The Prophetic Fall of Tarn

This one is a little longer than the last one but hopefully not too long! This standalone story is a look into the perpetual war that tore the landscape apart leading up to The End.

“Commodore.” A voice said from behind Commodore Beln in the dull gray hallway. He paused a moment and looked over his shoulder. He heard the sounds of rickety clanking as military issued boots pounded into the metal floor.

“Ah, officer…” He trailed off, realizing he couldn’t remember her name. He felt a rush of embarrassment. She was one of his closest confidants and he respected her deeply, but he couldn’t remember her name at all. He chalked it up to fog of war seeping into the mind and continued on, “What can I do for you?” The officer trotted up to him and passed him a folder as she fell in line next to him.

“We have a return from the supply truck. One survivor. No salvage. She barely made it alive... and man, she’s got a story to tell.”

“A story? That’s a first.” Beln said as he flipped open the folder and fingered through the soldier's statement. “Huh. Already blacked out… Take me to the retrieval team, we’ll get an untampered debrief from them.”

“Well, that's the thing commodore… she came back on her own. No retrieval team.” Beln stopped in the hall.

“On her own?” The officer nodded,

“Limping, bleeding, and shrapnel seeping into her internal organs… but alive. Broken bones, third degree burns, severe dehydration, starvation, internal bleeding. On her own.”

“How long does she have?” Beln asked, the urgency crawling into his voice.

“Unsure… medical team said she’s stabilized. Could be permanent. Could slip away at any second. With the rolling blackouts and lack of supplies… we could lose her if -” Beln raised a hand and the officer stopped talking.

“I need clearance to talk to her before the admiral does, officer.”

“That’s why I came to you, sir. We don’t have clearance - she’s hands off by orders on high - but I talked to the staff in the medbay, and they agreed to… give her some space for the night.” She said with a smile filled with pride.

“Perfect. Let’s go.” They turned left at the next split in the hallway, heading towards the medical bay. Commodore Beln let out a sigh, “You know this stays between us, right?” The officer looked him in the eyes, her gaze raising to meet his own. Her features were firm and serious. She gave a single nod then looked forward.

It wasn’t long before Beln and his officer had slipped into the small militia infirmary and locked the door, then pulled the curtain closed behind them. The woman was laying in a surprisingly peaceful rest. Her face was already beginning to scab over from minor burns all over - they couldn’t even make out her facial features. Her arms were wrapped and suspended, and it appeared her legs were in casts under a thin white blanket. There was a translucent dome covering her torso.

“Why isn’t she in a full suspension chamber?” Beln whispered, leaning over to the officer.

“We don’t have the supplies for that, sir…” She whispered back, “We barely have the supplies to keep our ships functioning. We diverted most of our forces East… her supply truck was supposed to bring what supplies we could give to the eastern front. Medical supplies, equipment for ship repairs, rations, soldiers… sir, we’re in a war on all sides with the mines depleting below us. Faren has us in a vice grip.”

“And yet the admiral keeps pushing our luck at sea to the west and now the lakes war in the east is collapsing. Ayeke, we can’t even get supplies to the east. Plains above, do we even have an eastern front anymore?” Beln mulled the thought over. There hadn’t been a word from the East in 72 hours. He feared the worst. No message over comms arrays, no communication between the divinators. He was beginning to grow nervous, but the admiral seemed indifferent. That’s why he needed to speak with her.

“Let’s wake her up and find out. Maybe she knows something.” The officer said. She stepped forward and gently spoke, “M173? Can you hear me?” The woman’s eyes fluttered for a moment before acknowledging that she was called. She looked to the officer,

“Officer, Len…” She croaked out. Len, of course! That was her name. Beln shook his head, annoyed with himself.

“Yes.” Len said with a gentle smile. “I dispatched you when you left.”

“I remember…” The woman said with a smile of broken teeth.

“Good to know your memory still works, soldier.” The commodore said, stepping forward.

“Commodore Beln!” Her voice cracked and she flinched with pain trying to salute him. The sling suspending her arm fought her every step of the way.

“Don’t worry about the niceties, militant. I need a full debrief of what happened out there.”

“I already gave a full debrief, sir.”

“I know you did, but I need this one -” He paused to open the file Len had given him, “- off the record.” He showed the heavily sanitized file to the soldier. She let out a gasp that sounded like a fish searching for water. 

“Yes sir, commodore.” She said, “I’ll tell you as much as I can remember.”

“Very good. Officer Len, please begin the recording for our files.”

“Yes sir.”

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Devor Tenra. Militia member M173. 3rd generation. 

I started on the water, working the guns on a cruiser. After depletions in the supply chain - too many soldiers on the water, not enough supplies crossing the continent - I was relocated to the supply chain run from the city-state of Tarn to to the great lake region out east near Faren’s capital city-state. 

It was an easy enough job. Drive the truck, fight off the usual fanatics, counter-ops, and random highway robbers, then take the supplies out to the front lines in the east.

