Malarca Battle

["Jonathan Smith" <jonathan_808@hotmail.com>]

Fun in the Malarcan sun, provided by Sin, Etta, Assaf, Hasan, Reithe, Umar 
and me.

Hope you enjoy,

Harry

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Bajazet Encampment -- Erzurum (Malarca Secundus)(#2612RVtJu)
The Bajazet camp has been hastily set up on a steep incline overlooking the basin below. Three tents have been erected in a triangle, one with a fold-out map table set up in front. Another houses communications equipment and radio officers in Bajazet field-dress hunched over radio equipment, and the third is a medical tent which stands out in white. Two ornithopters are landed to the left with their thin wings tethered down against the wind into arches touching the ground and to the right of the tents is a small corral of horses attended to by soldiers in Janissarie uniforms. A small group of officers is gathered around the map table holding radio-pieces and oil lenses to survey the battlefield.
Players:
 Assaf                                 Sen
 Haroon                                Umar (med-tent)
 Hasan
Objects:
 Bajazet Tent City -- Erzurum (Malarca Secundus)
Exits:

 North <N> leads to Battlefield -- Erzurum (Malarca Secundus)
Hasan strides towards the ornithopers, where Andaluzian New Model Army pilots are finishing their weapons checks. He speaks to a few gunners, patting shoulders and giving words of encouragement.

Haroon ducks down as an ornithopter lifts off from behind him, its wings beating up a dustcloud around the small encampment. He adjusts one lens of his binoculars and surveys the battle field, pressing a headset to his ear to listen to the spotter in the thopter that now beats an arc over the plain below.

Assaf is standing next to one of the tents, talking to a fellow Janissarie officer.

Hasan puts his oil-lenses to his face, watching the scant clouds to determine wind patterns. "Guild reports were fairly accurate."
Umar waits in the med-tent he speaks to a few nervous medics clapping them each on the should and muttering words of reassurance.

The pilot nods to Pasha Kemal and powers up his instruments. Hasan closes the hatch and withdraws from the dragonfly-like machine.

Assaf nods and gives a few short orders to the officer which, in turn salutes. He then turns to look at the Pasha next to the Thopters.

Haroon nods "For a price" he mutters and drops his lenses so they hang from a strap round his neck. He shields his eyes with one hand and talks into the mouthpiece on his headset in battle language.

Hasan walks towards the Warmaster. "Lord Bashir." He is strangely invigorated, almost bloodthirsty. "I'll be riding today, if you have no objections."

Assaf walks towards Haroon and Hasan, "My Lord..." he says in haste.

The rest of the 'thopters take off and hover over the tents, causing massive dustclouds and unsecured tents to flap in the maelstrom.

On the Battlefield, A dustplume unfurls from the first group of Bajazet cavalry who spur there horses forwards towards the Harkonnen encampment. Bright orange and blue stand out from the pennants fluttering on the lances of the shielded Mamluk outriders

Using Amat, Hasan speaks into his commlink, "Increase altitude."
A small group of Infantry units starts walking out of the camp, they are in camouflage colors and are not wearing much equipment.

Haroon remains intently focused on the battlefield as he nods to Hasan "Of course" he says and glances over the skies looking for the Bajazet thopters which flock like vultures overhead. He looks calm and unhurried as he sounds some more orders to the troops.

Using Amat, Assaf points at the troops that are just leaving, "I've sent some recon troops."

On the Battlefield, The thopters swarm out from the tent city towards the battlefield, guns lowered to cover the calvary, and racks of carpetbombs cradled under their bodies, just in case.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Kemal here: 'Thopters in formation, ready to attack"

Over your communicator's secure frequency, you say, "Send them in a first pass.. test their return-fire."

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Koppershmid, All Jannisarie scouts, go go go."

Hasan speaks into his com as he walks towards the corral that holds his steed.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Pilots: You heard the man, Strafing fire!"

On the Battlefield, The cavalry continue in a wide pass bringing them to a distance of about half a kilometre from the Harkonnen camp. Behind them ground troops make a steady progress across the sands in small knots of men.

