UNKNOWN|CAMP PILLAR|FIVE DAYS UNTIL MAIN FORCE ARRIVES
Tension filled the air.
Numerous reports lied on top Olives desk, many of them indicating an increased amount of movement observed in the trees around them.
While this meant that the enemy was observing and gaining intelligence on them. A large clearing was made around the camp. Many of the trees cut down were used to create makeshift walls and towers.
Since they have yet to reveal themselves, Olive has chosen to ignore these movements.
Other than having his men clean their guns, no other combat capabilities have been shown to their would be attackers.
"It's a good thing we set those charges ahead of time." Olive mused to himself as he took another look at the map.
"AP mines armed and set, incendiary charges placed around the tree lines. If only we could fit the jeeps through." Olive mused. "But for now it's a waiting game.
—
***|HOLYLAND OUTSKIRTS|***
There are more of them.
You are more quiet than you used to be.
I have come to realize that my anger is of no use here. I shall hold it for the heretics.
You are growing.
At the cost of our holy trees...
The cost is worth it if you become a good leader.
...
Conquer more land for the holy one. More trees shall grow. And more of our people shall prosper.
At the cost of what we have? How are you not consumed in hatred? Those heretical humans have burned a path through the holy trees. And they look like they wish to combine with those at the sitting at the Holy City entrance.
In due time, young one. Anger, Hatred, Wrath, these are all emotions that kinder our strength.
What strength? We channel the holy ones power through ourselves to speak with the land and use it. It is what gives fear to the humans. It is what prevents them from entering the holy land and polluting it with their heresy.
You shall see when we strike the humans. Our strength, and the strength of the holy one.
—
FOUR DAYS UNTIL MAIN FORCE ARRIVES
Movement in the forest has heightened.
Scouts in the watchtowers have reported seeing figures dart between the trees at ungodly speeds.
At this rate, Olive predicts that first contact will occur tonight or early in the morning.
"If only they could wait a few more days." Olive thought aloud as he and a group of officers gathered in his tent to prepare for combat.
"We could always shoot off a couple warning shots." A young officer ventured. "That could cause them to change their minds."
"I highly doubt that warning shots could deter them at this point." An older officer countered. "They seem very agitated as the day passes. It seems as the main force is getting closer and closer."
"It's a shame that the communication satellites are not operational yet." One of the officers lamented.
"Will we have air support should conflict arise?"
"Yes, but they have limited munitions."
"How so? I thought the expeditionary fleet has joined up with the main fleet and are sitting around the landing point. "
"Don't ask me, I'm just the messenger."
"It's because their primary role is reconnaissance." Olive answered. "There is only so much they can carry before it starts hampering their primary role. That is what they mean by limited munitions."
"I see, forgot that Rage team was a recon unit. My apologies."
"No worries, we are about to enter our first conflict with a non human race. Just keep your mind sharp during combat and we should be fine."
"Speaking of combat, how are the men doing?"
"Tense, excited, pumped, some a little scared, one of them said they're a little depressed that we are fighting elves, another said that he's going to marry one and create a basketball team."
"In other words, they are fine and ready." Olive summed up.
"Pretty much."
"Alright gentlemen, enough bantering about, get your game faces on. To your squads." Olive shooed them out after a couple minutes of small talk.
Seeing the last of them out and linking up with their men, Olive returned to his tent and brought out his own rifle.
"Let's hope I still got my aim in me. All those years of paperwork and diplomatic visits have done a number on me." He spoke to his rifle as he cleaned it with practiced movement, albeit with slight awkwardness.
As day turned to evening, and evening to twilight, the chatter and noise around the pillar camp died down.
When the cover of night replaced all signs of sunlight, nothing but silence could be heard across the camp, as the men and women of the recon team prepared for arrival of the long night.
—
T-80:02:59 UNTIL MAIN FORCE ARRIVES
—
The humans are silent. It is time to strike.
I will lead a group to their side. At the signal, we strike as one.
Be Careful.
Heh, what happened to all that aggression. Who was it that said the humans will taste their blade?
Those heretics will still feel my wrath through my blade.
Good. Remember, the signal.
...May the holy one guide you.
The holy one shall guide you as well.
There they go. Ready men! Aim well and strike true! May the holy ones power guide us!
—
Silence.
An eerie silence.
"Yo dude." A scout in a watchtower whispered to his teammate.
"What?!? Make it quick!"
"Where is the wind?"
"Huh?"
"The wind. It's gone."
Pausing for a moment, the two in the watchtower observe their surroundings.
"You're right, there is no wind. We can usually hear it blow through the leaves."
*crack*
Both men turn their heads towards the tree line across the clearing. Barely able to make it out.
""Did you hear that??""
They both ask in unison.
Looking at each other, they both nod their head before sending a signal down to the mortar teams.
As the mortar team receive the signal, they load starlight shells and fire in unison.
Right as they fire, a shrill whistle pierces the silence from the west side of the camp.
CHARGE!!
A loud cry in a unrecognizable tongue rips through the air, followed by countless others, only lasts for a few seconds before the starlight shells detonate in the air, releasing flares and lighting up the entire camp and a portion of the forest beyond the tree line.
What they see shocks them.
Several legions of elves surrounded the camp, all of them pausing in shock at the sudden brightness that lit up the surroundings.
Seeing all sorts of weapons in their hands, one of the officers yells out, breaking the soft stalemate.
"UNKNOWN HOLDING WEAPONS! OPEN FIRE!"
As soon as the order is given, chaos erupts.
Under the light of the flares, countless machine gun nests open up on the stunned elves, massacring everything in their path.
Countless cries in an unknown tongue are heard across the battlefield, only to be drowned out under relentless gunfire.
Half of the elven forces are eliminated in this opening engagement. With the rest retreating into the trees, causing majority of gunfire to cease as they loose track of their targets.
"Should we do it Oliver?" The old officer asks as the two observe from a tower.
"..." Lost in thought, it takes Olive a moment before he answers. "...No... We keep it as a last resort."
"I'm surprised. Usually you would have ordered it a while ago. Annihilate the enemy before they can even regroup."
"That's back on earth." Olive responds with a shake of his head. "On earth we already killed mother nature. I couldn't care less about the effects of my methods on the environment. But this is a new world."
"There's that phrase again, 'A new world.'"
"From what little things I've heard from Admiral Vardan, this world is several times larger than earth. Something that defies all known science."
"I don't see how that correlates with your change of tactics."
"It's a new beginning for us." Olive turns and answers the old man. "You may not have much time left, but we do. Back on earth it was stifling just trying to survive. Many of us would not be where we are if it wasn't for the old man picking us up and teaching us his way.
"Even then it was hard for us to survive in a dying world. While we were a match for the small to medium sized countries, we could do nothing in the face of those giants.
"Here, we can do something. No giant super countries to stop us from carving a place to live. No man made environmental factors to hinder us at every turn. A chance for us to create a place we can actually call home.
"So no, I will keep that as a last resort, no longer will I disregard and scorch everything."
"I see." The old officer looks down, slightly ashamed as it was his generation that created that messed up world Olive and the others lived in. "In that case, let this old man see where you youngsters can go, and what heights everyone can climb to."
"Another time old man." Olive smiles and pats his shoulder. "We first need to get out of our current situation."
"That too."
The long range radio in the tower lights up.
"Rage 2-1 to camp. Be advised, detecting large group of heat signatures grouping up in the forest."
"Roger Rage 2-1, thanks for the heads up." Olive turns the LR off and connects to the PA.
"HEADS UP FOR ROUND 2!"