Supplies consisted of medical equipment, quick patch and sealant, replacement parts for the lake cruisers, heavy plasma artillery rounds, energy weapons - both hand-to-hand and ranged - as well as several militia members… M233 to M238. I don’t remember their names… I’ve been trying.

I was driving the Heavy terrain convoy. My gunner - M113 - Tont - he was reading a book… about… local lore - it was - he kept talking about…

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“The ancient kings of Tarn often made attempts over the course of thousands of years to push eastward into Faren territory. These often failed due to guerilla tactics, unfamiliar terrain, and unpredictable wildlife. The taming of Faren’s wilds did not come from the civilization of the western Tarnish people, but from within when the Faren authoritarian - Lord Campton - took control and rallied his people, creating a war against Tarn that would last for centuries before both sides became depleted. They then became united with the goal of defending against a new enemy - The northern crusaders of the icelands. It was believed that then -”

“- Okay okay, enough, Tont. I don’t need a whole damn history lesson.” I said, cutting him off before he could continue. I never liked hearing about the Faren-Tarn alliance. It always made me uncomfortable when thinking about the way things were now. Tont had his legs up on the dash. Not much could stop the slow moving machinery winding down the forest roads on its thick tread, so we weren’t really on alert. He had the gun ready overhead and he could have opened the hatch at any point to engage an enemy, but it just didn’t seem necessary.

In retrospect, it was stupid… a misuse of protocol, but Tont always said we were safest in the forest between trades and I agreed with him. It was when we arrived at the outposts that we needed to be worried. That we needed to stick to our posts. I know we were wrong now.

“To know the history of the lands is to -”

“- Know its people. I know. But shit, can you talk about anything else? Anything at all?” 

The sun was setting, and a heavy fog was rolling onto the dirt road that passed through the marsh. I can't remember the exact location but I know the terrain was a mixture of forest and marshland. I was getting tired, but my shift at the wheel wasn’t finished until sunrise the next day. I took a heavy breath and pushed on into the night. Tont kept reading. Talking. I was barely listening, but at least it kept me alert.

“The Monger is a monster of great size and proportions. It’s believed to be a creature of a god, though which has failed to be proven…”

“I’m sorry what? The monger?” I said before he could continue.

“Yeah, the Monger. What’s wrong with that name?” Tont asked me, putting the book down in his lap.

“Don’t you think that name’s kind of silly…?” I laughed. Laughing made me tighten my grip on the wheel.

“Silly? I wouldn’t think it was silly if I saw one.” Tont continued.

“How would you know?”

“Didn’t you hear the description?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No…” I guess I wasn’t listening as closely as I thought. He went to begin the passage again, but I held up a hand, “Don’t bother. Just keep reading.” I said with a laugh and a shake of my head.

“Sure thing, Dev.” We continued into the night. Every now and then, I’d hear a bump in the back. I remember Tont making a comment about how loud these guys were compared to other militia members we’ve transported. Sometimes they got to the point where we would bang on the back of the metal that separated us to quiet them up. They seemed pretty unruly to me, but that’s what you get with the fourth gen types. They’re practically babies still. They would settle when we hit the wall and that was good enough for me.

As it got darker and harder to see, I had to focus more on the road. I could still hear Tont talking, but only bits and pieces really came to me. Things about creatures that shook the earth. Or gods that came down to smite the unbelievers. Kings that lived for thousands of years and ascended to other realms. You know, the nonsense you read about in local legend books. And this was Faren land after all. The wilds of the eastern northwest where myths came true and legends never died. Either way, the whimsical stories kept me away when my eyes started getting heavy and my vision felt like it was crossing.

In the noon of night, something rocked the top of the vehicle and rattled me awake. It felt like we were lifted from above. Like a hawk picking up a mouse, only dropping it when it saw something more appetizing. I stopped the vehicle and turned on the floodlights that surround all militia standard convoys. Of course, with the fog it actually made things worse, but this was the standard operating procedure.

I followed my script, pulled out the loudspeaker mouthpiece and spoke into the comm system, “To any invading party, this is an armed caravan transporting goods under the Tarn banner. Any attack on this caravan is an attack on the Western Tarn alliance of our lord of the beyond, Ayeke.”

We sat in silence. There was no response, only a gentle breeze blowing through the forest. I reached for my rifle, but Tont stopped me. He technically was my equal but he had been in a few months longer and was able to pull rank of experience over me. 

“Hold your position. Deploy the squadron to investigate. I’ll check the top. Remember, follow protocol.” He crouched up on his chair, worked the gunner’s hatch open and took up position.

“Testing testing…” He whispered over the comm channel.

“Heard.” I said back. I remember the sweat beading on my palms, and the dryness in my mouth. We were in a dark foggy forest, floodlights on, and a warning I could swear I still heard echoing in the distance. I just threatened a firefight because our truck was rocked… but that’s what I was supposed to do. I went back over the comm, “Squadron lead, M233?”

“Ma’am?” She said back without missing a beat.