Assaf turns around to the officer he talked to before and shouts, "Get them out and ready to get in there."


On the Battlefield, A wedged-shaped formation of Bajazet ornithopters fly at medium-altitude over the Harkonnen emplacements, towards the bunker. When they have cleared the Bajazet front line, they release clusters of carpet-bombs, and begin strafing fire on the Harkonnen positions.

Haroon claps Hasan on the shoulder and points to the rock ridge across the basin "Have some keep watch from that direction" he indicates.

Hasan barks commands at an engineer group, who scale a small tower, hastily constructed from plassteel girders to watch the ridge though high-powered oil-lenses.

The tent city is bustling with noise as the Brigades get ready to go into battle, every Platoon finds it's company and slowly the small army starts to form
On the Battlefield, The outriders move in fast dashes towards isolated groups of Harkonnen frontline defense firing maula rifles from the saddle as they circle evasively.

On the Battlefield, Two 'thopters break formation and fly low over the cliff wall, scouting for hidden commandos.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "All Infantry, take positions behind cavalry, double time."

Hasan takes the reins of "Diplomat" from a stableboy, preparing to mount up.
On the Battlefield, the Harkonnen troops are dug in for defense, shielded and returning fire, but otherwise holding their ground.

Haroon leans over the map, resting his hands on either side of it to balance his weight and then surveys the progress of his troops again. He signals a junior officer beside him "Have the infantry keep moving up there. We want to make this quick"

On the Battlefield, The Bajazet 'thopters raise altitude, out of range of Harkonnen tracers. They reduce the rate of fire, to conserve ammunition. The formation wheels across the valley floor, testing the Harkonnen firepower.

On the Battlefield, a small squad of rocket-men tucked into caves carved into the cliffs suddenly announce their presence with a salvo of anti-thopter rockets streaking up towards the passing Bajazet craft.

The medics in the field infirmary begin unpacking supplies and seeing that everything is in order. Umar stands beside the metal table he mentally goes over supply lists.

On the Battlefield, One of the two insect-like craft running the ridge is hit by the rocket fire. It dips quickly, and skips across the vertical rock face, like a stone on water. A fireball envelops it, consuming more with each millisecond.

Hasan curses into his comm.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Scout Two, 'ware the AA fire! Peal off!"

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Company Alif, Send someone to check if there are survivers!"

Haroon looks up at the new Harkonnen position and shouts some commands into his headset to one of the infantry officers in the field and looks to Assaf "Have some men break over there.. see if we can get to those caves on foot" His manner is laconic as he delivers the instruction.

Hasan looks towards the medical tent withsome urgency. "Search and rescue thopters!" He screams.

On the Battlefield, a cheer goes up from the Harkonnen encampment, and a ragged mass of Harkonnen penal legion suicide-fighters rushes out from behind the walls, waving their long knives and firing maula pistols with desperate abandon.

Hasan slaps the reins of his horse back into the hands of the stableboy. He thumps over to Haroon's command post.

On the Battlefield, Three people break from one of the Bajazet Platoon and head towards the downed Orni.

Haroon watches the thopter go down with a look of dispassionate professionalism. "Pasha" he calls loudly to get his attention "Are you ready to strike at the silos?" He makes a complicated movement with both hands indicating a thopter attack pattern in code.

On the Battlefield, A small group of Bajazet ground soldiers breaks off at a run towards a shallow point in the cliff-incline, looking for a way to reach the caves on foot.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Scout group one, see if you can get to the cliffs and take out those Harks."

Hasan stands where the Lord Bashir can see him. "Ornibombers ready." He points to the cliffs, "Should we have rangers try to scale the walls, or 'thopters drop commandos further down the ridge?"

Assaf nods at Hasan, "I have a group of people that might be right for the drop."
On the Battlefield, The Bajazet 'thopters wheel around for a second pass past the Harkonnen line, this time bearing towards the storage silos.

