Aftermath of the first human aircraft attack on Rock Hill

First Previous Next

Tyrant's Reign is about a Rynar soldier, Private Namaeo, who is pulled from guard duty aboard a space station and thrust into a war. Forced to miss his daughters hatch day. He was sectioned with Battlemaster Jailthar, at Rock Hill, on the edge between North and South Carolina. Been hinting it for a time now, but this story, alongside Blue On Blue, Hearts And Minds, and Of Mice And Men, are all interconnected :3

None of this would be possible without  Sarya

I felt bad for constantly bugging him with questions, but I hope it was worth it!~

Art done by the awesome  Drunk_ferret

---

The roar of human jets still rang through the shattered camp. They'd shot down five of the eight, though not without casualties. Namaeo was holding his rifle hard against his shoulder. Watching the specs as they flew far off into the sky. Fearful that any moment, they'd turn around and strike again.

Time passed, with his thudding heartbeat being his only company. Yet, as his eyes glossed over the wreckage, soon the cries of injured Rynar and the medics overseeing them snapped him to reality.

Carefully lowering his rifle, he felt a lump in his chest form as he looked around the camp. Humans had hidden away, but Rynar soldiers were either dead, injured, or helping those they could.

Fires raged throughout the town, though Namaoe noted that many human buildings remained intact. Through broken ground and shattered armor, the strange aircraft clearly was not a response force but a scouting party.

Namaeo flinched when Jailthar's voice spoke over their radio.

"Damage report! Medics tend to the wounded, Officer Zihara come to the East wing."

Spurring to action, Namaeo followed after a medical officer. Quickly kneeling to a wounded Rynar. The man was incoherent, hissing in pain as his suit injected several doses of stimulants. The Officer would rapidly detach the man's chest plate, showing that his armor had broken and fragmented into him.

Despite the blood, the Officer spoke in a raspy yet calm voice.

"This one will be alright. Private Namaeo, help clean the wounds."

Namaeo let out a sigh of relief and quickly unpacked his emergency satchel. Grabbing out an alcoholic rag, he began wiping away blood. The Rynar's pained eyes stared into him, and his hand snatched out to grip Namaeo's hand in a state of distress. However, the young soldier didn't shy away as the medical Officer took over. Soon, the soldier spoke, spitting out a gasp of pain.

"T-These bugs... Why do th... Do they not accept Rynar's rule? Do they not know they have lost?"

Namaeo glanced aside, his eyes playing across the flames that licked at buildings. Rynar soldiers quickly splashed water on the fires in an attempt to stop the spread. Saving the humans under their guard from the flames of their own military.

"Namaeo does not know but just breathe. Save one's strength for recovery..."

Despite the reassuring words, it was clear the soldier knew he was going to die. His breathing hitched, and the Officer quickly disengaged his suit for fear of it trying to pump more chemicals into him. His vice grip on Namaeo's hand fluttered before dropping.

With the soldier passing, the medical Officer quickly pulled out another device. Charging it before pressing it to the Rynar's chest. With a static shock, the Rynar convulsed. Causing Namaeo to flinch back and avert his gaze.

His eyes stung, but he couldn't tell if it was from tears or the smoke that flowed through the camp. A small form caught his eye, and he shifted back as he spotted Officer Rick. The human was unable to look away as the scene unfolded. Another shock, then another, and another. Finally, the Officer began calling out the soldier's name but cursed when no jolt would bring the man back.

Namaeo barely registered what had happened before Jailthar's voice echoed in his helmet. Sounding like a tempered storm, hiding his rage yet letting it permeate his words still.

"Private Namaeo ordered the East wing to find Officer Rick. There is explaining he must do."

Giving an apologetic look to the Medical Officer, he glanced back to the soldier and hissed. Patting the Medical Officer's shoulder, he stood and stepped towards Rick.

The small human gave pause, raising his hands as he began to speak. But Namaor cut him off with a shake of his head while kneeling.

"Battlemaster Jailthar wishes us at the East Wing."

Rick watched as the private opened his armored hand, hesitating briefly before jogging up to it. Namaeo's attention sparked back to the Medical Officer, then to the soldier's armor. It was riddled with bullet holes that had torn through the armor as if it were nonexistent.

Rick's voice snapped Namaeo back into focus, and as the Rynar glanced down at the human, he felt the weight of truth to the man's words.

"N-Now, I'll tell you right now... I don't know nothin' about what the hell just happened... D-Didn't Jailthar say the military bases were destroyed in the area? Airfields..? L-Look! I don't know where those fucking things came from!"

Namaeo could hear the pain and fear in Ricks's voice as he stood in the giant's hand. Glancing back at him, Namaeo nodded.

"Namaeo believes Rick... But let us hope Jailthar can make sense of this..."

