» Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:09 pm 2268
The heat was pounding, the winds blew hard and the dust picked up flying everywhere. It was a lone Sunday late afternoon here in the Copper Wasteland, or Arizona. Seven men were walking down a worn out beaten highway. A tall figure in a Gas Mask and various garbs with a Tactical Vest was walking down the road with five other men in similar clothing. They were armed were fierce. The winds picked up even more as the dust flew at them, but their Gas Mask protected it from them as the sandstorms in Arizona were horrid and can even swept a man. There was a story once, were a group of hunters were looking for their prey. As the winds picked up in the night, they were killed, one by one in one in a flash. A lone survivor remained, with stricken fear as he survived the attack of an Endless Walker, Ghouls who were exiled from the Reservation a former settlement of Ghouls who despised humans, which was eliminated by the Legion. The squad of seven was close to a lone village. They were sent out by the Ranger HQ to investigate of what happened to the tribe “Iron Lines’, a mechanical tribe which fashioned itself with old railway materials. They got up to a cave, and entered in. They slowly walked through seeing dead bodies with flesh around the cave walls. The lanterns in the caves were dimming, as they needed power. As they entered, the winds did not affect them as the canyon blocked it. The sight of dead bodies littered the whole area along with members of Caesars Legion. The buildings were silent and bodies were mutilated. Crows were picking on them and Crucifix’s laid in the middle of the court, where eight tribals of the Iron Lines were hung.
“Looks like the Legion did a number on this place. Densen, Walker, Johnson, check those tribals if they are OK. Krios, check for any salvageable materials. Parsons, Lawson check the East Side. I will check the west side said Captain Mardin”.
“Jesus, the Legion [censored] this placed up remarked Krios”.
William heads into the mechanical shop, and starts saluaging the place. He opens up the drawer which was filled with tools and materials. William grabs everything and puts it in a bag. He sees the Mechanic on the ground, with a spear in in stomach, and his throat cut. But, before leaving, he notices a hatch near the end of the Mechanical Shop. William opens the hatch revealing a stairway. He heads down frantically, not noticing a trap. He activates, and the string, attached on a Single Shotgun fires. William rolls to the left, narrowly dodging it until a gun is pointed at his head.
“Wh-o who are you. Move and I will blow your head off mister. The Red Devils won’t get me, as the tribal shakes his hand with nervousness and fear”.
“Put the gun down tribal, what is your name. We are with the Desert Rangers said William”.
“You are the Masked Ones aren’t you? My………….my name is Prime Mover, warrior of the Iron as he calms down. I was defending our village from the Red Devils. They swarmed our home. They killed my-my-my people as he got nervous. They killed our young ones. Our women were defiled and executed”.
Prime Mover starts to cry in sadness, as tears flow from him.
“Are there other survivors Prime Mover? We are going to get you to safety”.
William did not say anything comforting but just stayed emotionless. Despite though, it brings back memories when Pelagia was enslaved. At least they were enslaved but he felt a little sympathy as they massacred his people.
“Yes, there are ten survivors of us “.
Prime Mover wipes his tears with his elbow and heads to a door to the left, and pulls out a key and opens it.
“Diesel, Maglev, the Masked Ones are here. They are going to bring us to safety. Get the others said Prime Mover in a hurry”.
William sees ten people emerge from the cramped room. They were mainly women, children and a few men. They followed William out along with Prime Mover to topside until-
“Krios you alright, I heard a gunshot so I came here……wait, there are survivors said Densen.
Densen looked to see ten tribals of the Iron Lines unscathed. William and Jason lead them, to the courtyard. The survivors looked in disgust and fear of their slain but also hate and vengeance to the dead Legionaries. Then, Maglev, a woman and the priest saw her eight of her people on the crucifix with Walker and Johnson trying to get them out.
“We can’t get them out Walker as Johnson the Medic, a young women tries to get them out”.
They were on the crucifix, on there, hanging, waiting as the lives slowly recede.
“We will put them out of their misery said Walker”.
Walker, another Desert Ranger pulls out his .45 pistol and aims it at the first one on the Crucifix.
“Rest in peace as he puts his finger on the trigger until-“.
“WAIT, I will end their misery said Maglev from a distance. They are my people I must send them to the afterlife”.
Slowly, Walker and Johnson see Maglev walking to them, with Krios and Densen leading the Iron Lines survivors.
“I must end them said Maglev as she pulls out her pistol and goes in the middle and addresses them”.
“Do not worry dying ones, for you will be in a greater place of happiness and safety. May the gods Stanforda a Blekin watch over you as you will be free. You will be remembered in our minds and murals”.
The Iron Lines survivors watch, as Maglev conducts the ceremony. They slowly kneel on the ground and bow. The ones on the Crucifix cry, as they know they are going to die, but will be in a better place. Krios and the other Rangers watch them as they conduct there ceremony. They do not bow, but just watches, as tribals were like this.
“May the Great Roaring Machine bring you to peace as Maglev said it to them”.
Maglev slowly starts fires on them one by one as the 9mm bullets go through their brains, with peace in their minds. The others stand up, as they bow at their fallen brothers.
“Alright then Rangers, we got the survivors out. Make one last run through and collect anything, if its ok with you Maglev said Captain Mardin”.
“Yes it is alright. Use our people’s weapons to defeat the Legion she said in a cold manner”.
Gamma Squad disperses and starts searching the bodies and buildings, for anything of use to the Rangers. They come back with various assortment of crude weaponry. William comes back with a Railway Rifle and various sorts of junk material. With that done, Gamma Squad heads back out from the entrance, to seeing that the sandstorm receded.
“Thank god this Sandstorm is gone. Parson, Densen you’re in front with me. Walker, Johnson rear. Krios, Lawson get to the back said Captain Mardin”.
Gamma Squad formed a boxed formation, to defend the ten survivors of Iron Lines. The sun was going down and night was slowly seeping in. A Wolf howls from the distance. Gamma Squad was heading back to Ranger HQ, a long trek. They immediately all turn on their NVG to prevent hostiles from ambushing them. The night was still and lonely, with the stars up in the sky.
