The Final Stand

[theapprentice]

Upon a a hill, when the sun was setting, sat John Cristen, leaning against a windmill made from wood and scrap, his eyes closed and his eyes shut in slumber.

Within his mind, his conscious and subconscious thoughts met each other in a dream of a memory that he knew of, but never quite understood.

They sky was blacker than he ever saw, but he could see, distinctly, from the view of a window, a flying metal object launching fire and death upon the town surrounding his home. The object was giant, and he knew now that the machines that walk like men were operating it.

He heard a womanly scream of death, followed by a mans cry for vengeance, only to be blown apart a second later. Fire filled the streets below, and all bullets that shot the flying machine were useless.

The mans eyes flicked open to the sun setting on the horizon.

Must have fallen asleep He thought, before picking up his wood axe and walking back toward the lumber mill.

[theapprentice]

Sounds that sounded like loud explosions were heard in the distance as John and several other men dressed in green squeezed the triggers on their battle rifles.

Long ago, the ancestors of the Old World would hunt other creatures for food or sport. It is said that during the conflicts following the dust storms, men took the rifles they hunted with and made improvements to them, to increase the stopping power. On the rifles produced in his village, there were slots for many attachments. Johns particular rifle had a bayonet to stick in the lungs of looting Ruiners, and a laser sight which Mike had managed to fix.

Upon Johns face was cold mud from the most recent rain, which was useful for avoiding the Clock heat censors. All the men surrounding John were covered in the cold mud too, as well as the distinct bear paw war paint that represented his village.

Some of the men and women around John were maybe 16 or 18, while others were well into their 60's. Some were simply training their lungs to run faster, others practicing their aim, and some learning to fight with power knuckles, their rifles, or unarmed. All this in what used to be a lumber mill in his village. But all the homes wee built, and the palisades set, and they needed now only the abundance of fish and fresh water at their disposal.

There were only maybe 40 or so warriors in Johns village, and 10 or so young children, meaning a population of 50 total, including warriors. Yes, the Green Jackets all had to fight. Those that lived in this world had to be a warrior people, for better the Clocks take their lives than take their very souls.

[Mercury]

1912932 or Rhyss as he used to be known as was preparing for the battle that was coming up soon as was his orders to be told to do. Years ago he was living in a peaceful village actually farming crops as it happened. The battle was bloody and gruesome the screams of people trying to flee or even foolishly fight was almost deafening. Most of the battle a bloody mess a masacre with no chance od survival as a human anyway. The clocks grabbed him and many men and dragged them away into the factories to be 'Changed' well more processed into the clock and soldier he is now. He had his orders relayed to him from one of the factories and he got up looking at other clocks ordering them to get ready and move out. They were on the attack.

[theapprentice]

John filed in with his fellow soldiers, and unintentionally, filed next to Mike.

"Whats going on? Why were we called?" John asked.

"An attack is coming." Mike responded.

"Ruiners?"

"Clocks"

At the front of the platoon was the commander, explaining the plan

"We will evacuate the village and go hide in the woods. When they come, they will enter the village and think we are gone, but we will shoot at them from the forests. Mud your faces so they don't find you. Cover the young ones in mud as well."

The plan sounded interesting to John, but he was concerned with the small ones. The cold of the mud would freeze them and they would sob. The sounds of battle would scare them and they would scream. Their positions would be given away. Johns only hope was that there were only a squad of the troops, though the artillery was something to be feared.

[Mercury]

It was only a scout of soldiers to scout the town first Rhyss wasn't among them but they were aproaching slowly. If the people attacked them that'd set alarm bells and Rhyss and practically an army was going to charge and either eradicate them and also change them or unlikely fall in battle.

[theapprentice]

The Green Jackets set the mines along the fields, uncovered the spike pits in the forests, and took up positions in the trees surrounding the now empty town, the gate left open.

The faces of every GJ was covered in the cool mud, so their attack would be unexpected. John went into a prone positions, laying on his stomach, off the road, and in bushes thick enough to hide him.

The children were all hidden in a shelter beneath the city, made long ago to defend against the very bombs that destroyed the old world. Every soldier was braced for the attack.

And then they heard the marching of the Clocks...

[Mercury]

The squad was getting closer searching the entrance to the town they looked around smashing doors to get into the buildings.
"..." They were practically ransacking everything unable to find anyone. They reached the centre of the town seeming a bit confused but they were reporting back that they sensed no one.

[theapprentice]

The order had been given out at the beginning to attack when the Clocks had entered the village, but nobody spoke, nobody had the courage. Some of the clocks had fallen into the pungie pits, but none of the other Clocks seemed to notice or care.

John looked over at Mike, unsure if he should take any action. Mike nodded, knowing what John was proposing. John aimed carefully at a mine, hidden by a mound of leaves, and surrounded by a squad of clocks. Then every Green Jacket began firing, from their safe positions in the woods, at the Clocks surrounding the palisades, in the towns, and standing on the road.

[Mercury]

This was the worst move anyone could have done. A large rumbling started to happen as a huge force started to move towards the town. Including Rhyss and the artillery. He was ready to kill and capture like his orders. He made signals to ask them for his squad to move out.

[theapprentice]

In seconds, John was surrounded by a flurry of gun fire, explosions, and the sounds of bullets hitting their targets.

At one point, John saw that one of his buddies was being dragged off by two Clocks. John lifted his gun and gave perfect head shots to both of them.

The green jackets continued fighting from their hiding spots. Some were dragged out and used their power knuckles. Though outnumbered, the plan seemed to be working, and the Green Jackets seemed to be winning.