacked all trying to reach the exit. Desperately he looked around, a feeling of emptiness swelled in his chest as he knew he would die here.
“Hey! Here grab this rope Madoc!” a voice yelled from one of the holes in the ceiling. He found the rope latched on, holding his little sister who was now quiet, passed out it seems but still breathing. Slowly he was pulled up from the people above. “Are you okay?” asked Aubrie the person who called out to him when he was below. Aubrie, his friend since they were in school, who was with him watching the battle above. She was an attractive woman with brown long hair, and midnight blue eyes. She was wearing typical civilian clothing. “I’m fine,” Madoc responded “I need to get Kristie to a doctor fast!” he said urgently.
“The hospital is destroyed,” Aubrie said sullenly “But look that Republic cruiser is landing they have to have a doctor.”
Aubrie, Madoc and the other refugees traveled over to the landed warship bearing scars of the battle, and already personnel got off to examine the wounded civilians and prioritize them. A man in the in grey fatigues with a white surgeon’s apron over it began examining the wounded civilians. He checked out Kristie and brought her on board to the aid station. The aid station not only had civilians but many wounded crew man of the Republic warship, most of them gunners and pilots. Gunners had burns blown limbs from taking hits along side the gun ports. He saw pilots with wicked bullet wounds from the large caliber anti-aircraft guns of the Arny’s. He walked around looking from cot to cot till he found Kristie. There they had her put on a manual respirator constantly being pumped by a medical assistant. Kristie regained consciousness and Madoc came to talk to her.
“Are you feeling okay?”  Madoc said in a soft voice. “Where’s mom and dad?” Kristie replied. “Don’t worry about that, are you feeling alright though?” Kristie coughed and said she wasn’t feeling too well. Madoc asked the medical staff if she would be ok, they told him she had inhaled too much smoke, and suffered some minor burns. The medical assistant said she would die from the smoke inhalation. “Well isn’t there any thing you do!?” Madoc asked. “I’m sorry but we have done all we can, her breathing is irregular and she won’t have long.”
Madoc went back to Kristie who had become unconscious again. He stayed with her till she stopped breathing. Feeling anger and holding back tears he left the medical bay to find the other refugees from Eos.
He found them all in the mess hall, either eating a warm soup or talking amongst themselves. There were two hundred of them all spread out among the eating tables. Madoc went and sat down with Aubrie and had some soup. “Captain on deck!” a guard at the entrance of the mess hall announced and stood to attention. The other soldiers in the mess hall also rose to their feet to stand to attention, while the civilians unsure of what to do remained seated.
“At ease,” Admiral Aldrich, captain of the Kastillo said “citizens of Eos, your town has been razed by the Arnorians. You all have probably lost family and friends and I’m sorry for your losses. Now that you don’t have a home to return to, I give two choices either go to a refugee camp in another city or you can join the Republic army and return what the Arnorians have taken from you. Those of you that wish to join the army stand up, those of you who wish to go to a refugee camp stay seated.”
Madoc stood up, many others as well about one hundred others. “C’mon Aubrie, there’s nothing left for us would you rather go and rot in a refugee camp or get revenge what those Arnorian bastards did to us.”
“I don’t know, fighting will only get us killed.” Aubrie replied.
“You’ve lost your family too, there’s nothing for you here or a refugee camp, join the army with me and we’ll get revenge for what they’ve, we’ve been best friends for a long time, and you said we’d always stick with each other, we split up now we may never see each other again.” Madoc persuaded.
“Alright, besides some one has to look after you.” Aubrie replied.
“It’s decided then we’ll join the army together.” Madoc said.
Admiral Aldrich looked at the men and woman who stood up. He counted one hundred and thirty, enough to form a company of infantry. “Alright those of you who want to join up come to Officer Nico, he’ll ask for your name, date of birth, and ID number. That done we can get you dropped off at a training base and in two weeks, you’ll be soldiers. Those of you who wish to stay I’ll send you off on one of the transport planes to take you to the nearest refugee camp.”
The Eosian civilians filed into a line and Officer Nico took their information to complete the first steps of their registration into the army. Madoc thinking in his mind is sister in the corner of the shelter crying, his dead parents; all he could think about was revenge.
Three days later the Kallisto arrived at Malthus base. They dropped off the Eosians so they could start their training and Aldrich’s worn out worn out fleet went on to a naval base to restock and repair.
Madoc got off the ship along with the other recruits to be greeted by a drill sergeant already yelling at them to form a line. “I am Drill Sergeant Adair, welcome to Malthus, and welcome to the army.”

