Dragon Alliance Dark Storm : Dark Storm

by J. Michael Fluck

  Colonel Lordan and Talonth were there to meet Mkel and his weir council. Company Senior Sergeant Pekram and Lieutenant Ablich immediately started the task of arranging the garrison’s forces in coordination with the dwarf and elf companies. All of Mkel’s Weir Council members then dismounted and moved to Lordan. Mkel called down to him and told him he had to transport the Draden Regiment since Silvanth was expecting.

  “Captain, I will have Asharanth and Baranth retrieve the Draden Regiment as soon as they have finished transporting my legion and before they teleport the 29th Legion,” he explained.

  “I told Colonel Wierangan that I would be back for the regiment, sir,” Mkel replied.

  “It is better that you start our planning here than be concerned about that. This will better serve his soldiers, plus my wife’s and Altmed’s silvers need to practice their mass teleportation skills. I know you and Gallanth have pretty much mastered that,” the senior dragonrider said with a smile, at which Mkel smiled back as he dismounted Gallanth. They all walked over to the tent where Lordan had set up a temporary headquarters. Talonth had already set a spot aside for Gallanth as they walked over to the tent. There was a slightly cool breeze blowing, but it was still warm for the area for so late in the fall. Lupek was waiting for Mkel at the tent and gave him a hug after he walked up to him. The Draden Weirleader was glad to see him, and in one piece.

  Soon, the two silvers had transported all of the Draden Regiment, their own legion, and the 29th legion to the clearing. Lordan, Mkel, and Lupek had come up with a good tentative plan to array their weir’s forces and suggest the placement and attack method for the Draden Regiment and the 29th Legion. They were ready just in time to brief this to those respective commanders as they walked up to the tent. The two Alliance colonels gave a quick salute to Gallanth and Talonth, who were lying to either side of the brownish-green tent.

  Mkel saluted Colonel Wierangan and the commander of the 29th Legion as they walked in, and Colonel Lordan shook their hands in greeting. “My friends, please have a drink as we show you the layout of the battlefield. We are located here in this clearing just a couple hundred yards from the trail that skirts along the Gray Mountains,” he explained as his, Mkel’s, and Lupek’s weapons’ dragonstones projected a three-dimensional replica of the terrain they were in. “Lieutenant Lupek and both our weirs’ rangers chose this site for it was large enough to accommodate three legions with all their support staff and equipment, as well as the dragons. Both Draden and Eladran Weirs’ wizards have already cast an illusion spell over us so it appears just like a meadow when viewed from the sky to any other than a sorcerer looking for magic or a dragon. The chromatics have been coming from the east and have not yet flown this far west, likely waiting for the army to move into Alliance soil and be sacrificed first.

  “There is a point here along the road to the mountain pass where the forest juts out, giving only a half a mile between the hard stand trees and the base of the hills where maneuvering is difficult. This is where we should make our defense, for it will force the Morgathians and the giants to funnel into our catapult, ballista, and archer fires. There are two trails through the forest here that will allow my light and medium cavalry to maneuver past their main army and attack their supply lines almost undetected and then hit them from the rear. This defensive point is only two to three miles from this meadow, so the support corps wagons won’t have long to travel for resupply and to carry the wounded to the healer stations. We can place the catapults here just outside the trail that goes back to the meadow to keep them supplied with stones and canisters. My centaurs are also ready for a fast strike against this advanced guard that is marching its way here to desynchronize their battle plan, then fall back here to act as our reserve,” Lordan briefed his fellow colonels.

  “Colonels, Draden’s rangers have also spotted a trail that snakes along the lower part of the mountain range here,” Mkel stated as he pointed to the terrain image and enlarged that portion of the model. “I suggest we put at least a platoon of infantry and archers there to ensure that it can be held for a time if they decide to send a flanking force that way, if they even know about it. I can put two of my catapults on their new floating wagon platforms there to cover it and give additional plunging fires against the main Morgathian attack,” Mkel added.