On the Battlefield, The cavalry break off from their harassing attacks and swell towards the Harkonnen troops. The first wave clashes into them with a wall of lances and a dustcloud goes up enveloping the combat between the penal legions and the shielded cavalry.

On the Battlefield, another trail of of rockets hisses out from the notch in the cliff-face in response to the ornithopters' aggressive return, whistling merrily through the air and adding to the pall of smoke which is starting to form.

Hasan signals two men in ground crew dress. They sprint to the makeshift airfield and pull a canvas covering off two carryalls. "And we can get them there."

Haroon nods to Assaf, "Ok do that but don't let any aircraft closer to that position" He looks at the carryalls in approval and nods "Go"

Assaf nods and walks to the map, "They are currently here," He points at a position west to the Harkonnen Bunker, just enough not to be noticed. "What do you want me to order?"

A liveried pageboy leads one of Haroon's steeds towards him from the corral. He takes the reigns and swings up into the saddle to get a better view of events, and his bearing exudes command and practiced experience.

On the Battlefield, The 'thopter pilots, anticipating the attack, veer in all directions. The rockets whiff safely past what once was the core of the formation. The seeming chaos of the aircraft quickly resolves into three groups.
They carry on towards the silos, hugging the riverbed side of the valley.
On the Battlefield, the penal legions fight like men with nothing to lose, but being outclassed by the finely trained Bajazet cavalry, can only hold their ground at best. Blood begins to stain the dust along the jagged line of fighters, the incoherent roar of the penal legions now tinted with wails of pain.

On the Battlefield, The cavalry, having disorganised the penal troops flock away in loose groups and uncovering a skirmishline of infantry that have moved up behind them and begun firing into the Harkonnen column.

On the Battlefield, The first two groups of Bajazet thopters fly high carpetbomb a channel in the ememy positions for the third to follow. The following ornithopters are low enough to engage troops, or to bomb buildings with accuracy.

Haroon watches the first pass of the thopters over the Harkonnen position and shouts into his communicator, lifting his voice above the boom of explosions amplified by the valley.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Ahmed, this is Koppershmid, bring your troops over to base camp, we have some work for you to do."

Over your communicator's secure frequency, you say, "All ground troops, ready to attack after the next pass."

Hasan bolts towards his waiting horse and stableboy. He puts one spurred foot into the stirrup and vaults into the saddle.

Hasan speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Carryalls ready. Hurry the infantry, let's time this one right!"

Haroon looks across at Hasan with a beady grin and nods. He sketches some symbol in the air beside him and mutters a blessing in Amat.

On the Battlefield, the artillery pieces wreak havoc on the Harkonnen line, and the penal legions starts to falter.. then suddenly scatter entirely, every man running for his life, whether he was engaged by the cavalry or in the firing line of the artillery or not, tumbling over eachother in their panic to get away from.. what? The mystery resolves itself as a blindingly bright lasgun beam opens up from another point atop the cliffs, raking across the dried plains towards the shielded Bajazet line.

Hasan gives Haroon an ancient salute fromm the calvary regiment the warmaster threw him out of. "Bajazet Akbar!" he calls.

Hasan speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Watchtower one here: Kull Wahad! Lasgun."

Haroon shouts "Damnit" as he watches the lasgun open up.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Out Out! GET OUT OF THERE!"

Hasan speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Get those men to the carryalls! Now!"

Haroon leans out of the saddle shouting in the direction of the communications tent "Have those units lower their shields.. Now!"

On the Battlefield, another group of light artillery speaks in time with the deadly hiss of the lasgun, hurling clouds of flak into the sky between the incoming ornithopters and the depot tanks.

Umar looks with horror at the battlefield as he hears reports of a lasgun over the comm.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, you say, "(The desperate sound of an infantry officer in the field) We need men on that cliff-face sir!"

On the Battlefield, The Bajazet 'thopters, having almost reached the silos, peel off into three directions, offering covering fire to the wavering Bajazet line.

On the Battlefield, The infantry line drops its sheilds and scatters. The cavalry units keep flurrying being too quick to be easily targetted.

