Chapter 2

Signs of Betrayal

Just outside of town a mass of people were stumbling into town. They were all dead, or at least they were no longer alive. They filled the street. And they were coming towards the camp.

“Greg, get two defensive lines set up now. I want men up on the roofs as on either side of the street. Get the blasters out here and lets see what we are facing.”

As Greg sprinted back towards the camp, Luuk started to study the mass of people approaching. Most looked like very close to what they would look like on any other street in any other place. The differences were subtle. The color of their skin was off, Luuk couldn't place it. It was if they were darker, they were shadowed even standing in the light. He started to see others. Here and there in the crowd that did not look normal. They had wounds. Here a missing eye. There a gash along the jaw.

The mass seemed to be moving is slow motion. Luuk was fascinated. They had seen the dead re-animated in the corrupted lands. But only a few and never for more than an hour or two. There had to be a hundred in that crowd.

Luuk started to direct men as they arrived. Men with shields and heavy weapons were placed into two lines blocking the street. Behind them went a line of archers. Behind them went a handful of blasters. Luuk was glad he had some of these mystics with him.

Luuk watched as men climbed on top the roofs to the left and right of the human barricade in the street. Greg returned to his side.

“Commander, have the force is here and deployed, the other half is gaurdiung our rear and maintaining the perimeter of the camp.”

“Very good” Luuk answered. “What do you make of this? I've never seen so many re-animates before.”

“I don't know sir, but I think we may need to open fire. I don't think we can count on there re-animate force failing.”

“Okay Greg do it, clear the street.” Luuk commanded.

Greg moved forward and gave commanded to the archers. They drew and fired as a unit. They launched a rain of arrows into the mass at the end of the street. As the arrows streaked into the people they would stumble, spin, fall... but then get back up. Slowly they advanced on the men blocking the street. As they got closer Greg passed commends to the blasters. The men nodded and started chanting. The mob had gotten to within ten paces of the font line when the blasters started to shout and point at the mob. Great gouts of fire cut into the mob leaving huge gaps. Then the men shouted again and massive shards of ice shot from the sky into the mob tearing away flesh and ripping apart bodies.

Luuk watched his men. Confident that they would easily defeat these poor unfortunate people who had run afoul of some new threat from the corrupted lands.

Luuk moved over next to Greg,m ready to congratulate him on the excellent work. There were only a few of the creatures left. A quick charge by the men in the front line and the street would be cleared. Greg turned to salute Luuk and a bright metal
war shaft violently protruded from Greg's Chest. Blood shot out of Greg's mouth and several men cried out all at once. Greg's bright blue eyes stared deep into Luuk's as he slumped forward. Greg was dead long before his body slammed into the street.

The screams of the dying men filled the air. Luuk looked around for the source of the attack and was horrified to see a group of his own men firing from the roof into the men on the street. Men scrambled out of the firing line. Crammed into side streets and into buildings.

Luuk quickly counted the bodies in the street. Five men down, probably twice that number wounded.

“What the hell is going on” Luuk shouted.

Directly behind him a blaster clutched at an arrow lodged in his shoulder. “That was one of the late patrols.” He barked.

Luuk looked back out onto the street. He knew what he had to do, he hated to say it but he had to do it. “Take them down, Now!” He shouted. “No quarter, I want those men dead.”

He heard some gasps behind him. He wished he knew from who. These men were no longer friends, they had betrayed and attacked. They were the enemy. They had to be destroyed. He watched as the men on the roof were taken out. He stepped back into the street and issues orders that the bodies of the dead be burned. The wounded to return to camp and be treated and for patrols to starrt looking for sign of more attacks.

Men started to gather the bodies and build a pyre.

Luuk stopped and gathered the belongings of Greg personally. He had servered under Luuk for only a few months but he was a good soldier. Luuk would deliver these items personally to Gregss family when they returned.

As Luuk marched towards the camp and massive pillar of fire ripped a into the camp flinging men and equipment into the air.

“My God!” shouted Luuk. He grabbed the nearest soldier. “How many blasters were in the missing fists?” He shouted at the soldier.

“I-I-I-I'm not s-s-s-sure, sir!” the Soldier stammered the soldier. “I-I-I-I think three.”

Luuk released the man.

He started issuing orders to any soldier in sight. Anyone from any of the missig fists was to be captured and held if possible killed if impossible. Starting with the blaster that was tearing apart his camp.

It took only a few minutes to take down the rouge blaster. All the men in the late fists had to be killed. Once the camp was repaired and all the bodies had been burned Luuk took stock with his officers.

“How many did we lose?” Luuk asked.

Beckmin, one of the senior officers, stood. “The two late patrols, plus another three fists dead. Twenty men wounded, twn of those men severely. We lost both dowsers, a healer, two blasters, and thirty percent of the camp supplies.” He remained standing.

“What of those things, how many were there?” Luuk asked.

“There were approximately one hundred and forty of the things in the mob in town. The late patrols reported that they fought and killed a large bear like the people we saw in town. I don't know if we can trust that story anymore.” Luuk waved Beckmin back to his seat.

“Okay, we need to make this camp defensible for the night. First thing in the morning we are going to make a wide circle of the town. If we don't find another group of these things we are going to pack up and head back. We need to report what we have found to Commandant Stilson.” Luuk looked at his remaining staff, measuring them, trying to find his new second in command. “I want to split into three groups, each will take a separate path back, maximize our chances that someone will reach base to report our findings. I think we have just witnessed something new coming out of the corrupted lands. Questions?”

Luuk looked at each man in turn.

“Let's get busy, its going to be a long night. Dismissed. Freeman, wait a moment.”

Luuk waited until the other men had left and he stood and walked over to Freeman. “I need a new number two. Are you interested?”

“I'd be honured. Sir, but there are others that have more years in the field sir.” Freeman blurted.

“I don't want them I want you. DO you want the job?” Luuk asked. Freeman noded, “Promote a bannerman to take you place in your fist. I expect to see you here at first light.”

Luuk watched as Freeman left his tent and headed into the camp. Night was falling quickly. A junior soldier brought in some food from the mess for him. He thanked the soldier and dismissed him. He sat and started to eat. It would indeed be a long night. Luuk needed to find out what was happening, and he need ed to make sure someone got word back to the command base.

In his mind he started to make plans for the withdrawal tomorrow. There was no reason to think they would be attacked again but there was also no reason to be careless. The men would be ready to run so he needed to make sure they walked. The last thing he needed was carelessness.

Luuk was surprised to see he had finished the entire plate. He thought about going to the mess for more but decided against it. There would be time for more in the morning.