Dragon Alliance Dark Storm : Dark Storm (41 page)

Soon, all remaining forces were ready and assembled in the late-autumn morning just as the two silver dragons returned from their last trip to the assembly area. Lordan gave the order of transport to the battalion commanders, as well as a quick synopsis of where they were to go in the field the rangers and his advanced forces had secured for them. He and Talonth would teleport three battalions to their destination, and Asharanth and Baranth would ferry the rest in a couple of trips. His legion was highly mobile, being pure cavalry or mounted in some fashion or another.

As he was about to tell his dragons to leave, the lead elements of the 29
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Legion started to arrive through the teleportation circle beside the weir. As the legionnaires began to move from the mithril alloy ring, he called to the legion commander through his seeing crystal and told him that as they had a battalion ready, the two other silver dragons would teleport them to the assembly area. With that, he raised his mithril-tipped lance, its dragonstone glowing brightly to signal his weir dragons to take to the sky and meet them at the assembly area. The nineteen dragons all rose into the air and glided over the large lake, the two bronze dragons Fieranth and Killenth leading the other dragons and the hundreds of hippogriffs, giant eagles, and s of the Eladran aerial battalion right behind them. As soon as they had gained the proper height and achieved the densely packed formation and the two bronzes and their riders ensured that all the dragons had the proper picture of their destination, they vanished in a brilliant blue flash. This was a feat that they had never tried before, but it was a success as they all emerged over the grassy meadow of the assembly area in the forests to the east of the Gray Mountains.

Mkel had the entire Draden Weir garrison assembled on the weir grounds between the lake and the weir landings across from the tavern. He called everyone to pay attention as he was to give them a warning order to ensure all knew what was in store upon their arrival to the designated assembly area. He drew Kershan and stuck the mithril blade into the stone floor. He then spoke a couple of words in Draconic, and the ruby dragonstone displayed a model of the assembly area in the forest to the east of the Gray Mountains. All of his garrison, the elves, and dwarves were gathered in a semicircle around Gallanth, who was lying down as a backdrop, with Mkel in front of the gold dragon.

“Soldiers and Friends of Draden, I want to give you the latest on what is happening with this threat we are about to engage. First, Gallanth and I will be teleporting you to this location in the assembly area that the rangers picked out for us. We will immediately assume this portion of the field to place ourselves and defend it should the need arise. Once all of our garrison and the Draden regiment arrive here, and all of Eladran with the 29
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Legion get settled in, we will confirm the latest the rangers have on the advancing fire giant army coming from their westernmost colony. They are attacking from here.” He had his sword brighten the fire giants’ crude castle built on the side of a semi active volcano. “They have gathered the largest army seen since the Great War and dozens of chromatics are with them. Their intent is not clear, but we think they want to raid either Eladran or Draden Weir just to prove that they can conduct a successful attack on Alliance territory, as well as to sack our treasury, especially the gemstones. We will give a more complete battle plan when we get all our forces together. Now mount up and prepare for teleport,” he ordered as the image from his sword disappeared back into the gem. He pulled the blade from the ground and sheathed it in his belt; for he already had Markthrea slung over his back and would move Kershan there before battle.

They all started to mount and assume their positions around Gallanth. They had an easier time fitting the whole garrison around and under him since the wagons of the catapult section and the support corps were now without the need for horses. All of them now mounted the floating battlewagons. The box-shaped reinforced wagons were quietly hovering three feet above the ground as all moved to their places. The soldiers had determined that three of the special dragonstones allowed the wagon to float and be pulled effortlessly by horses. Four allowed a wagon to move on its own power for moderate speeds of an average horse gallop. Five allowed them to carry the heavy loads of the catapults or supplies and still move on their own. This would, however, be a baptism by fire for these new inventions.