2

Two weeks later

The two weeks of infantry training had finally been over. Grueling training under the sergeants which was a one sergeant to four recruit ratios, the sergeant had worked the Eosians hard but they learned fast and their discipline was superb. During the training Sergeant Adair saw promise in Madoc as a natural leader people followed him and always trusted him. Seeing it will do him good Adair promoted Madoc from private to squad leader, leading nine other men and women into battle. They became his friends, family; they worked as one cohesive unit always out doing all the other squads in exercises. The squad was his, something he didn’t expect to be doing leading soldiers in battle.
Madoc was now a soldier with the rank of Corporal. He liked his new uniform which was Dark grey fatigues, black khakis, web belt, nice boots, and a Dark grey over coat. His gear was a standard model 760 bolt action rifle, which had a magazine capacity of ten rounds. He had a side arm pistol; in his pack he carried a spade, rations ammunitions, grenades, spare socks, a combat knife, shaving kit, soap, and a raincoat. He also had a steel grey helmet.
His squad consisted of nine soldiers. Lance corporal Aubrie who remarkably was a good shot with a rifle. Private Declan a short man who can hurl a grenade the farther than any one in the company, Private Korrin a tall man of great strength was the squad machine gunner, Private first-class Sari a woman who had amazing speed, Private Seth who was quite intelligent and was the demolition expert he carried a mine sweeper, Private first-class Blythe who was a bit slow in the head but had loyalty and always follows orders, Private Raeus he kept to himself a lot but was an expert in close combat. Private Mckenzie who was a hunter before and knows how to be stealthy, and last but not least is Private Melchior artillery expert who carries a mortar with him.
Now the Eosian Company was to be integrated into the 391st Rifles Battalion, and they would be assigned officers when they reached the front at Gratiua line. They were traveling onboard the Kallisto to their destination: the front. The weather was not helping either there was a storm system coming in and it had been raining for the past three days, and soon a lightening storm is supposed to come. It has been three days since Madoc left Malthus and Admiral Aldrich said they should arrive at the front with in a few hours. Two hours later they reached Gratuia line and by this time the lightening storm had kicked in and the storm was furious.
“Alright 391st begin to load onto the transport planes, we only have three so forty soldiers per plane.” The flight operater told the waiting infantry. The Eosians scrambled onto the planes, which were hulking things they had open side doors with had machine guns mounted on the side, it was a mono plane with the wings on top and two propellers to each wing. The pilot and co-pilot went to the cockpit and started the propellers and the elevator lifts brought the planes up to the flight deck. Madoc was by the open side door, as soon as they were out side on the deck, the harsh rain hit his face and with the wind beating against him. The sky has a dark overcast almost black with thunder, and the bright streaks of lightening splitting the sky.
The planes went down the run away in a bumpy ride from all the turbulence of the weather. The transport planes were sluggish and moved at slow pace of  ten miles an hours. The Kallisto was twenty-five hundred feet above the ground and Madoc watched as the warship grew further away. The descent was shaky and Madoc still could not see the ground because of the clouds. A moment later the planes broke through the clouds and Madoc could see for the first time the front line of the war. He saw Gratuia line a zig-zag network of trenches, pill boxes, and bunkers. Towards the rear of it massive artillery guns, the landing strip, and commands posts. He also noticed the flashes of light, tracer rounds, and explosions coming from what Madoc assumed the enemy line. Gratuia line was under attack and he had just arrived.
“Why can’t the Kallisto just bombard the enemy line pilot?” Madoc asked over the roar of the engine and the storm over head. “See those big guns?” Madoc nodded “No airship can get in close enough to target the line with out getting shot out of the sky by those. That’s why you’re here you guys will knock those out then maybe some air support can come and rain death on those bastards.” The pilot replied.
The planes touched down on the landing strip and the Eosians scrambled off, and they had met an infantry officer who had been waiting for their arrival.
“I’m Captain Darius your new commander. Squad leaders organize your troops and follow me. We are going to the front the rest of the 391st needs you up there the Arnorians are throwing all the guys they have at us.”
Captain Darius wore the regular uniform of a regular soldier but to show himself as an officer her carried a swords, wore a dark blue officers sash, and a peaked cap.
As the Eosians got off and assembled, other soldiers loaded wounded onto the transport planes. Many of them had bullet wounds to the chest or limbs, some had no limbs, some blind from the poison gas used. Madoc watched as the wounded were loaded and cringed seeing the severe ones scream in pain.
“Alright from now on you are I company or India company. Now follow me to the front and keep your head in the trench you don’t want to get hit by a stray bullet.” Captain Darius said.
Loading their rifles India Company got ready and followed their captain into the trench networks keeping their heads low. “My squad stay close to me.” Madoc commanded. Hastily India moved through the trenches following the captain. All of them flinching as explosions hit near them. As they got closer to the front the sounds of battle became clearer. The wounded screaming, crack of rifle fire, the rat-ta-tat of machine fire, grenades exploding, and the larger explosions of mortar and artillery fire. Finally they reached the front taking up positions in a second line trench with the rest of the 391st they watched the fighting in the first line as the Arnorians stormed it slaughtering the men and women defending it.
