War in the City Chapter 5

IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE NEW ERA
Once Azom was ready, Nuntius left the palace and went to the ships where Paper and Roc were waiting. He lead them through the palace walls, just like he had done with Azom, and brought them into the throne room. Azom was waiting for them, with Azet perched on his shoulder. Nuntius kept the introductions brief.

"Paper, Roc, I believe you already know who Azom is. He will be your new leader as you take over the city, and then subsequently rule it."

"Leader!" Paper was noticeable angry. "You promised us we would be the most powerful men in the city."

"You will be more than compensated for your actions," Nuntius replied. Nuntius turned to Azom. "They are to have as much power as they want as long as it does not conflict with your wishes."

"Yez Deka," Azom answered, bowing slightly.

"They will prove an invaluable resource to you," Nuntius continued. "You will be in a strange land, and they can tell you what to do, or how things work."

"Yez Deka," Azom repeated.

"Have the Harpies already left?" Nuntius asked Azom.

"I gave the order," Azom replied.

"They've left," Palzo said, stepping into the room. "One of my finest Harpy generals is among them. He led a failed attack on one of those ships," Palzo pointed to the three ships in the middle of the throne room. "But other than that, he has never failed me. His name is Druod."

"I will give them the gift of speed," Nuntius replied. "They will reach the city at the same time your ships do."
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The Harpies flew through the air at an enormous speed. Caelis gave them as much help as he could. From up above, the rest of the gods watched. "I still say this plan won't work," Navis said. "We can't just fly those ships right into the city. Surely they'll check them to make sure there isn't anything wrong with them. Or more likely, they must have been watching to see the massacre of their own crews, and know that Marramiane soldiers replaced them."

Scientia shook his head in disgust. "Navis, if you had only been paying attention, you would have seen that The Watchers never check to see what happens to the ships once they leave the city."

Navis couldn't believe it. "How unbelievably stupid."

"History," Scientia responded, "is the teacher of all fools. And right now, the Watchers have absolutely no historical reason to watch what happens to the Kalka Project ships once they leave the city. They've always returned safely before, and they have no reason to expect such a massive plan like this from us."

"They under estimate us," Navis replied. "They put all their faith in their force field."

"Exactly. And that will be their downfall."
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Paper's ship flew through the city doors, and came to a stop in the hanger. Paper stepped out of the ship, and Anes, who was given the duty of supervising all the ships that flew in and out of the city, stepped out of his watch tower to meet Paper. Anes had met Paper in the past, and the two did not get along well at all. Anes was cold and formal as he walked over. He did not enjoy Paper's company, but his duty as a Kalka Project volunteer required him to check with all incoming ships and ask if things went alright.

"Paper," Anes said, emotion drained from his voice, except for perhaps a tint of disgust that leaked in, "how did things go."

Paper stuck his hand into the ship and pulled out a laser gun. He pointed it at Anes and answered, "satisfactory." Paper's face grew into a huge grin.

Anes through his arms up as if to shield himself from the laser gun and yelled out, "No! No!" A second later, his body was evidence that the cries for mercy had been in vain.

"Alright, everyone out," Paper commanded. The nine Marramiane soldiers exited from the ship, each carrying a laser gun that had been made from the ship's replicators. "Kill everyone you see," Paper commanded. The nine soldiers rushed out of the hanger with that objective in mind. Paper stayed behind to open the door for Roc's ship, which also carried nine Marramiane soldiers, and for Azom's ship, which carried Azom, Azet, Palzo, Darma, and seven Marramiane soldiers. As to the number of Harpies Paper also let into the city, he couldn't even begin to guess at the number.
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The Marramiane soldiers Paper had brought with him were released into the city. After they left the hanger, they found themselves in a maze of hallways leading out of it. Actually, compared to some parts of the city, it really wasn't that complicated, but to the Marramiane soldiers, it was unbelievable. They had no way of knowing which way to get out of the hallways, and so wandered about for some time. They didn't find very many people, but those that they did, they killed. Their aim with the laser guns left a lot to be desired, but it was still nine laser guns against none at a short range.

Marcus and Trop were both taken by surprise by the Marramiane soldiers. Two hallways came together at a ninety degree angle. Marcus and Trop were walking down one, the Marramiane soldiers were heading down another. Trop was walking ahead of Marcus, and so was the first one to come to the end of the hallway and make a right turn into the other hallway, which was the hallway that the Marramiane soldiers were headed down. Marcus heard the laser guns go off, and then saw the body of his friend get knocked backwards, and then fall over dead. Marcus didn't wait around to see who did it, but ran away as fast as he could. The Marramiane soldiers heard the pounding of footsteps, and ran in pursuit, but Marcus lost them easily by weaving his way through the hallways. While they were chasing him though, Marcus was able to look back and see who his pursuers were. He could not believe his eyes. Although, like all Watchers, he was largely ignorant of the rest of Fabulae, and so did not recognize the Marramiane armor, he could see easily enough that his pursuers were from the outside. (Although, at the time he did not rule out the possibility that they were Watchers dressed up to appear as if they were from outside the city.)