On the ground, the carryalls are vibrating and ready.
A large group of men enter the camp, Assaf nods at one of them and points at one of the Carryalls

Haroon digs his heels into his steed's flank, causing it to pace sideways nervously. He continues delivering orders into his com, directing the movements of the cavalry and instructing the infantry to hold their ground.

On the Battlefield, The space between the silos and the insect-like flying machines grows as the 'thopters support the groundtroops.

The group falls in behind the Bator as they move quickly to the carryall.
The men rush into the carryall, their orders are now delivered to them.

Hasan brings his mount in a canter to Haroon's flank. The horses paw the ground impatiently.

Assaf mounts his horse, a black steed that was readied for him.

On the Battlefield, a second, smaller line of Harkonnen swarm out of the bunker as the broken penal legions are cut down by Bajazet air power or by the quick-moving cavalry. These grey-and-red-clad troops rush the battlefield in a single, organized line, firing maula carbines at the now-unshielded horsemen; the Hussars, the real Harkonnen garrison troops.

Assaf rides the horse towards Haroon and Hasan, aligning next to them.
Haroon twists in the saddle towards the Pasha. "We need those positions taken out up there.." He rests back, lighting a cigarette and holding it between the fingers of his long-armed riding gloves. He takes a drag, gesturing with it towards the Bajazet infantry "Or we can't follow through"

On the Battlefield, The thopters reform. Again, two groups of Bajazet thopters fly high carpetbomb a channel in the ememy positions for the third to follow. The following ornithopters are low enough to engage troops, or to bomb accuracy.

On the Battlefield, The Bajazet ground troops split into two bodies, one continuing a slow advance towards the compound in small groups of men, giving covering fire to each other and slowl using the terrain to advance. The other faces up agains the Harkonnen regulars taking a position along a low ridge.

Hasan nods, "Silos team and carryalls ready, Sir."

On the Battlefield, a bright star flickers in the smoke-palled sky, glimmers for several seconds, then winks out.

On the Battlefield, The carryalls land in a shallow depression and Bajazet commandos stream from fore and aft ramps.

On the Battlefield, the Hussars split as some of their number are blown to pieces by the predatory ornithopters, focussing their attentions on the Bajazet cavalry with nearly single-minded determination while still attempting to evade destruction from the air. The penal legions are a few ragtag bands of murderous men by now, rushing the Bajazet supporting troops and what artillery pieces weren't cut apart by the lasgun.

Haroon watches the progress of the carryalls, a look of eagerness creeping onto his face as he watches the troops form up below. He flicks ash from his cigarette, sitting lightly in the saddle and leaning forwards.

On the Battlefield, The The Bajazet Commandos rush towards Harkonnen positions on the cliff, using the element of suprise to do swift attacks.

On the Battlefield, As the supporting fire from the cliff-face begins to falter the first group of Bajazet infantry speed up their attack running across the plains towards the compound, robes, banners aand trousers billowing in the wind

On the Battlefield, A lone ornithopter breaks off from the formation and circles the city, skirting far from the battle.

On the Battlefield, the lasgun beam swings wildly across the battlefield, burning members of both factions alike, before it flips up into the sky and winks out as the troops manning it are overrun. With a flat crack and a pillar of green flame, the lasgun self-destructs.

Haroon swings in the saddle "Have that thopter readied to pick us up" he calls to the flight-crew around one of the grounded thopters in the camp. "We'll ride in"

Haroon grins, with an excited youthful expression. He adjusts his scimitar in its scabbard and checks his maula rifle in its saddle-holster.

On the Battlefield, more unusually bright stars gradually become visible above the fog of war, slowly resolving into silent comets, bright particles trailing tongues of fire as they fall through the atmosphere.


Assaf draws his scimitar, preparing to ride with it drawn, his face is now serious

On the Battlefield, The three main groups of thopters continue their carpet-bombing streak towards the supply silos
.
Hasan speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Get those shields back up!"

