Chapter 4: Battle - Part 1 �So, are the troops ready for the upcoming battle?�
�Yes sir. The troops are prepared for the takeover. Paratroopers are set up. The airship Taran is ready to drop the bike soldiers over Timber, sir!�
Sinra Deling watched the soldier for any signs of possible lies. Satisfied that there were no lies, Sinra dismissed the soldiers. �How fast the rebels shall be put down,� he thought. �The thorn in our side will be removed once and for all with the destruction of Timber.� Sinra smiled.
�To bad my father Jedrid isn�t here to see this.� In the corner of the room, a shape stirred.
�I will get to replenish my powers during the attack, correct?� The thing spoke. �You promised me the sword, then failed to deliver it. At least let me replenish my powers if not my life.�
�You may do whatever is necessary, but you must eliminate the SeeDs. If they live, then Galbadia might very well never know my rule.� Sinra laughed.
�As you wish.� The thing in the corner smiled. The jagged opening that served as its mouth opened, and a rough gravelly sound came out that could only have been the things laughter.
Sinra turned around and looked out the window behind him. He heard the thing leave his office. The door shut and Sinra got up out of his chair. He walked over to the window and started o smile.
�Timber, today is your last, enjoy it.�
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Hiln was a soldier in the Galbadian army. He had been in the army for most of his life. The past 17 years he had been suck in the hellhole called Winhill. Now, with about 20 other soldiers, Hiln was preparing for the new assignment, the drop on Timber.
Orders were simple: Destroy every man, woman, or child that resisted. Hiln thought o himself hat the orders were stretched too far with the inclusion of women and children. After all, there must be rules in battle.
Half of the platoon was to be dropped onto Timber. The other half was to march in and surround the city. Total, over 150 soldiers were being deployed, easily overkill against the civilians.
A smooth soft voice crackled over the intercom. �Prepare for drop in 10 minutes.� Hiln raised his head. �10 minutes until extermination begins.� The soldiers around hi quieted down as people locked themselves into position. Every person had a gun and a blade. Every weapon was by every person. Not a thing was out of place.
Everything was perfect. Two minutes later, the airship Taran began experiencing technical difficulties.
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�Sir! Two of the engines have just failed. The other 8 are now showing signs of stress. If we keep up this mission, then the airships central reactor will blow and we will all die.�
�Get the other two back up and running. It is vital that we quell all rebellion.�
�But sir-�
�If need be switch over to auxillary power. There is a reason we have those extra engines.�
�Sir, that�s not the main problem. The real problem is the stabilizer. It just gave out. We are heading on a crash collision course to Timber.�
The captain of the Taran frowned. �If we are on a crash course, then have the units eject prematurely and march into Timber.�
�What about you sir?�
�Me?� he sighed. �I will go down with my ship.�
�Sir!� The soldier had water brimming at the corner of his eyes. �Sir, it�s been a pleasure for the last 16 years working for you, that it has.�
�Yes. And I serving with you.� The captain smiled. �At least I won�t be abandoning my ship. After almost three decades, I will die with her.� A small sigh escaped his lips. �A fitting end to my life.�
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Squall woke up from his dreams just as the Taran�s third engine failed. He looked around and saw Zell and Irvine sleeping soundly across the room.
He laid back down and tried to sleep. After about 20-30 minutes of laying down, not sleeping, Squall got up and began to walk around Timber. As he left the building that served as their housing for the week, he saw Soldiers sitting in the shadows. The glint from their guns attracted his eyes instantly.
One barrel raised so that it pointed at Squall�s heart. Before he knew what happened he was propelled backwards as the bullet struck him in the chest. An immense pain filled him and he realized that he wasn�t dead.
The bullet had missed it�s mark by about an inch as he turned and had not hit Squall where it was meant to. Squall felt his chest and burnt his hand almost immediately. His hand pulled back quickly and he looked at what had burnt him.
Lying on his chest was the twisted metal that had once been his necklace. He turned and saw the soldier take aim again. �You�re dead this time SeeD trash.� A loud crack ripped through the air as the gun was fired a second time.
Squall twisted before the gun fired and he felt the bullet graze past his ear. He heard the soldier curse, and then he heard the other run at him. As he neared Squall, his sword swung in a wide arc. Squall ducked and was hit in the arm by the third bullet.
The soldier he was engaged in a duel with swung around and missed Squall again. Squall knew another shot was going to be fired at them, so he grappled the soldier in front of him. The blood running from his wound was making the grip slippery. Before the soldier could slip out totally, a fifth shot was fired.
With the soldier as his shield, Squall stood up and caught the bullet with his opponent. As he died, Squall gabbed the sword and charged the gunman. Before he could react, Squall swung and sliced off his head in one clean blow.
Blood spurted from the now headless body and Squall heard a shout. Soldiers had lined up all around him and had completely surrounded him. �Oh shit.�
Off to the left of the group, a gun started shooting. Seven soldiers fell before they realized what was happening to them. Another four fell before they reacted. Six more fell before they reached the gunman, and the last three were picked off as he retreated.
�Well Squall, better be more careful. Now if I hadn�t been here to save you��
�Sorry Irvine. Hey, how did you know that I was out here?� Squall voice sounded puzzled. �I mean, I left without waking anybody up.�
�The sound of five gunshots is enough to wake anyone up man. Zell wanted to come and help, but realized once we were out here that he would just get in the way. You never bring fists to a gunfight. Zell knew that, so stayed behind.�
�Were any of the women woken up?� Squalls eyes told Irvine that he wanted to know if Rinoa was still sleeping, not worrying about him.
�They�re all asleep. I made sure before I left. C�mon man, let�s wake everybody up so we can start now, while they least expect it.�
�You�re right. Let�s go.�
Squall and Irvine walked back into the hotel and woke everybody up.