“Alright hold here! Don’t let any of the Arny’s take this trench!” Captain Darius commanded. Madoc had Korrin set up his machine gun, and placed Melchior back a little to set up his mortar, Aubrie and Blythe beside himself. Sari and Declan with Korrin to support him and Raeus and Mckenzie to Madoc’s right flank. “Remember your training, and you will survive, use your skills to its fullest.” Madoc announced “But most of all remember Eos, and how they slaughtered our families and friends, destroyed our homes, remember them, this is our payback do no be afraid!” Madoc yelled. “For Eos!” Cheered not only Madoc’s squad but the entire India Company.
By now the Arnorians had taken the first line trench, more and more of their troops began to pour into it massing to take the second. A Shrill scream came from the first trench as the Arnorians shouted their war cries in their unholy language as they began to charge. This sent a chill down the line of the 391st, in response Captain Darius shouted “For Eclesia!” the capital of the Republic, and the others repeated the shout. The Arnorians came closer and closer beginning to fire shots into the line and lobbing grenades. On the receiving end several troops fell back as they were struck from rifle fire and a group of seven men to Madoc’s left were hurled from a grenade explosion, sending body parts and blood amongst the troops. “Open fire!” Darius commanded.
For the first time Madoc could see what the enemy looked like. They wore black khakis and fatigues, over themselves they had dark crimson overcoats, on their faces they wore full face masks which resembled gas mask, at their feet splashes in the mud in the puddles from the rain they had what looked to be steel plated boots. Korrins machine gun opened up hurling back several Arnorians, rifles cracked all around, Aubrie fired dropping a crimson figure sixty feet away. Madoc looked looked down his sights found a crimson figure and fired, the Arnorian was hit in the shoulder stopped for a second and then began charging. Madoc quickly worked the bolt on his gun to reload. He looked down the sight again aimed and fired. This time the Arnorian stayed down. Melchior set the range of his mortar and popped in a mortar round. With a ‘thuwpt’ sound from the tube the shell was hurled into the air and landed in front of three charging Arnorians, sending deadly shrapnel into them. The machine gun, and rifle fire poured into the crimson mass dropping many of them, in return they fired back sending men and woman hurling back wards screaming. Another grenade was lobbed into the trench this time wounding four Eosians from India Company. With in a few moments approximately one hundred and twenty of the Arnorians littered the no man’s land between the trenches. But now they were upon the trench firing as they jumped in and the close combat melee began.
An Arnorian tried to get the jump on Madoc but he swung the butt of rifle and cracked the man’s skull. Captain Darius pulled out his officer’s saber and slashed at a crimson soldier, dropping him. Aubrie snaped off another shot before being struck by an Arnorian. Aubrie dazed and her back to the trench wall saw a crimson figure getting ready to finish her, but suddenly the man was tackled by a man of the 391st. He pulled out his knife and slit the throat of the Arnorian, Aubrie came to her senses and saw it was Raeus who had saved her. Madoc now clubbing at every red figure had downed eight in the melee. Screaming incoherent shouts he turned to strike another figure but stopped to see it was Sari. “Sir! It’s over we’ve won. We wiped out the attacking force.” Sari said.
“Three cheers! Hipp hip! Hipp hip! Ooorah!” Captain Darius shouted. The 391st responded in cheer. Madoc hugged Aubrie and asked if she was okay. “Is everyone alright?” Madoc asked Aubrie. “I don’t know.” She replied. Madoc looked around, looking for his squad members seeing all of them okay except Mckenzie, who looked as if he was sitting down against the trench wall but blood ran down from his skull. He was dead clubbed by an Arnorian rifle. Madoc had lost his first squad member.

3
Day 141 of the Arnorian Rishelian War
Over the past eighteen days India Company had served at Gratuia line, they had seen a lot of combat. Either they were defending from an Arnorian attack or they were counter-attacking, just a back and forth battle; a stale mate.
“Alright boys and girls, high command wants to send us into an offensive. The 506th, 210th, 222nd, and 91st, are going into the attack with us. The 222nd and 210th to our left flank the 506th and 91st to our right us in the middle, our objective is the twenty anti-airship guns. Once we knock out the guns using plastic explosives I have this here blue flare to signal high command that Admiral Aldrich can come with his fleet and blow the living hell out of the Arny’s. That should end this war for us.” Captain Darius briefed the company sergeants and squad leaders. “We attack at dusk.”
Madoc told his remaining eight squad members of the attack and said if they succeed it will end the war with the obliteration of the Arnorian army. Already with the Arnorian fleets in check by Admiral Ackbar, leaving Aldrich to finish the ground forces.