On the Battlefield, The Bajazet infantry stream towards the compound as the last explosions of the airstrike fade away, scaling the wall in a mass of black and red and wading into battle in the courtyard.

On the Battlefield, the anti-aircraft artillery rumble and spew puffs of flak up at the thopter groups, although not as effectively with one of their number destroyed by the random death throes of the lasgun turret.

On the Battlefield, The shields of the Bajazet troops goes back up, now that the lasgun threat is over.

Behind Haroon a Janissarie unfurls a warbanner and waves it over his head. Haroon digs his heels into his steed and swings his scimitar over his head "For the House" he shouts and spurs his horse towards the battlefield.
Hasan spurs Diplomat and follows, yelling, "Ramalleh! For you I ride!"
Assaf yells, "Bajazet!" and follows Haroon into the battlefield, the arm wielding the scimitar in the air

You enter the battlefield, coming up from the south, across a smooth terrain flanked by boulders.

Battlefield -- Erzurum (Malarca Secundus)

        The valley floor is bordered on one side by a steep cliff of red sandstone with darker, purple stripes and undulating shadows and a small CAVE, and on the other side by a wide, flat RIVERBED that winds like a pale ribbon along a boulder-strewn course. The field is relatively flat, hardpacked earth scorched to a barren dusty plain by the hot sun.
        At the north end of the field a low bunker surrounded by boulders and black slate is half-sunk into the ground. The cliff juts out here, and the bunker effectively cuts off access to the city of Erzurum beyond, forcing unwelcome guests to by-pass the main road and go around the long way. At the south end of the plain, near the mouth of the canyon, brightly colored tents have been erected and horses corraled beside make-shift ornithopter pads.
        Overhead, the sky is a deep blue and a the silvery crescent of Malarca Prime hangs heavy on the horizon. The air is hot and dry and there isn't a green tree or bush in sight. The shimmering mirage of the Palace sits atop the cliff with gold onion domes gleaming in the sunlight.

Players:
 Haroon
Exits:
 North <N> leads to Harkonnen Bunker -- Erzurum (Malarca Secundus)
 South <S> leads to Bajazet Encampment -- Erzurum (Malarca Secundus)
A low moan sounds from the burning streaks in the sky as they hit the thick lower atmosphere and flare brightly.

Hasan enters from the south.
Hasan has arrived.
Assaf enters from the south.
Assaf has arrived.

Hasan gnashes his teeth as he spurs his horse to engage the Harkonnen stragglers.

A tight knot of Bajazet cavalry quickly descends the slope from the Bajazet encampment. A Bajazet standard flutters from the middle, and from the bright colours of the riders it looks like a command group. They cover ground at a gallop across the plain.

Reserve Hussars meet the Bajazet infantry with sword and shield, and the courtyard is filled with cries of triumph and pain, the ozone reek of shields meeting and the clang of swords.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "All Janissarie formations, Attack!"

Groups of Bajazet engineers break off from the combat, running bent over with large packs carried between them. They clear the ground to the silos and start setting up charges around their bases.

One of the trailing 'thopters takes some flak in a thin wing-membrane. It veers off course, flopping and lurching towards the malfuncting lasgun.

A group of Bajazet Infantry engages the remaining Harkonnen troops.

The unearthly moan rises to a shriek, and then a piercing, bone-shivering wail which echoes off the cliffs and rolls back across the plain. The flaming points of light are very close.

A detachment of thopters leaves the silo compound, banking towards the riverbed, and turning towards a bearing that will put them over the calvary charge.
Assaf joins the Infantry troops in Attacking the Harkonnens. His shield his up and he manages to slash two Penal troops on the way to the battle, leaving them on the ground

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Charges in place. Fall back from here!"

The engineers finish setting their charges and sprint away from the silos. The Bajazet troops let them break through their ranks, and then fall back with them away from the compound leaving a scattering of corpses spreading blood in the sun behind them.

Hasan senses, "Haroon shouts at you against the wind as you gallop onwards "What the..?" as he points at the sky with his free hand."