  “A good idea, Dragonrider, but a question, did your rangers find out who is leading this Morgathian army?” the 29th Legion commander asked.

  “Lupek, did any of the elves hear anything?” Mkel asked.

  “Sir, Deless said that one of our elf rangers kept hearing the name Molotoc a fair amount of times, and in a fearful manner,” Lupek answered.

  “Molotoc, huh, if this is the same bastard I knew as a young but merciless Morgathian death knight in the Great War, we need to send your entire garrison to that pass, Captain. This one was very unorthodox in his tactics then; it was and is unusual for Morgathian leaders to be such, given their strict regimentation. If he finds that pass, he will exploit it and with his most hardened troops. The unique blend of talent, flexibility and lethality that your weir is known for might be a good fit to hold that pass, Mkel. And with these new toys you have, it could prove immeasurable,” the senior colonel stated.

  “I agree with the 29th commander, and by placing your garrison there and your catapults just up from them, you will be able to support both your men and the two legions, especially with their increased maneuverability,” Wierangan stated.

  Mkel was not completely in agreement but conceded that it was the right thing to do. “Colonel Lordan, what of the aerial forces?”

  The Eladran Weirleader quickly answered, “I suggest that we take two of our wings and run two air attacks, one coming low and hard from the east and the other from the mountainside, hitting them fast from the west. The hippogriffs and s will only get one shot before they get decisively engaged with their manticores and wyverns as they rise up for an intercept mission against us. The other wing and the rangers’ s will also fly along the second mountain range and hit the Morgathian columns as they march along this point where the mountains break a slight bit. They attack until out of dragons’ fire grenades and half their arrows and then reinforce their comrades in the aerial battle until the Morgathians are defeated, or they are called to defend the support corps,” the colonel explained.

  “Yes, I agree, and I see your plan for the catapults. You have them divided in three sections so they can confuse the giants by hitting them from multiple directions. A good plan but this has the disadvantage of a longer resupply of the throwers, for they have greater distances to travel from the assembly area now,” Colonel Wierangan stated.

  “Yes, sir, we understand this and will cache stones and canisters at each location, three basic loads. Captain Mkel’s new floating supply wagons can move faster and longer than any others now and will increase the supply rate. We also concur with your attack plan for the winged forces; our method of employment is very similar. We also had three courses of action of which one variation was the concentration of the catapults in one place behind the infantry, but with the number of chromatics they have and the number of catapults they usually bring, we felt it was a force protection measure to keep them separated. Our throwers can acquire their targets faster and fire faster and with more range and accuracy than our counterparts. This allows us to hit them before they can mass their stones on us,” Lordan explained.

  “Especially with the large number of giants they have. You can always count on them to be like a fast-firing, short-range catapult, sir,” Mkel stated.

  “Yes and the fire giants have a good range as well, with their strength. However, they also prefer to close with their enemies, for they do like their black-bladed swords,” Gallanth added.

  “Speaking of the dragons, Gold Dragon Gallanth, what is the plan for dealing with all those wings of chromatics?” Colonel Wierangan asked.

 
“Colonel, Talonth and I agreed that I and his two senior bronze dragons will lead the bulk of the Eladran Weir wing forward and hit the giants hard on the first pass or two. The chromatics always let the Morgathian armies attack first to save more of their own miserable hides. This will draw them out. Talonth and Baranth will then teleport in and strike them hard from above. If we need to be reinforced, we will have to call upon our lady dragons, for the Capital Wing is grounded in Shidan by the attack going on there and the coastal weirs are busy with a surge in pirate hit-and-run attacks reinforced by kraken. The elves and rangers have only spotted three wings of chromatics, which should not be a challenge to our two weirs,” Gallanth answered.

  “And I have sent one of my most talented copper dragons and her rider to Draden’s support corps. With Gallanth’s mate nesting, we want to take few chances,” Talonth added.