At Dawn the Republic forces started the attack with a thirty minute artillery barrage. Following the massive infantry charge, the 391st along with all the other battalions successfully took the first and second trench lines with brutal fighting. All that was left to do is make their way through the maze of trenches and disabling the anti-airship guns.
The 391st split up into five groups to clear the trenches faster. In Madocs group Aubrie was taking point. Walking careful through eyes wide open she traversed the earthworks. The group one hundred or so 391st went on, India Company included, though now dwindled to sixty troops, they came across a mass of dead Arnorians. All seemed to be dead but as the Republic troopers traversed to the middle of the dead group they sprang to life. Jumping up, pulling knives out and using rifles as clubs. Madoc clubbed left and right dropping crimson soldiers. Raeus expertly weaved to and fro stabbing and slashing. Blythe clubbing, along side Sari fending off the attackers. Many members of India Company were falling but so were the enemy, Captain Darius swinging his saber and using his pistol fought through the enemy. Aubrie was tackled and then she felt a sharp sting in her chest and went unconscious. After ten minutes of brutal fighting the Arnorians were defeated the group of 391st took forty casualties. Madoc found Arie, she had bled to death he held her body and felt anger and felt at fault that he did not protect her. Then he found Darius mortally wounded and dying. “Madoc, come here.” Madoc came to the dying Darius. “You must carry on the mission take the flare, sword, and leave me here to die.” Darius struggled to say. “I can’t do it sir. I’m not fit to lead so many troops.” Madoc responded. “You must…” Darius said then slumped down and spoke no more. “Orders sir?” Seth asked. “I don’t know…we don’t have a commander any more.”
“We do sir, you.” Seth replied. “I can’t do it, what if I screw up. How can I finish this mission if I can’t even protect the ones I love?” Madoc said looking at Aubrie’s lifeless body. “You couldn’t help it sir.” Sari attempted to consul him. “Well sir you have the blue flare, and once we’ve disable the guns you fire it and we get out of here before Aldrich comes to destroy the Arnorian armies coming this way.” Korrin stated. “We trust in your leader ship.” Melchoir said joining the conversation. At that moment the other fifty troops started saying Madoc should lead. Madoc seeing the troops having faith in him gave him faith for himself. “Alright then, what are waiting for? We’ve got a war to win.” Madoc ordered.
They reached the guns dispatching the little resistance they found. Seth set up the plastic explosives on the breaches of the guns, and set the timers for ten minutes. Madoc pointed the flare gun into the sky and fired. A streak of bright blue jutted into the night sky. In concession the other battalions fired their blue flares igniting the sky. Looking back at the Republic a red flare went up signaling Aldrich to attack in ten minutes. “Alright let’s pull out.” Madoc ordered. Just then enemy troops came to the gun emplacements storming the 391st position. Their perimeter was slowly being overwhelmed by the enemy reinforcements.
Madoc fired his rifle dropping a crimson figure. Looking at the fight seeing the Gray coats fighting Crimson ones Madoc spotted one that looked different, he wore a black coat instead of crimson and wielding an uncouth looking two handed sword he hacked his way through Madoc’s troops. Madoc drew Darius’ saber and screamed incoherently as he charged the man in black. The man in black parried Madoc’s attack and countered it with a big swing; Madoc dodged and lunged wounding the black man in the thigh. In response the man swung again Madoc blocked using all of his strength to hold the blow, he pushed him away then the man swung again this Madoc blocked but this time the saber shattered. Madoc fell desperately looking for a weapon as the black figure walked to finish him off. Madoc then remembered his combat knife, just then the black figure was about to stab down on him, Madoc rolled and stabbed the man in the throat.
The Arnorians seeing their leader fall retreated to reform. This gave the surviving 391st    time to run. They ran all the way back to their trenches just in time to see Aldrich’s warships break through the clouds and eliminate the remaining Arnorian army. White smoke filled the sky as the airship bombarded the enemy line. Explosions erupted shaking the earth leaving nothing in the kill zone alive.


Epilogue
Gladly Madoc retired from the army going to Eclesia to start a new life. Admiral Adlrich stayed in the navy still serving the Republic. Seth stayed in the army becoming a specialist expert training recruits. Sari became an athlete as a sprinter. Blythe stayed in the army later becoming a captain. Korrin became an engineer working on biplanes. Raeus decided to open his own business, a grocery store. And Melchior went to find a quiet place to live in the country.
Madoc buried both Darius and Aubrie in Eclesia and visits their graves once a month in remembrance of their sacrifices. Madoc received the Medla of Eclesia which is the highest medal in the land, and was celebrated as a hero. Coming to Eclesia Madoc found work in construction again coping well to civilian life again.