The thick, acrid smell of smoke filled the air as Sacra-Hill’s outer gate lay shattered in pieces. Inside the city, Austorian soldiers surged forward, pressing the defenders back and driving Beastkin, elves, and other demi-humans deeper into the labyrinthine streets. Arrows and bursts of magic whistled through the air, casting eerie glows and shadows that danced over the cobbled roads and stone buildings.
From a hill overlooking the city, the Austorian commanders watched with unwavering focus. Lords Garval Jigan and Indus Palper, generals of the 2nd Army, stood tall and composed, their eyes fixed on the devastation below. Beside them, Commander Sanra Desgan of the Royal Guard’s 3rd Subjugation Force leaned forward eagerly, her face twisted in a sadistic grin, while her second-in-command, Gideon Raventhrall, observed with equal fervor.
Jigan narrowed his eyes, assessing the resistance. "The local militia is putting up more of a fight than anticipated," he murmured to Palper. “Not that it will matter. We’ll flush out every elf hiding here soon enough.”
Palper nodded. "It’s a large city. The elves may be clever enough to evade us by blending in. We’ll need to focus on organized sweeps.”
Sanra scoffed at the generals’ words, her gaze locked on the scene of carnage below. She seemed to take delight in the chaos and bloodshed unfolding in Sacra-Hill’s streets. “Let them hide,” she said, her voice laced with cruel amusement. “We’ll burn down every house if we have to. Either way, they won’t escape.”
Jigan’s expression tightened, his distaste for Desgan barely concealed. He exchanged a glance with Palper before leaning in, his voice low. “I never had the stomach for her kind,” he muttered. “Did you know, my son was once engaged to her? The alliance seemed promising at first, but when he learned the depths of her... appetites, he annulled the engagement within days.” He shook his head. “It was the only sensible choice. I’d sooner see her kind kept far from the city after we’re done here.”
Palper’s eyes flickered with understanding, a slight frown crossing his face as he watched Desgan revel in the sight of civilians being rounded up. “It’s a shame the emperor sees fit to rely on the 3rd Subjugation Force. Their methods are effective, but there’s a price. This city will be more than mess by the time they’re through.”
Jigan nodded grimly. “Then we’ll pull our forces out once the defenders are fully subdued. Let the 3rd have their ‘fun’ and clear the city of any demi-humans by whatever means they see fit. We’ll send a small force back to oversee once she’s finished, but keeping them under her watch will prevent further friction with our own soldiers.”
Palper smirked slightly. “In that, we’re agreed. Let the 3rd sweep the city, and we’ll ensure no elf or demi-human remains here.”
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Sanra caught their glance and tilted her head, eyes glinting as though she sensed their distaste but chose to revel in it rather than be insulted. "If you’re done with your whispers, gentlemen, I think we have a city to claim."
Jigan gave her a cool look. “Indeed. You and the 3rd may take control once our initial operation is finished. My forces will withdraw afterward to ensure we’re ready for the next phase.”
Sanra sneered. “I think we’ll do just fine without you.”
As Sanra and Gideon turned to descend the hill, Jigan’s eyes followed them, his mouth a thin, disapproving line. He exchanged a last glance with Palper. “Mark my words—this will end poorly,” he muttered, “but the emperor has his reasons.”
Palper gave a resigned nod. “Then let’s withdraw in good time and ensure our objectives are met. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Jigan nodded, satisfied with that answer. He glanced at the sprawling city below, still alive with distant screams and the haze of smoke. “Then let’s get moving. This city has survived long enough. Sacra-Hill will fall to Austoria by nightfall.”
As Jigan turned towards his command post, a strange feeling crept over him. A prickle at the back of his neck made him pause, as if he were being watched from afar. He scanned the surrounding hills and sky but saw nothing unusual. Still, the uneasy feeling lingered.
“What is it, Garval?” Palper asked, catching his hesitation.
“Nothing,” Jigan replied after a moment, brushing it off. “Just... a feeling.”
The two generals moved off, gathering their staff to begin the process of preparing for withdrawal and the transfer of authority to the 3rd Subjugation Force. But high above them, in the distant clouds, the faint hum of a KnightEagle TUAV went unnoticed, its camera fixed on the city and the command hill.
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At Northpaw's intel “shack” in FOB Leythbrook, the screen lit up with the live feed from the newest KnightEagle TUAV to arrive on station. Sacra-Hill’s outer defenses, ravaged by the Austorian assault, came into view, along with the flashe s of spellfire and arrows streaking through the air. The tactical operations center was a hive of focused activity as analysts took note of the details, every piece of intel recorded.
An intel analyst leaned forward, adjusting the camera angle, and zeroed in on the hill overlooking the city, where the distinct figures of the generals and the Guards commanders stood. “We have eyes on key Austorian commanders. Marking them now,” he said, tagging Jigan, Palper, Desgan, and Raventhrall as priority targets.
His colleague at the terminal beside him spoke up, “Setting up target packages for confirmation. Guards Commander Sanra Desgan and Captain Gideon Raventhrall, 3rd Subjugation Force, are confirmed on-site.”
The intel analyst nodded grimly as he continued gathering data. “If we’re going to make an impact, we’ll need precise coordination on this. These people aren’t here for a clean victory.” He zoomed in on Desgan’s face, a twisted grin across her features as she surveyed the burning city. “They’re here for blood.”
Another analyst typed rapidly, pulling information on the 3rd Subjugation Force’s atrocities and preparing the tactical recommendations for Colonel Merryclaw. Every second counted as they pieced together the intelligence, setting the stage for a counteroffensive to strike Austoria’s forces where it would hurt most.
The screen displayed a grim view of Sacra-Hill’s besieged streets, and the KnightEagle’s feed streamed the impending chaos back to Northpaw’s outpost, where every detail would soon become the foundation of their response.