by Rick Graham
“We aren’t going to last much longer at this rate. We have to break the front and give our infantry a chance to make a difference” Joah said to himself.
He clenched his jaw as he throttled up and ran forward. Several Sierras stood in his path and they had noticed the large WarMech rushing towards them. They fired round after round. Some fortunately missed, while others chewed at his shields as he advanced. Joah triggered his plasma slingers as he pressed forward despite the enemy fire.
Several missiles trailed past Tyonek heading somewhere behind him.
Even before the roar of the missiles explosions dulled down, Sara said, “Blue Two, disabled.”
The sweat built up along Joah’s eyebrows burned his eyes. “This is getting bad.”
Out of the corner of his HUD two new enemy signals appeared. He turned in horror to see that the two Arbalests had chosen now to step out onto the battlefield.
He got a chill down his spine as they both turned towards him. Time seemed to slow down to a fraction of the normal speed as his own voice echoed in his mind. “Why did you come here mother? To tell me my fate?”
“No, my son…I came here to say goodbye.”
Joah felt numb as three bright flashes followed by large plumes of smoke ever so slowly puffed from the Arbalests missile launchers.
“Is this my fate? Is this where I die?”
The missiles crept through the air, closing the distance in what felt like a dream state.
“No! This is not going to be my fate. The stars, the universe, they do not control me.”
All three missiles inched ever closer.
“I’m not ready. Not now. Not yet.”
Time began to speed up back to normal.
Joah slammed his left foot down on the brake pedal and twisted his Defender towards the oncoming barrage. He slammed Sara’s shields together and shouted, “I will not die here!”
The Commander and his WarMech disappeared in the triple explosion. Many of the Union soldiers turned their gaze towards their fallen commander, rapidly losing the will to fight.
“Raaaaaaaaaaah!” Tyonek shouted a roar deep from within his core as his WarMech barreled through the smoke.
He charged straight on at the Arbalest on the left, the pilot frozen in shock that anything could survive such a hellish strike.
Joah’s voice bellowed through his outer speakers, “I will not die here!”
The other Arbalest attempted to hit the oncoming Defender but missed wide with its lasers. As the two WarMechs collided, Sara’s left arm got caught beneath the Arbalest’s cockpit. Joah fought valiantly to keep Sara upright as his enemy tumbled to the right ripping his Defender’s arm off at the shoulder. Its right missile launcher crunched beneath its own weight as it slammed into ground.
“You will not kill me!” Tyonek shouted as he turned to face the other support WarMech Tyonek and fired his plasma slingers again and again into the torso and head of the standing Arbalest.
It violently shook as its pilot struggled to react before his cockpit melted from the plasma globs. While the WarMech slumped to the ground dead, Joah twisted back to see the other Arbalest attempted to get its foot beneath it to stand.
He drove Sara’s remaining shield down into the Arbalest’s back, gouging three large holes which and sparks and smoke danced out of.
“Raaaaaaaah!” Joah lifted his WarMech’s left foot and stomped the Arbalest’s cockpit in, killing the pilot along with the machine.
Looking on as their commander did the impossible, all of the Union soldiers found renewed strength and pressed the attack. The remaining Goblin’s dashed forward to protect Tyonek while the infantry swarmed a Gordon assault tank along with two more Sierras.
Breathing heavily Joah surveyed the battlefield, suddenly above the noise of the slaughter he could hear a roar growing louder and louder. Looking up his HUD displayed the arrival of multiple Union dropships inbound for the planet.
Spotting the incoming reinforcements for the U.S. forces, the Republic troops broke off and returned to the city.
The surviving Union soldiers let out a loud cheer.
Joah took a deep breath before he spoke on the command line. “Green Team, form up with Blue Team. Captain Ryder, reassemble your men, we are going to retake Destin very soon.”
Captain Ryder in his Armos power armor suit slowly approached Tyonek. No one could see it because of his helmet, but the infantry captain’s mouth opened in shock as he saw the damage his commander’s WarMech had taken in the fighting.
From head to toe it was covered in pot marks. Almost all of its paint had peeled off and it was amazing it could even stand. It looked like it had been through every layer of hell. Small trails of smoke flowed out of several of the holes as the WarMech turned towards him.
“Captain?” Joah asked, his breath finally returning to normal.
“Sir, how did you survive that attack?”
Tyonek thought for a brief moment before responding. “I don’t know, I just wasn’t ready to die.”
“Someone must be watching out for you.”
“Maybe…” Joah looked up into the sky. “Maybe, but I know what wasn’t.”
Note from the author: Rick Graham
I want to take a quick moment to thank you for taking the time to read this compilation of short stories. For cycles I have wanted to explore the Revelations universe but was unsure of how to go about it. In 2017 I figured that if I didn’t just go for it, then I never would. I don’t want to find myself on my deathbed and feel regret for never going for my dream. But I cannot create this universe without thanking those who support it and to also extend a welcome to you if you are new to the stories of Revelations.
If you would like to learn more about other stories, products or just join an awesome growing community of fellow fans then consider checking out any of the links below.
Website: www.revelationswar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/revelationsuniverse/
Thank you again, and I look forward to us creating Revelations into something we can all enjoy together!
Rick Graham
Revelations Creator & Lead Author