Part 44: Mission 45: Ghost Town

With the liberation of China underway, our resource base was growing. Chinese mines and factories that were feeding Shen Tzu's war machine were now under our control, allowing us to expand our research budget.



We still had continual shortages, though. Just keeping our top performers as full strength was stretching our budget; we would be fielding understaffed units for the forseeable future.



Despite our limited resources, I was able to requisition another MLRS battery, this one for the Balkanian Inquisition. A single battery had been enough to significantly improve our striking range, but lacked the firepower to inflict significant damage on larger enemy forces before they could reach us. With enough rocket artillery, we could conceivably neutralize high-priority targets before they ever came close enough to strike back. Being able to do so would be invaluable against high-mobility, high-firepower targets such as Hell Riders.



Since our arrival in China, we'd been playing a game of cat-and-mouse with Dragoth's forces; taking a near-abandoned base, rescuing a recon unit, and trying to establish a contact point with Ka-Tugrag that turned out to be an enemy trap. We were now in a position to strike the enemy's lines directly, driving them back and expanding our search for the Gate. Our scouts reported strong magical signatures to the east, along with strange behavior from the orcs. If this didn't bring us closer to the Gate, we would at least probably find something of interest.

Mission 45: Ghost Town

Attending:
Lazarus (Forlorn Hope, Flamethrowers)
Solrick Skaft (Scion of Emer, Flamethrowers)
T. Hinman (Ethereal Corps, Flamethrowers)
Logan "Hardtack" Smith (War Dogs, Paranormal Infantry)
Joe Moore (War Boys, Paranormal Infantry)
"Doctor" Snark (Mage Killers, Hi-Tech Infantry)
Habitually Red (Sane Max's Own, Hi-Tech Infantry)
Gordon Frohman (Concerned Citizens, Hi-Tech Infantry)
Patrick Gallagher (Just In Time, Elmag 2)
Svetlana Aliyev (Rusalka, Elmag 2)
Mael Radec (Radec's Rhinos, M1 Abrams)
Erik Spanner (The Toolbox, M1 Abrams)
James "Griff" Griffin (Party Crashers, M1 Abrams)
Basil (Paladin, M1 Abrams)
Jorji Costava (Cobrastan's Best, M1 Abrams)
Isara Gunther (Edelweiss, M1 Abrams)
Reginald P. Linux (Doom Squad, Leopard 2A5)
Aethereon Darkfyre (The Mary Sues, UDES)
Stephen Smith (The Counts of Monty Python, UDES)
Grand Inquisitor Solaus (Balkanian Inquisition, MLRS)
Michael de Boulogne (Chivalric Order of Saint George, MLRS)
Anil E. Hilated, Esq. (Polite Obliteration, M106)
Gregor (The Swell Swords, AMX-30)
Cholmondely Featherstonehaugh-Smythe (Sphinx Battery, Roland)
Sigrún Raske (Skysmasher Brigade, Roland)
Roger Murtaugh (Less Than Lethal, Roland)
Billy Mays (Infomercial Men, Mi-24)
Bob & Doug McKenzie (Royal Canadian Red-greens, Mi-24)
Ragna T. Bloodedge (The Black Beasts, Humvees)
Vlasta Děvínská (Paper Tigers, Universal 2R)



Hardtack: There's the banner. We're on the enemy's turf now, so watch your backs.



Vlasta Děvínská: Let's scope out the north.



Vlasta Děvínská: Elves! That's weird, though. Aren't they usually found in much larger groups?



Stephen Smith: Hang on, Vlasta. I don't think those are ordinary elves. The tunics they're wearing look decorative, and the way they're organized into small squads... they're probably some kind of elite elves.



Solaus: Let's just see how elite they really are.




Michael de Boulogne: Not elite enough for rocket-proof armor.



Stephen Smith: I don't think they liked that!



Stephen Smith: Damage wasn't too bad. These guys are probably ten times as tough as regular elves, but it doesn't help them when there's only a tenth as many.



Lazarus: They're just as flammable as regular elves, too! Who's next?



Billy Mays: BUT WAIT, THAT'S NOT ALL!
Bob McKenzie: Shouldn't that be "But wait, there's more"? Or "But that's not all"?
Billy Mays: SOMETIMES I LIKE TO TRY NEW THINGS, OKAY?



Anil E. Hilated: These super-elves are almost as tough as golems... but we had masses of those swarming us in Saudi Arabia. I'm not really impressed.



Doug McKenzie: Well, they did manage to stick my choppers with a few arrows, but they'll be flying straight in no t- hey, ghosts!
Solrick Skaft: No shit? Wow, hadn't seen ghosts in a while. Everyone else watch out, this is a job for flamethrowers!




Anil E. Hilated: We have better weapons than we did in Russia! These Archotral shells burn hot enough to kill a ghost or two.



Anil E. Hilated: ...That said, flamer support would be welcome. They're getting a bit close.



Bob McKenzie: Don't mind us, we'll just be up here dogfighting mags.



Solaus: Rockets work pretty well, too!



Lazarus: Ghosts busted. What's next?



Vlasta Děvínská: About to find out.




Vlasta Děvínská: More of those new elves! Looks like the village is pretty heavily patrolled. I wonder if they're keeping prisoners here?



Mael Radec: Could be. Let's make this quick, before they can try to take hostages.



Michael de Boulogne: Let's see them try to take hostages when their world's burning.



Doug McKenzie: Damnit, their arrows are punching through my copters! Avatar was right all along!



Svetlana Aliyev: The soldiers in Avatar didn't have burst coilguns.