As soon as he had lost the Marramiane soldiers, Marcus got out of the whole hallway maze itself, and out into the open. It was a reasonably hot day in the city, and the artificial sun was unhindered by any clouds. Marcus ran as fast as he could to the nearest monitor, where he quickly sounded the alarm. By that time, however, it was too late. All three ships were already inside the city, as well as all of the Harpies. The Watchers armed themselves against their attackers. The whole city soon exploded into a battle ground.
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Ducas surrounded himself with all the other city officials. Vice President Qual was there as well as the head of the police force Hull, the Secretary of the parks Jom, Secretary of volunteer organizations Kest, and many others. "Ladies and Gentleman, I want answers and quick," Ducas demanded. "What is going on?"

"We've been betrayed," Hull answered. "Two Watchers, Roc and Paper, have let Marramiane forces inside the city. These forces are being led by former king of Marram, Azom."

"I thought Azom was dead," Qual said.

"Listen, we don't have time to get into this right now," Hull said. "Azom has given us his terms. He wants us to surrender, and he promises few will die. If we keep fighting, he threatens to destroy the whole city."

"How are we doing?" Ducas asked. "Can we defeat Azom's forces?"

"I think so," Hull answered.

"Then let us wash away all talk of surrender," Ducas responded.
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To most, the invasion was a disaster. To Drusus, it was a blessing. He felt guilty at his joy, but he could not help it. For almost four years, he had ached for some action, to get back to the old life he knew as a soldier, a life of danger of excitement, and most of all the thrill he got from knowing his life was in danger. Even though it was absolutely worthless, Drusus still wanted to dress up in his old armor for the occasion, but he knew The Watchers wouldn't be able to distinguish Caletian armor from Marramiane. Drusus did however grab his old sword and spear. These were the same weapons he had fought with during the Veletti invasion, and Drusus had kept them in his closet ever since. Not a day went by when he did not take them out and hold them, and wish he had a chance to use them. Now, he had that chance.

Drusus put on his old belt, and sheathed his sword in it. Sword hanging buy his side, Drusus held his spear in one hand, and a laser gun in the other. Over the four years Drusus had been in the city, he had learned to shoot a laser gun rather well. Now, he rushed out of his house fully armed to fight the battle.

The artificial sky was filled with Harpies, and the Harpies each had a laser gun. They shot down at anything that moved on the ground. Drusus took cover underneath his neighbor's porch, and shot at the Harpies. He picked quite a few of them off. They tried to return fire, but Drusus was safe from their aim underneath the porch. Eventually, all the Harpies who were too stubborn to flee the area were killed. Drusus stepped out from beneath the porch, disappointed. His life had not been placed in danger, and his adversaries had made things too easy for him. It was obvious the Harpies did not know how to aim a laser gun.

There were Marramiane foot soldiers here. Drusus remembered hearing reports about them. He quickly consulted the teacher to find out where they were.

Drusus glanced at the monitor display of where the foot soldiers were located. "Excellent," he thought. They were all together.
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"In here! We'll be safe," Jonz pushed Cain through the door into the house, and then scrambled in after him, closing the door behind him. Both men breathed quite heavily as they leaned against the walls in exhaustion.

"That was close," Cain said. "Too close. They're shooting at everything that moves."

Jonz only smiled back at Cain, then once he had caught his breath he replied, "not quite everything that moves; just everything they can see. Since they can't see us inside this house, they forget we even exist. We're safe here."

Cain nodded, looking around him. "It's a good thing we happened to be close by."

A man walked down the hallway to meet Cain and Jonz at the door. "Friends, you came in without knocking," the man glanced out the window, "but under the circumstances that's understandable. You are welcome here anytime. I am pleased I could help you find safety. Allow me to introduce myself."

"No need to brother Judas," Jonz replied. "It's us."

Judas stepped into the light so he could see the two. "Brother Jonz, brother Cain, of course. You'll forgive me for not recognizing you."

Jonz waved his hand, dismissing the idea. "No need to apologize brother. It's quite understandable. Are any of the others here?"

Judas nodded. "They're all over. My basement is packed with them, as well as my upstairs. Let me tell you, today it is a great blessing to have such a big house."

Jonz smiled. "Be thankful for what you can, I guess."

Jonz voice made it clear it he was joking, but Judas thought the point, even if made in jest, was a good one. "Quite true Jonz. We have much to be thankful for."