The meteors slam into the battlefield with a prolongued, deafening roar, and a red flash. Molten earth splashes out from each impact, while steam and smoke billows up, covering the bloodstained land in a choking grey pall.

Hasan slashes down repeatedly on either side of his horse as they engage a small knot of Harkonnen stragglers. Hhe looks like he is beating out a brush fire. Soon his face is spotted with red.

Assaf turns away from the battle of the Infantry groups, the Bajazet has started to back off slighltly, their attack frenzy coming to a relative calm.

The Bajazet troops fall away from the compound, as the silos begin to explode one by one in huge blossoms of flame, and a deafening roar as fuel and armaments begin to set off chain reactions.

Hasan, having dispatched enough of the Harkonnen infantry immediately around him so that the rest scamper away, looks up at the growing shadows.

Harkonnen troops caught in the blast are thrown back. Body shields fail and several become burning torches running across the field.

Hasan speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Thopters, watch those objects above! Disengage from the compound and fire on the ground troops."

Assaf rides towards Hasan, managing to kill a few fleeing Harkonnen troops on the way.

As the rumble and boom of the silos fade, a cry is raised from within the mass of smoke and steam: "For the Harkonnen!" Black-clad ghosts in shields and field armor flash between patches of steam, striking down separated Bajazet cavalry with shield-piercing slow-fire gyrojet pistols and wicked longswords.


The knot of Bajazet commanders slows in its advance and wheels round, taking stock of the developments on the battlefield. The dim sounds of voices shouting can be heard from the Bajazet infantry as they form up agains the Harkonnen infantry.

The Bajazet 'thopters hover over the explosions, before joining the smaller air detachment over the main battleground.

The cavalry wheel away from the oncoming Harkonnen, one rider rearing his horse and firing his maula rifle across his arms before a blast knocks his horse from under him sending him sprawling across the ground.

Sen climbs out of a hissing crater in a half-crouch, spins, and fires once into the mist. The pop and whistle of a gyrojet round is followed by a horrible wail, and the swordmaster vanishes into the roiling mist.

The number of Harkonnens seems to endlessly grow as they rush towards the Bajazets, many emitting loud cries. Many madly rush towards the enemy with no regard for their own lives, flailing their longswords in the air.

The lone 'thopter has by now slowly circumnavigated the city, and swoops down over the riverbed.

A Bajazet officer by Haroon shouts something agains the roar of battle and points with his lance towards the Harkonnen swordmaster. Haroon flicks a gesture to his group and they spur forwards at a gallop, shields up and lances outstretched.

Assaf, seeing that the Infantry are outnumbered calls over the comm.

A small group of Hussars reform and ride to intercept Haroon and his group.
The Jagers slip like wolves from one Bajazet to the next, stalking the mist implacably. When they can be seen, their blue-black armor is increasingly stained purplish.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Infantry, Back off and regroup.You're no use there"

The 'thopters engage the Harkonnen Jagers as best they can, without taking down their own men.

Three Bajazet horseman crash into one of the Jagers bowling him over and a fourth behind spears him with a lance as he rides over him.

Hasan presses his spurs into the flanks of his horse and charges with a House Kemal retinue into a troops of Jagers.

Haroon rides at a gallop, his cavalry escort spread out in a fan behind him. They pass through one group of Jagers and one of the horses buckles under its rider tipping him over the saddle and through the air.

Assaf gathers two Janissarie companies that suffered losses and regroups them as one, he leads them into the Jagers, as a support for Hasan and his men.

Hasan fires a slow-pellet pistol with his doubtful left hand as he swipes groundstokes with the sabre in rhis right.

Sen whirls to face the oncoming cavalry mass, shields crackling around her. There's a screech of strained Holtzmann generators as she suddenly bursts into a charge with obscene, inhuman speed. Her face is a serene mask as she draws her sword and seems to rotate around it, the point moving with graceful sloth while the small being whips about in a backwards flip, drilling her blade into one of the cavalry's horses as she passes Haroon and his men.