  “Thank you, Master Dragons. We, as always, have faith in you and your riders,” the 29th Legion commander stated. “However, this large path through the east side of the mountains concerns me,” he continued. “This could actually lead a battalion or larger unit behind our planned defense line.”

  “We need a blocking force there just in case, a small but strong group just shy of battalion strength, that is highly capable, very mobile, independent, and stubborn. The Draden garrison possesses a force such as this,” Wierangan stated pointedly and turned to look at Mkel, as did all the other officers in the tent. Mkel paused and quickly realized what he was saying.

  “Sir, while my garrison was looking to be on the line or lead a counterattack, with the dwarves to anchor on and my infantry company, elves, and other assets, we make a very effective striking force,” Mkel explained.

  “That is precisely why you and your combined weir need to be at that pass. You are the only truly mixed unit in most of the Alliance. With your combined arms makeup, you could hold that pass against a division for hours, and if no force attempts a bypass, you will be our exploitation to break their backs. Captain Mkel, I know your soldiers and friends are up to this task,” the Draden Regiment commander affirmed to his younger weir counterpart.”

  Mkel paused for a few seconds and then spoke out. “Sir, I understand the importance of this and agree to put the weir garrison there, but if the opportunity presents itself, you all can call on my soldiers,” he responded.

  “Yes, it will be integral to our success,” Wierangan replied.

  “Oh right, sir, but on one condition, that my elf clan leader Dekeen and a platoon of his clan go with the centaurs of Eladran Weir for their strike against the fire giant advance guard. They are almost as fast as centaurs and can keep up with them with their stamina. They will be able to whittle down the orcs and other creatures in that small army to allow the centaurs to hit the giants with everything they have. Plus, if Dekeen is with them, he could tip the odds in their favor. Upon the completion of this mission, they will move back to the rear of the garrison and assume a reserve role,” Mkel answered.

  “Then it is decided. Our defensive line is here,” Lordan moved the small representations of the gathered Alliance forces on the projected map to the choke point between the forest and the graduating wall of the mountains. “We will position our catapults here, here, and here to mass their fires on the giants and their army and to limit the damage they can incur from the enemy’s throwers. The sappers will emplace a hasty obstacle in front of the line, and we will man it with our archers and the elves until pressed and then quickly assemble the legions to defend it. The Eladran Cavalry will move through the path that the centaurs have found and strike from the rear of the enemy column with the 29th legion’s cavalry defending the flanks of the infantry.

  “Gallanth will lead the Eladran Weir’s dragons and all of the aerial forces for the attack tomorrow morning as they will likely be on the march. The centaurs and a small contingent of Draden Weir’s elves will hit the advance guard late this afternoon and then fall back through the forest and become our reserve. The supply wagons will consolidate here in this meadow, which will be the main wounded treatment point. We will move catapult stones and resupply to these points as well as arrows for the archers. If we are pressed and the dragons cannot teleport the supply corps out, they will move behind the legions as they fight a retrograde. If the legions are successful and we break the enemy’s advance, the reserve will exploit the success reinforced by Draden Weir’s garrison. With the Creator willing, we will route this swarm of evil heading to our lands,” Lordan summarized the attack plan.

  “Yes, but remember that the Morgathians will be emboldened with their recent victory in Ariana and the razing of the city of Hasera. We are still trying to figure that one out, but it was not without cost on their part. All agreed?” Colonel Wierangan looked at all the gathered officers.

  “Yes, Colonel, and I, Eladran’s, and the 29th legion’s wizards will see to the Morgathian sorcerers to best protect your soldiers,” Jodem stepped up from the back of the tent to address the group.

  “Thank you, Master Wizard Jodem, we trust in your and your associates’ powers to keep dark magic at bay,” the 29th Legion commander stated, and the wizards nodded a response.

  “Sir, I’ll move my garrison to the mountain pass tonight after they’ve eaten the evening meal,” Mkel offered.

