Siege
The city walls were crumbling, ill equipped to handle the sheer volume of crazed machines crashing into them.
The mechanical nightmare horde was so single-minded it was even crushing those at the front, stymied by the wall, under the feet of those behind. Others were actually exploding from the force of impact. As the wreckage continued to pile, the vertical stone shield around the city became progressively shorter by comparison.
The debris was so high now that low-flying reaverbots were leaping the wall. Soon even walking types would able to leap over, if the walls didn't fall first. The city's resident Diggers' Guildmembers already had their hands full dealing with the Mirumiji tunneling under the wall, the addition of flying bombs like Foo Roo was almost more than they could handle. Soon they were forced to yield their front lines, retreating farther and farther. They were nearly pressed right up against the tower now. The citizens inside were no doubt huddled together in fear as their few brave protectors lost ever more ground.
The walls fell.
Trapped now, circling the tower, the last bastion of protection for the citizens, the Diggers' Guild did all they could to stave off the encroaching low class reavers, but now there were larger problems. Much larger. Guardian class machines were now pouring in through the opened walls. Some tall. Some wide. Most equipped with brutal looking maces or large spiked balls for hands. There was only a small buffer between the suicidal exploding machines and the diggers, but soon that would be penetrated by giant, smashing, laser blasting mechanoids. One in particular, a Hanmuru Doll, seemed to have its sights set square on the tower.
Four steps. That was the all that was left between it and their buffer zone.
Three steps. They had no hope of fending off the mass of flying pests and this brute at once.
Two steps. Their backs were pressed as hard against the tower as they could be.
One step. The sound of mechanical stomping was would drive them mad if their fear didn't first.
Breach. Their small bubble of safety had just popped. The intensity of the glowing red eye before them was more frightening even than the entire swarm of suicide bombs that had driven them here. That eye seemed to fixate on each of them, no matter where they stood. The diggers each felt as though it was staring directly at them. The gleaming crimson iris seemed to glow brighter with malice, each passing instant.
The gargantuan 'Doll' shined its brilliant cutting laser along the ground, drawing a deep black groove as it reached ever toward the beacon tower, filled with innocents, guarded only by whimpering diggers.
A loud crack rang, as thick black smoke began pouring out of its face and its relentless forward stomping ceased.
A voice crackled through the commotion, fighting even the noise of the invasion.
"The Ryship Po--er, P-Pirate Militia is here to assist! Main cannon FIRE!"Another deafening crack, and one less guardian class reaverbot. Emerging from behind the beacon tower, a long pointed airship cast its shadow over the battle. Looking more like a luxury yacht than anything else, scribed elegantly along its bow,
Maiden of the Skies. The large cannon strangely welded to its hull fired off its third shot. From above, a young brunette woman in a blue uniform and glasses fired off a bazooka into the horde, reloading it from the belt of explosives slung across her shoulder. More blue uniforms appeared rolling bombs over the side as the ship passed by, destroying almost as many empty homes as enemy machines.
The battle had turned in their favor, if only for the moment. With renewed vigor and high morale, the Diggers' Guild began to advance, retaking their town. If it cost them every building to save their lives, they'd be fine with it.
This was a Diggers' town; they could rebuild.After what seemed like an instant and an eternity all at once, the tide had stemmed. The Diggers panted and wiped sweat from their brows, some collapsing under their own weight. The battle was theirs. They could see the dust in the distance, kicked up by another wave, but for now they had a precious hour or two to rest.
The Maiden of the Skies' rope ladder rolled down as she came to a steady hover. The young woman adorned in her dirty blue uniform and a bandoleer of rockets climbed down and waved a hand to the darkly tanned, young man closest her, "Nice to meet you, I'm--"
A hulking Sharukurusu uncloaked and lunged at her. Before he could even say 'Look out!' she caught it's clawed arm and hurled it over her shoulder, burying it's pointed head in the ground.
"Ahem!" she scowled at it. "Offi--*cough* Captain Denise Marmalade!" she saluted with a smile. Along the sides of the ship several white helmed men saluted in kind. There was a stunned silence, before applause erupted from behind them as the other diggers did the only thing they could find appropriate to do in response.
The young digger in front fumbled for a moment before nodding, "Thanks for your help, I thought we were goners. I'm Artillery, but my friends call me Art... We should resupply while we still have time. Got kinda caught off guard last time. What's going on out there, anyway?"
So, yeah. I'll be posting a few scenes here and there explaining just how Denise became a... well what she is here.
Also some stuff about why this city is under siege.
Once I've written them anyway.
Please comment!