Haroon wheels his horse round, slashing out a now disappearing target.

Hasan fires at the elfin figure that steams through the carnage. He yells something half-audible over the crashing din. "No such thing as a free drink, Dog!"

Over your communicator's secure frequency, you say, "Kuppershmid, group up your infantry with the cavalry. Ornithopters, try and clear us a way out of here!"

The smoke and flames make a surreal backdrop to the sound of screams and clashing metal. The thunder of hoofbeats and the officers shouting orders only add to the confusion of battle.

Haroon spins round at Sen, charging again with a fevered glint in his eyes. One hand holds the reigns and another levels his lance at her. Besides him the Bajazet standard bearer, sticks his flag in a saddle-grip and pulls out a scimitar.

Hasan has disconnected.
Sen yanks out the blade in an arterial gush from the screaming horse and plants it into the ground, catapulting herself off of the spring-steel blade in a feet-first leap towards Haroon even as Hasan fires. The drag-pellet smacks into the vibrating sword Sen leaves standing in the bloody field, and ricochets into the soil with a dull thud.

Assaf starts riding the horse in frenzy, he swoops through the battlefield attracting the Bajazet forces still in tact, they follow him and whatever left from the ground army is not one big fighting force. Soon enough the cavalry joins too and they move about, engaging whatever enemy they find until the 'thopter will clear a way

A small group of Bajazet ornithopters slip into a tight bank, wing membranes creaking audibly, and dive screaming towards the Jaegers.

The Bajazet cavalry withdraw from the Jagers towards the Bajazet infantry seeking strength in numbers, and the body of troops holds its ground, firing into the Jagers and trying to pull back with the cavalry covering.

The ornithopters open fire on the Jagers, lending support to the cavalry withdrawal.

Haroon grunts as Sen's motion crashes into his shielded horse. He keeps control, dropping the lance that is useless at close range and hacking at her with his scimitar from the saddle.

The cluster of Jager elite scatter before the ornithopters, but as they do, several of them pull long tubes up from their backs and heft them to their shoulders; disposable armor-piercing missile launchers. With a flat, basso thud of concussed air, the missiles lunge after the great birds of prey which harry the Harkonnens so.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "All Janissaries, I repeat, this is your Commandant, attack those Jaegers!"

The cavalry push on harassing the Jagers and trying to distract them while encumbered, but wisely staying out of close range and the incoming fire from the sky.

With missiles chasing after them, the ornithopters scatter, gyrating across the sky as they seek to escape. A few explosions send their targets corkscrewing into the ground. One damaged ornithopter limps slowly away from the battle, clawing for altitude.

Haroon rears his horse, its hooves beating on top of a Jager's shield and causing him to lose balance. He leans down, swiping at him, and his sword comes back up dripping blood.

Five small raiding parties climb down the cliff and join a considerable force of Janissarie troops that run towards the Jagers.

Sen blurs as she sweeps her head out of the way of Haroon's razored scimitar, which cleaves through one of her shoulder panels. The plasticky armor splits away, revealing a short-sword strapped to her arm, which saved her that limb. She draws it and forces the lucky parry, leaning in close to Haroon with a quiet, secretive smile. "Hello," she murmurs in her gentle, husky voice under the shrieks and thunder of battle. "We have not yet met. I am the Harkonnen swordmaster."

The Bajazet standard-bearer topples from the saddle knocked backwards by a maula shot. He tries to hold the flag aloft as he hits the ground and another rider snatches it keeping it in the air.

The anti-air Jagers toss aside their spent launchers and charge for the bunker, to reinforce the faltering Harkonnen Hussars therein.

Larger groups of ornithopters lay down fire to cover retreating knots of Bajazet troops as the move to regroup.


Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Where are those Carryalls?!"

Haroon swings hir horse away from Sen, pushing her off and dragging a stunner from a saddleholster and firing at her. The shot skips through the edge of her shield as she falls.