As soon as they were ready, Gallanth and Mkel focused on the image that Lupek had sent him on his seeing crystal, and as all the weir staff and families waved, they disappeared in the familiar blue flash of light. They emerged in the middle of the meadow on the north portion of the clearing. All the soldiers, raiders, dwarves, and elves immediately dispersed and moved to their planned areas to help fortify the temporary location. Dekeen sent out two small patrols of his elves for local security and to tie in with the rangers and centaurs.

Colonel Lordan and Talonth were there to meet Mkel and his weir council. Company Senior Sergeant Pekram and Lieutenant Ablich immediately started the task of arranging the garrison’s forces in coordination with the dwarf and elf companies. All of Mkel’s Weir Council members then dismounted and moved to Lordan. Mkel called down to him and told him he had to transport the Draden Regiment since Silvanth was expecting.

“Captain, I will have Asharanth and Baranth retrieve the Draden Regiment as soon as they have finished transporting my legion and before they teleport the 29
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Legion,” he explained.

“I told Colonel Wierangan that I would be back for the regiment, sir,” Mkel replied.

“It is better that you start our planning here than be concerned about that. This will better serve his soldiers, plus my wife’s and Altmed’s silvers need to practice their mass teleportation skills. I know you and Gallanth have pretty much mastered that,” the senior dragonrider said with a smile, at which Mkel smiled back as he dismounted Gallanth. They all walked over to the tent where Lordan had set up a temporary headquarters. Talonth had already set a spot aside for Gallanth as they walked over to the tent. There was a slightly cool breeze blowing, but it was still warm for the area for so late in the fall. Lupek was waiting for Mkel at the tent and gave him a hug after he walked up to him. The Draden Weirleader was glad to see him, and in one piece.

Soon, the two silvers had transported all of the Draden Regiment, their own legion, and the 29
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legion to the clearing. Lordan, Mkel, and Lupek had come up with a good tentative plan to array their weir’s forces and suggest the placement and attack method for the Draden Regiment and the 29
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Legion. They were ready just in time to brief this to those respective commanders as they walked up to the tent. The two Alliance colonels gave a quick salute to Gallanth and Talonth, who were lying to either side of the brownish-green tent.

Mkel saluted Colonel Wierangan and the commander of the 29
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Legion as they walked in, and Colonel Lordan shook their hands in greeting. “My friends, please have a drink as we show you the layout of the battlefield. We are located here in this clearing just a couple hundred yards from the trail that skirts along the Gray Mountains,” he explained as his, Mkel’s, and Lupek’s weapons’ dragonstones projected a three-dimensional replica of the terrain they were in. “Lieutenant Lupek and both our weirs’ rangers chose this site for it was large enough to accommodate three legions with all their support staff and equipment, as well as the dragons. Both Draden and Eladran Weirs’ wizards have already cast an illusion spell over us so it appears just like a meadow when viewed from the sky to any other than a sorcerer looking for magic or a dragon. The chromatics have been coming from the east and have not yet flown this far west, likely waiting for the army to move into Alliance soil and be sacrificed first.

“There is a point here along the road to the mountain pass where the forest juts out, giving only a half a mile between the hard stand trees and the base of the hills where maneuvering is difficult. This is where we should make our defense, for it will force the Morgathians and the giants to funnel into our catapult, ballista, and archer fires. There are two trails through the forest here that will allow my light and medium cavalry to maneuver past their main army and attack their supply lines almost undetected and then hit them from the rear. This defensive point is only two to three miles from this meadow, so the support corps wagons won’t have long to travel for resupply and to carry the wounded to the healer stations. We can place the catapults here just outside the trail that goes back to the meadow to keep them supplied with stones and canisters. My centaurs are also ready for a fast strike against this advanced guard that is marching its way here to desynchronize their battle plan, then fall back here to act as our reserve,” Lordan briefed his fellow colonels.

“Colonels, Draden’s rangers have also spotted a trail that snakes along the lower part of the mountain range here,” Mkel stated as he pointed to the terrain image and enlarged that portion of the model. “I suggest we put at least a platoon of infantry and archers there to ensure that it can be held for a time if they decide to send a flanking force that way, if they even know about it. I can put two of my catapults on their new floating wagon platforms there to cover it and give additional plunging fires against the main Morgathian attack,” Mkel added.