Forcing his mind to take in the scenery in an attempt to forget the dying eyes of his fellow soldier. He stood while the town bustled. Curling his fingers to prevent Rick from falling, he trods across camp. Jailthar's direct orders rattled in his mind as he walked. Not a single human was to be killed; they had new masters now.

Since their first minute here, the Rynar, under Jailthar's command, have taken that point to heart. But with such devastation, how could they trust that no human under their Charge was responsible?

Killing humans in a brutal first assault would ruin any chance of humans accepting their new place. Though with the destruction of Charlotte and the devastation here, Namaeo found himself wondering if such a light approach was dangerous.

The humans were willing to attack their own buildings, their own kind, to slaughter their new masters. Namaeo's mind flickered with thought as he glanced down at Rick. The human avoided eye contact, and a tinge of guilt washed over Namaeo. The human's fear of Namaeo was palpable and gut-boiling.

As Namaeo approached their command tent, he heard Praetor  Zahira yelling out from inside. Hesitating briefly, he pulled open the flap; Zihara and Battlemaster Jailthar stood at opposite ends of their command console. The two fell deathly silent as Namaoe stepped in. Offering his hand down to the console, Rick stepped off.

Praetor Zahira opened up immediately with venom in her voice.

"The humans must be in communication with these 'Planes'! How can we trust that Officer Rick isn't the one responsible? Just after setting up his puny 'HAM' radio, the attacks began!"

Jailthar's brow furrowed, giving all three a stone appearance as he nodded. Though not agreeing with Praetor Zahira immediately, he glanced to Rick, giving silent permission to speak.

"I'm telling you! We didn't know! A-All the airfield bases have been dead quiet!"

Namaeo noted Jailthar's stoic approach, nodding silently as the Praetor hissed back with venom in her voice.

"Explain that to our dead soldiers! Battlemaster Jailthar, it's probable that the humans have been alerting such a group! We can't survive many more attacks like this! Praetor Zihara suggests culling the humans! Show who is strongest!"

Jailthar glanced over, his heavy armor whirring as he looked at Namaeo. The private felt utterly out of place, but he did his best to stand at attention, as now both his superiors looked to him. Zihara growled again, slamming her fist on the console, startling the already scared human.

"Private Namaeo! Charlotte was destroyed, yes? That will happen here if we allow these attacks to continue-"

She was cut off as Rick gasped out.

"Charlotte is... Gone..?"

Namaeo stared at the frightened human and wondered for a moment: If the humans didn't know of Charlotte's destruction, how could they be tied to these attacks?

Praetor Zihara scoffed, reaching her armored hand down to threaten the small man. Though just as he yelled out and backed up, Jailthar spoke in a low but commanding tone. His voice froze the room as he glared the three over.

"Praetor Zihara, speak to Medical Officer Haudi and get an assessment of the wounded. Officer Rick, make sure your people understand these attacks will not be without consequence, whether or not they are your fault. Humans found outside their designated homes will be reprimanded."

The Praetor hesitated, knowing the cost of questioning her commander. Zihara was stunned for but a moment before she hissed sharply.

"Does Battlemaster Jailthar not see the destruction caused? This situation is far beyond just 'Reprimanding."

Jailthar listened, thinking her words over before glancing at the human. There was a brief second of emptiness as the entire room waited for the man to speak.

"The plan is still under effect. Praetor Zihara will adhere to her position and orders. Questioning one's Battlemaster is dishonoring their status. Do you mean to question my honor, Praetor Zihara?"

She fell silent, quickly realizing she had stepped over a line. Recollecting herself, her eyes flickered down, and she bowed.

"Zihara did not mean to offend. What are Battlemaster Jailthar's orders?"

The tone in the room shifted as the large commander relaxed himself. A small sign of forgiveness, though a warning for her not to step over that line again.

"Officer Zihara, take Officer Rick to the human section first. Take a tally of their losses as well. If any human was harmed during this attack, it will be in one's report."

Zihara froze up, glancing down at the human with a hint of disgust. Though she did not dare open her mouth, she offered her armored hand down for the small man. Once onboard, albeit Rick was shaking, she turned to leave, hesitating at the door.

"Apologies for Praetor Zihara's outburst... This attack was unfounded. It cost both Human and Rynar lives."

Glancing at the human in her hand, she hissed again before stepping out.

Jailthar watched the duo leave and then glanced at Namaeo. Narrowing his eyes, he let some time pass. Namaeo didn't sigh, huff, or shift his weight. He knew his Battlemaster would speak when ready and only when ready.

After a long, uncomfortable silence, the commander spoke in a quieter tone.

"What does Namaeo see?"

Namaeo was confused, and though he was about to speak, he paused, not understanding the question. When some moments pass, Jailthar chuckled.

"What does Namaeo think?"