Huge carryalls move from atop the cliffs, sweeping down towards Assaf and his embattled troops.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, you say, "All support troops! Have that camp cleared up now. Airborne in ten minutes you hear me?"
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Yes Sir!"
Assaf shouts at the troops, "Enter to the carryalls, on the double... MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Ahmed, get yourself and your men to camp. We're bugging out"

Assaf stays outside waiting for all of the troops to enter thet carryalls
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Yessah!"

Sen rolls with the glancing impact, coming up on one knee in a half-second crouch. From her right hip she draws her gyrojet pistol and fires the whistling, whirling, rocket-propelled projectile at the ribs of Haroon's shielded horse in an attempt to dismount her opponent.

Bajazet medics run from one of the carryalls with stretches, trying to help some of the wounded into shelter.

A carryall lifts slowly from the ground, heavily laden with troops, and swings to the south. The others remain on the ground as they are slowly filled.
The Infantry troops are starting to board the carryall, it's a slow proccess but slowly the carryalls start to be filled.

Haroon's horse bucks sending the warmaster flailing from the saddle. He lands on the ground with a thump and rolls to one side, his bodyshield blurring up even as he hits the ground.

Assaf notices the problems Haroon is having and he starts cantering towards him
.
Haroon looks around wildly at his distance from the remaining troops and then steels himself against the Jager against him. One of his staff shouts an order and the remaining cavalry barrel down towards his position.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "The Regent is dismounted! To him, to him!"

Assaf joins the other cavalry that ride towards Haroon.

A Bajazet thopter breaks off and starts a slow spiral over the warmaster's position, waiting for a break in the combat to land safely.

Assaf stops his ride next to Haroon, signalling him to get on his horse while the others make a protection ring around him.

Haroon lunges at Sen in a skilled but tired blow which she easily parries with her lighter blade.

Another Bajazet carryall lifts off and flys south, escorted by two ornithopters.

Sen's unnaturally green eyes flash as she considers Haroon's position. Close; but the battle is hers. No reason to risk herself unnecessarily. With a gentle smile she parries, shifts and blurs, bringing up her right fist in a lightning-fast hundred-handed punch for Haroon's diaphragm. Not waiting to see the effects, the being disappears into the rolling mist.

Haroon grunts and reels backwards losing his balance and leaving himself wide open for a strike that never comes as the swordmaster vanishes. He turns and blearily focusses on Assaf's outstretched hand.

Assaf grabs Haroon's hand and pulls him up to his horse, "Good to see you My Lord."

Haroon grunts as he lands in the saddle "And you" is all he is capable of in his badly winded state.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "I have the Regent, finish loading the Carryalls"

Assaf gives his horse a kick and lets it ride towards the carryall, he makes sure Haroon is secure.

Only a few carryalls remain. Ornithopters circle to clear a path between the Regent and the retreating Bajazet.

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Hurry, sir, we're just waiting for you now."

Assaf and Haroon approached the Carryalls, in the last minute of loading they get on one of them.

The Bajazet thopter circling over head dips, fans its wings and touches down lightly. The Bajazet staff abandon their horses and scatter towards it on foot, heads down with exertion. The thopter begins to lift off the second the last is aboard and veers sharply sideways to avoid fire and gain height.

Assaf speaks into his communicator.
Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Lift!"
the last Bajazet troops fall back aboard the carryalls. As ornithopters lay down a final barrage, the massive ships strain skyward, carrying the combatants off the field.

The remaining thopters gather in a tight formation around the carryalls as they slowly gain height.

A triumphant cry goes up from the Harkonnen camp as the Jagers see their Kapitan return, and the wearied Hussars see that there will be no more fighting today. The ragged Penal Legions have little to cheer for, but still the shout: "Long Live the Harkonnen!"

The carryalls disappear over the ridge, with the thopters dipping low beside them and duck down using the terrain as cover, fleeing south. On the battlefield corpses lie spread-eagled in the midday sun and already vultures have started to circle overhead.

Sen casts her glittering eyes back over the smoldering field, breathing deeply of burnt blood and ozone. She turns away and crosses the bunker threshhold.