“A good idea, Dragonrider, but a question, did your rangers find out who is leading this Morgathian army?” the 29
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Legion commander asked.

“Lupek, did any of the elves hear anything?” Mkel asked.

“Sir, Deless said that one of our elf rangers kept hearing the name Molotoc a fair amount of times, and in a fearful manner,” Lupek answered.

“Molotoc, huh, if this is the same bastard I knew as a young but merciless Morgathian death knight in the Great War, we need to send your entire garrison to that pass, Captain. This one was very unorthodox in his tactics then; it was and is unusual for Morgathian leaders to be such, given their strict regimentation. If he finds that pass, he will exploit it and with his most hardened troops. The unique blend of talent, flexibility and lethality that your weir is known for might be a good fit to hold that pass, Mkel. And with these new toys you have, it could prove immeasurable,” the senior colonel stated.

“I agree with the 29
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commander, and by placing your garrison there and your catapults just up from them, you will be able to support both your men and the two legions, especially with their increased maneuverability,” Wierangan stated.

Mkel was not completely in agreement but conceded that it was the right thing to do. “Colonel Lordan, what of the aerial forces?”

The Eladran Weirleader quickly answered, “I suggest that we take two of our wings and run two air attacks, one coming low and hard from the east and the other from the mountainside, hitting them fast from the west. The hippogriffs and s will only get one shot before they get decisively engaged with their manticores and wyverns as they rise up for an intercept mission against us. The other wing and the rangers’ s will also fly along the second mountain range and hit the Morgathian columns as they march along this point where the mountains break a slight bit. They attack until out of dragons’ fire grenades and half their arrows and then reinforce their comrades in the aerial battle until the Morgathians are defeated, or they are called to defend the support corps,” the colonel explained.

“Yes, I agree, and I see your plan for the catapults. You have them divided in three sections so they can confuse the giants by hitting them from multiple directions. A good plan but this has the disadvantage of a longer resupply of the throwers, for they have greater distances to travel from the assembly area now,” Colonel Wierangan stated.

“Yes, sir, we understand this and will cache stones and canisters at each location, three basic loads. Captain Mkel’s new floating supply wagons can move faster and longer than any others now and will increase the supply rate. We also concur with your attack plan for the winged forces; our method of employment is very similar. We also had three courses of action of which one variation was the concentration of the catapults in one place behind the infantry, but with the number of chromatics they have and the number of catapults they usually bring, we felt it was a force protection measure to keep them separated. Our throwers can acquire their targets faster and fire faster and with more range and accuracy than our counterparts. This allows us to hit them before they can mass their stones on us,” Lordan explained.

“Especially with the large number of giants they have. You can always count on them to be like a fast-firing, short-range catapult, sir,” Mkel stated.

“Yes and the fire giants have a good range as well, with their strength. However, they also prefer to close with their enemies, for they do like their black-bladed swords,” Gallanth added.

“Speaking of the dragons, Gold Dragon Gallanth, what is the plan for dealing with all those wings of chromatics?” Colonel Wierangan asked.

“Colonel, Talonth and I agreed that I and his two senior bronze dragons will lead the bulk of the Eladran Weir wing forward and hit the giants hard on the first pass or two. The chromatics always let the Morgathian armies attack first to save more of their own miserable hides. This will draw them out. Talonth and Baranth will then teleport in and strike them hard from above. If we need to be reinforced, we will have to call upon our lady dragons, for the Capital Wing is grounded in Shidan by the attack going on there and the coastal weirs are busy with a surge in pirate hit-and-run attacks reinforced by kraken. The elves and rangers have only spotted three wings of chromatics, which should not be a challenge to our two weirs,” Gallanth answered.

“And I have sent one of my most talented copper dragons and her rider to Draden’s support corps. With Gallanth’s mate nesting, we want to take few chances,” Talonth added.