Post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqDjef2Xwh0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hundreds of eyes glanced in all directions as ten more of their retinue tucked behind the barricade facing west down Invictus Avenue. Corvus Street was two hundred meters away, the ghastly silhouette of their objective in the distance as the rain continued to fall.

"Freedom calls, gents."

"Oorah. That you, Salinti?"

"Yeah, it's me. How's it goin'?"

Derek nestled himself into the sprawling, rusted roadblock that sealed off the width of Invictus. The searing heat in his legs subsided as he finally rested them for a moment on the cold, crumbled ruin. Even if for a short while, he was glad he did.

One of the rebels shifted over to him, pressing a replenished magazine into this hand.

"Doing okay. We've gathered about fifty guys here. More are on the way, along with some vehicles they captured."

"We're gonna need everyone we can get, and quick. I got a--"

"--Derek?"

Derek ejected the rifle's empty magazine before turning his head back to look back at Marcus' weather-beaten face.

"Yeah, what?"

"We're storing up whatever supplies we have to ration out in that cafe, just there. We can take stock of what we got before we narrow down what the plan is."

"Alright. But I'm still worried we're short on ammunition."

"We are."

Derek's stomach twisted into a knot.

"...F*ck. Then what?"

"We'd best hope the other guys bring more, or else we're screwed."

The news anchor merely scowled at the black, rain-soaked debris below him.

In the distance, artillery fell all around the black, dead ruins.

And in that blink of despair, the flicker of an idea stirred.

"Unless..."

"What?"

"Do we have any artillery? Anything at all?"

"Uh... hold that thought."

He turned away, disappearing amongst the crowd, leaving Derek alone in the base of the collapsed roadblock.

Lightning flickered overhead as he gazed out across the open street.

Their lane to strike the Coalition line was wide open. His legs burned, itched to move. Their chance was right there, enticing them.

He shook the rain off his face as he rocked his head back and forth.

Attacking it now was suicide.

Damnit, what should I do!?

A hand fell on his shoulder.

"--Some of the other cells have mortars and maybe a handful of bigger static guns that we captured, but nothing more than that."

"That's something, at least..."

"We don't have enough ammo for prolonged fire support."

"Sh*t..."

Derek's heart wanted to sink, but he looked out at the steel noose of Coalition tanks and fortifications out ahead of them.

"--Unless..."

Marcus' eyes watched him with curiosity.

"What are you scheming?"

Derek pointed out towards the enemy line, shadowed in a humid haze.

"We just need one barrage... everything we got."

"And then what?"

Derek turned his eyes back to the crowd gathered in the street.

Not enough ammunition... and no time to wait...

His thoughts cut off as the asphalt shook below his feet.

The rumble of vehicles. Big, low growling engines.

The blood in the news anchor's skin went ice-cold as the beam of headlights cast across the adjacent block.

"You think those are our guys?"

"F*ck if I know! Get that launcher up here!"

The street around him was wide open. There was nowhere to run.

If the Coalition found them, they, and the city of Directus, were done for.

I pray to thee, hear my cry, Lady Azura. Hear my cry that I pray for your protection and mercy in the face of certain death at the hands of my enemy. I wish to live on and preserve our home, to make it rise again like the spirit of Ignis--

The vehicle turned towards them.

I pray to thee, hear my cry... Azura, Ari, Synthis, anyone... I beg you! Spare me, please...!

The vehicles rolled closer.

I don't want to die--!

And then he heard it.

"FREEDOM CALLS!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa4-nqF10vk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"OORAAAAAAH!"

"Friendlies? Hot d*mn!"

"F*ck yeah, now it's a party!"

Derek gasped for air as he finally learned how to breathe again, glancing up at the stormy night sky as a lightning bolt arced through the mass of clouds.

Thanks, Azura. Remind me to make it up to you when my time comes, alright?

The rebels riding on the vehicles jumped down, unloading their supplies. Everything they brought with them.

"--Hey, nice to see you guys out here."

"Thought you could use some help. Who was that music on the radio? Can I get a word in with 'em?"

"Who, Derek? Yeah, he's over there."

Five heads all looked at him.

"Derek."

"That's... me--" He pushed himself to his feet, assault rifle under his arm. "You called?"

"What's the plan?"

"I dunno yet. How much ammo did you bring?"

"Enough. But if we're in a prolonged firefight against them..." the rebel pointed out towards the Coalition line. "...We're in for a bad time."

"So we need to hit it and break through it, and fast."

"Aye. How much manpower do we have? We brought an extra fifty-sixty guys."

"Holy sh*t, dude. We got fifty out here, so we're rocking like a hundred-ten, hundred-twenty right now."

"Hmph. Will that be enough?"

"It'll have to be..."

The rebel shook his head.

"We have vics, but if we're undermanned and underequipped, we're f*cked."

"I was told we have artillery support. Captured mortars and guns that can weaken the line."

"I still doubt this will work..."

Derek scowled. "Then what?"

His comrade rubbed his temples anxiously.

"That's the point. I don't f*ckin' know as much as you do."

Derek pressed a frustrated sigh from his lungs.

They had to do something. Anything.

"We gotta break that line. Whatever it takes, we have to. Or this city is gone."

"...I know. D*mnit, if only--"

Another voice called out as the road shook again.

"G-Guys! Heads up! Vehicle coming at us from the south! Looks like an APC or something, but she's hauling *ss!"

"One of ours!?"

"Can't tell! Brace yourselves!"

One of the rebel APCs slammed it into reverse, backing up down the street to face the incoming threat, swinging the long autocannon barrel around.

"What do we do!?"

"If it fires, light that sh*t up!"

"What!? You mean hold fire!?"

"Hold it! I want to know who we're dealing with here!"

The growling engine of the approaching APC grew closer.

Closer.

Derek's eyes caught the blue emblem embossed on the side.

"--PASLIN MILITARY!"

"It's PAF!? That's a friendly, hold your fire!"

"It's friendly!?"

"At ease, guys... by Azura, what are they doing up here?"

"Didn't the Paslin guys retreat south?"

"Yeah, that's what I heard. This had better be good."

A spark lit up in Derek's brain.

If we don't have enough... Of course...! Paslin would have enough to help us out, right?

He motioned the friendly APC to move.

"Get your *ss out of the way! I'll go talk to this guy!"

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I got this."

With the rifle slung over his shoulder, he approached the vehicle as the commander's hatch rose up to the sky...