  “Good. Well, Gentleman, may we be victorious, and may the Creator watch over us and our soldiers,” Wierangan said, and they all agreed and broke up the meeting.

  They then proceeded to their respective units. Mkel, Gallanth, and Jodem walked past the thousands of soldiers and mounts moving all about preparing for battle as they got back to the Draden Weir garrison and pulled everybody in to give them their briefing. He stuck Kershan into the ground and let its dragonstone project the terrain they were going to fight in. He then explained the legions’ plan of attack and addressed their part in the fight.

  “Draden, the plan for us is to guard this pass through the lower eastern mountains here.” He had the area of the pass highlighted in his sword’s projected image. “There is enough room to move a regiment through this path, and the legion commanders and Colonel Lordan are concerned that if any part of the fire giants’ army gets behind the main Alliance line, they could break us. We are to prevent that from happening. Lupek, take a section of the rangers and secure our site, for we have to be in place in a couple of hours to allow the sappers time to prepare a hasty defense.

  “Dekeen, I need for you to take a platoon of your elves and accompany the Eladran centaurs on their attack of the fire giant army’s advance guard. They know the woods here from before the Great War when they were driven off. They will need help though, and with your kin’s foot speed and stealth in the forest, you’ll make an ideal force to attrit the enemy as they pursue the centaurs after the initial attack.” Dekeen nodded; Mkel knew he already had been listening to the senior commanders discuss the operation in the tent from several hundred yards away with his elf ears.

  “Lieutenant Willaward, I see your throwers positioning here to take advantage of the sloping terrain and also protect you from any lucky giant-hurled boulders. Remember, you don’t need horses to move now,” Mkel explained. He nodded but stated he would like an alternate position down farther on the mountain slope in case he had to shift his fires to the main battle. Mkel agreed. “Lenor, I will keep you back between the garrison company and the catapults as our reserve just in case of surprises and to pursue any fleeing attacker. Gallanth and I will teleport the garrison, the dwarves, and the remaining elves to the positions this evening. We will array ourselves in standard battlefield formation with dwarves in the center, infantry on the flanks, but with two platoons on the side of the dwarves away from the mountain. This will force them to attack to the left, right into the sites of our new sharpshooters with the repeating crossbows.

  “Senior Sergeants Gemorg and Hartsean, I want your shooters placed right here in a trench that the sappe
rs will make for you about one hundred fifty yards up the slope. This will give you good standoff from an assault and with plunging fires and maximum cover. Your section will lead the fires on the enemy attack as they enter the kill sack. Hit them first at your longest range, for the more attrition you and the garrison crossbowmen give them, the better. Ordin, your dwarves are our anchor as always. I have faith in their tenacity. Dekeen, your remaining elves will provide the dwarves archer support and plug in any holes in the line as usual. Clydown, once your sappers have finished preparing the defense, fall back to the catapults. Wheelor, the land dragons will be on the flanks of the garrison to strike and prepare for any giants that might get close.

  “Pekram, Lieutenant Ablich, you have command on the ground while I, Gallanth, Weir Sergeant Toderan, and Jodem provide top cover and hit the Morgathian army hard, then engage the chromatics. Captain Vicasek, your wagons will use this route to ferry any supplies and wounded back to the legion assembly area, which will remain here in the meadow. Since Silvanth can’t be here, Beckann, Watterseth, I need you to accompany them if something gets through. A copper dragon and her rider from Eladran Weir will also be providing support to you in case any chromatics break through.” The seasoned cleric and elf wizard nodded in acknowledgment.

  “Lawrent, I’ve accepted risk in letting some of the elves go for two reasons: first, we have dramatically increased range and firepower with the new dragon-sinew repeating crossbows, and two, I have your raiders. Split your men into two groups, one right with the sharpshooters up on the ridge and the second in behind the platoon facing the enemy beside the mountain, just in case. Tegent, you’re my wingman tomorrow. Keep the little ones off,” Mkel said with a smile.