Solaus: Dealt with.
Bob McKenzie: No sign of prisoners, though. What were all these elves doing here?
Aethereon Darkfyre: Perhaps this town's heart of darkness beats deeper within. I believe we must plumb its depths to reveal its secret.



Stephen Smith: There it is! They were guarding a well! This is probably what was responsible for those magic readings. Always good to capture one of these. Anyway, we've got more ghosts up ahead. I'll lead them back to you guys.



Stephen Smith: Joke's on you, Casper, this cockpit's airtight!



Michael de Boulogne: Undead, too. Let's send them all back to Hell.



Billy Mays: WE'LL KEEP THE SKIES CLEAR FOR YOU!



T. Hinman: Wait, you'll need fire to get the best results against ghosts? I don't recall any of your... our legends mentioning ghosts being vulnerable to fire, though.



Griff: I think we've got this under control.



Solaus: Yeah, we can make plenty of our own fire!



Solrick Skaft: Ah, shit, Darkfyre, you didn't block the road completely!
Aethereon Darkfyre: I have forever shamed myself. Solrick... take whatever vengeance on me you wish.



Solrick Skaft: My vengeance is reserved for the things that tried to float into my lungs and suffocate me.





Svetlana Aliyev: Well's secured. We've grabbed ourselves quite a prize today.
Patrick Gallagher: Shouldn't there be more enemy presence here, though? I mean, this is the location of their first defensive line and an important strategic target.
"Doctor" Snark: Pat's right. Let's keep looking.



Vlasta Děvínská: Eastern part of town's got a church, a civic center... no sign of the enemy, but there's a hill in the distance.



Aethereon Darkfyre: Rockets besiege me!



Aethereon Darkfyre: And the enemy throws fire that burns like hellfire, though not as hot as the Hell Riders'.
Mael Radec: That's... probably a Nekromant. Everyone, be on the lookout for more undead.



Vlasta Děvínská: Yeah, I'm picking up undead on radar. Almost certainly a Nekromant around. AT orcs coming down the hill, too.



Isara Gunther: You guys go on ahead. I think I heard something to the south.



Reginald P. Linux: Don't let 'em hit the trucks!



Vlasta Děvínská: Come to think of it, that's the first time I've even come close to being in any real danger. Amazing the difference a bit more scanner range makes.




Isara Gunther: I knew it! Sonic tank platoon hiding down here!



Erik Spanner: I'll help you out with it, Isara. Probably won't be anything left by the time I get to the frontline up north.



Griff: The way things are going, it looks like you made the right call, Erik.



Isara Gunther: Taking fire, no damage! Well, except to my ears. They'll be ringing for a while.



Basil: Doesn't look like they've got any shortage of trogs camping this hill, either!



Isara Gunther: Right, let's show these guys what real tanks can-



Isara Gunther: ...Could they really not be bothered to drive down the hill to flank us? Or thirty feet to help shoot at me?




Isara Gunther: Maybe you should leave the whole "tank" thing to humans, guys.



Vlasta Děvínská: Picking up undead to the north. Might be another Nekromant up there.



Stephen Smith: Let's have a look.



Stephen Smith: Wizard, we've got a wizard!




Griff: Be right with you, Stephen! Just picked off the Nekromant.



Vlasta Děvínská: I'll see if I can find the wizard. This looks like a good spot to set up. I just hope they can't see me through the trees.



Vlasta Děvínská: To the left we've got more super-elves. Not a problem. To the right...



Vlasta Děvínská: And on the right is... hang on... the hell are those?



Vlasta Děvínská: They look like undead, but they're riding some kind of armored horses. Except normal horses don't have eyes that glow like car taillights, right?
Mael Radec: How many, Vlasta?
Vlasta Děvínská: Nine, but almost all of them look wounded or damaged. They're missing armor pieces, and some of the horses are limping. Only two of them look like they're still in fighting shape.
"Doctor" Snark: Someone else must've gotten to them first. Let's finish the job.



Solaus: These sure as shit aren't normal horses. Rocket fire's ineffective!



Michael de Boulogne: Sure your aim's not off, Solaus? Anyway-
Solaus: Oh, don't give me that! We're dealing with magic. For all we know, I smashed their barrier or something.
Michael de Boulogne: Anyway, target's down. Devinska, you get sight on that wizard yet?
Vlasta Děvínská: It's pronounced "Děvínská."
Michael de Boulogne: Děvinska?
Vlasta Děvínská: Děvínská.
Michael de Boulogne: Děvínska?
Vlasta Děvínská: Close enough. Anyway, it doesn't actually look like there's a wizard here.
Stephen Smith: But I had a bolt of blue magic thrown at me from that direction!
Vlasta Děvínská: Well, there's no wizard. We know the elves can't do anything like that, or they would've before now. Probably came from those cavalry.
Solaus: I knew it! My aim was dead-on! They must've had some kind of other magic that did something to my rockets!



Anil E. Hilated: Solaus, I think that, unfortunately, we'll get chances in the future to test your theory. Let's just finish things up here.



Svetlana Aliyev: That's a wrap. A bit easier than I expected, but at least the new discoveries didn't horribly murder any of us.




The capture of another magic well was welcome news, considering how important Archotral and Tanarit had become to the war effort. Of greater interest was the presence of new elite enemy forces. In his correspondence with us, Ka-Tugrag mentioned an elite group of undead enemy warriors known as the Knights of the Order of Death. While we couldn't confirm it at the time, we had evidence that these knights had some connection with the Legions of the Doomed, the deserting orcs that had been captured and pressed into carrying out suicide attacks. We would have to ask Ka-Tugrag to learn more. In the meantime, we would prepare for the next phase of our assault.