Still unsure about the question, Namaeo spoke up softly.

"Chaos..?"

Jailthar let his rugged demeanor change for a moment, stealing a smile as he nodded. Despite Namaeo failing Battlemaster Academy, he still had the mind of a commander. Glancing at the command console, he sighed and leaned back up.

"Close. Private Namaeo, speak one's mind. All those years at the Battlemaster Academy weren't wasted, were they?"

Namaeo was hesitant but slowly collected his thoughts. Letting himself relax for a second. The dying Rynar soldier was still fresh in his mind, and how close Namaeo had come to such a fate stung him. Though forcing his mind past his emotions, he took the value of the situation and tentatively responded.

"Human aircraft attacked everything... Including buildings we use to house humans."

Jailthar nodded, a glint of amusement in his eyes. Looking down, he pressed the console, watching it update for a moment to show the recent damage. An orange hologram of their base of operations. Soon, swiping it out, it was a map of the area.

"Good, good. But what does that mean?"

Namaeo thought on the question but let himself step forward as he watched tags move around the town. Their soldier's name tags were shown in real time. Taking time to examine the damage routes, he blinked as they became clear as day. Though he couldn't smile, he tilted his head curiously.

"They are to harm their people... But it's unlikely the humans in our captivity could have directed this attack. Was it too sloppy to be anything but a scouting run? Human casualties are likely accidental."

Jailthar nodded, turning his eyes up before hissing. Widening the map, he stared at a grey encampment further towards the coast.

"Yes, this must not have been with prior knowledge. Though they likely spared their more devastating weaponry for the sake of their people."

A brief pause before Jailthar glanced up. Without words, Namaeo knew that his commander wanted more. Pushing back his worries briefly, Namaeo hesitantly spoke.

"Praetor Zihara seems agitated... for rightful reasons, but her insistence that the humans under our control are at fault for this could cause problems."

He ended with a questioning inflection, and Jailthar tilted his head. Speaking words that left the cold-blooded private fridged.

"Private Namaeo is questioning the resolve of their Praetor?"

Namaeo froze up and quickly shook his head before stammering.

"No, Battlemaster Jailthar, Namaeo did not mean to imply that."

Jailthar let out a dry laugh before stepping towards him. Dwarfing the younger man by almost a head and a half. Jailthar leaned in slightly, speaking in a softer tone, as if a father to their child.

"But what if Private Namaeo was right? Private Namaeo will keep an eye on Praetor Zihara. Given work with human relations, it's possible that humans would tell Namaeo if Praetor Zihara made any underhanded moves."

Turning back to the console, he let some seconds pass before he hissed again. The change in topic left Namaeo to sigh in relief.

"What was the word from Officer Rick?"

Namaeo nodded, realizing how deeply his Battlemaster was trusting him. To seek out misdoings among their ranks was not something taken lightly. Collecting his thoughts, Namaeo hissed out with renewed vigor.

"Officer Rick had found a caravan... They will be stopping here, and resting for at least a day to allow more to catch up. If they take Officer Rick's advice, they will even turn around and come towards our base."

As Namaeo pointed at the map, Jailthar thought for a moment. Between the two bases in display, it was far closer to Battlemaster Shazike's encampment. Namaeo felt an uneasiness roll across him as his Battlemaster remained silent for a prolonged time.

"Private Namaeo, with the recent attack, it will take time to adjust to more air assaults. One will trek to Battlemaster Shazike's encampment and relay these instructions."

Namaeo instinctively pressed his suit's recording button, giving it a second to start up. Then, he hissed quietly in acknowledgment.

"Relay the location of this Caravan and assist Battlemaster Shazike with anything she needs. However, you will request that she investigate and secure the Caravan. If it has weapons, destruction will be at your discretion, though capture is a priority. There is a storm coming in; it will be brief but will give Private Namaeo cover from planes above."

Jailthar hissed, standing back as Namaeo responded.

"Battlemaster Jailthar... Officer Rick has family with the Caravan... Private Namaeo will see to it that capture is achieved."

Jailthar smiled, putting a heavy hand on the private's shoulder. Glancing at the map, he chortled.

"Good. Once that is complete... If Shazike has similar attacks, it's best to have her hold her ground. Transporting her troops and humans here would only make this location a larger target. However, make notes on supplies Battlemaster Shazike would need, such as Erestal, Rations, or spare equipment. When able, return here when Battlemaster Shazike sees fit."

Namaeo bowed his head, thinking over the instruction before pressing his recorder again. With his orders locked in, he hissed.

"Private Namaeo thanks Battlemaster Jailthar for such an opportunity..."

Jailthar snickered, shaking his head as he dismissed the private.

"Don't thank one, just don't die. When Namaeo returns, we shall have a solution for these air attacks."