“We may be overreacting, but it pays to be safe. I need your squad to do a full search of the minimum safe radius.”

“Understood. 233 out.”

“No sign of anything up here. Nothing that could’ve done that at least. Think I saw a stray beast running off… a little wolf-like thing? Maybe a fox. Doesn’t matter, it’s gone now. Just trees, marsh and wilds… far as I can see.” Tont said. 

“Should I kill the lights?”

“Negative. Might be scaring off a big animal if that’s what gave us the startle.”

“It wasn’t a startle.” I said back as calmly as I could. “I was following the protocol.” I didn’t like the protocol. I felt like I was overreacting. Tont just grunted in response.

It was weird seeing his legs swivel around in the chair next to me but not being able to hear him other than through the comm. 

Not long after, I saw the squadron making their rounds. One of them gave me a wave through the window and I waved back, trying to keep positive.

“Minimum safe radius is clear, ma’am.” M233 called over the comms. I was rehearsing the rules in my mind.

“Protocol calls for a further search to medium safe radius for confirmation. Can you confirm?”

“Confirmed, ma’am. We’re on it.”

It wasn’t long before I saw their flashlights bending through the distant fog, darting about looking for anything that could be hiding in the night. They were taking a while though and within a few minutes of them spreading out, they were converging on a location.

“M233, report.” I said over the comm.

“M233 reporting. We have a visual on something… some sort of light… about 10 meters out.”

“We don’t have visual here, M233. Give me some coordinates.” Tont said over the comm.

“Uhhh, 10 meters north of me at uhhh, 120-ish degrees? I can’t be certain. This fog is making everything so hard to see - my visor is sending off some weird numbers. Might be more like 80 degrees… hold to confirm.”

“I can’t see it on my end…” Tont said. “Approach with caution. You have no coverage. Repeat, no cover.” 

“Should I go help?” I asked.

“No. Stay in position. The driver needs to be prepared at all times. Protocol -”

“Yes, sir.” I said, a mixture of panic and spite coming out. I knew Tont was trying to help, but I didn’t appreciate him taking control of the situation - experience or not. Sitting in the driver seat while the team approached something unknown made me sick to my stomach.

“Approaching light source…” M233 said. “It’s -  holy shi -” We lost her signal. 

Screams echoed from the trees, and flashes of blue muzzle fire soon followed in the marsh. Before I could react, a deep guttural roar erupted from where the squad was. The muzzle flash continued with the echo of rifle fire howling into the night. Funny how the muzzle flash broke the fog but this strange reported light didn’t.

The air ran cold and I felt my hands reaching for my rifle. As if he saw me, Tont snapped, “M173, hold position!” He screamed over the gunfire. Soldiers were screaming - pleading - over the comms, calling for backup. 

“But they need help and I -”

“Hold your damn position, Dev!” I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. What was I supposed to say? But I still grabbed my rifle. I just didn’t move otherwise. Within 30 seconds the gunfire had ceased. The screaming had stopped. Everything was quiet again. I wagered a try,

“M233 report.” Nothing. Not even silence. There was static. As though somebody was holding down the button, but not saying anything. Like her voice was trapped on the other end. It made my skin crawl. “Is anyone there… M234?” I said, my voice cracked and I felt like I was going to cry. I swallowed deep and took an even deeper breath. “Please respond or you will be considered KIA.”

Silence.

“I’m switching to a secondary channel. Just us.” I said to Tont.

“Understood.” I switched channels,

“Testing…” My voice was shaken, but I still tried to follow protocol. Was this even a rule? I don’t know anymore.

“I hear you.” Tont said. “Dev… get ready to exit the vehicle.”

“Exit the vehicle?”

“We have an approaching light source.”

“Flashlight?”

“No. Too big.” He sounded panicked. “I’m going to cover you, but you have to go. Now.”

“Negative. I’ll cover you.” I could see the light now, it came from the right side of the convoy and was becoming blinding.

“Dev there’s no time fo - ” The light overwhelmed the outside. The vehicle rocked and shuddered and I heard him scream over the comm - it even broke through the reinforced roof of the convoy. The turret began to fire off kinetic rounds rapidly. The echo made my grip tighten on the rifle and my teeth clench down. My blood ran cold as his legs pulled away and out, the hatch slamming shut behind him, the gunfire stopping immediately after. I heard the scraping of sharpened bone against metal and a sudden flash of light that drowned out the floodlights but as the caravan rocked back into place, the lights flickered out.

It was dark. Quiet. 

I switched to an open channel. “This is M173 of the Western Tarn alliance. If anyone is out there, please respond.” I whispered it, hoping I didn’t attract whatever the ball of light was. I checked my rifle. Full clip, but that was all. I took the safety off, and reached across into the glovebox. An emergency energy pistol with a full battery. I thanked Ayeke and holstered it before I opened the door.

I wish that rusted door had been repaired. The strained rusted groan made my blood run cold as it echoed through the forest. I swear, in the fog I saw refracted light shimmer in the distance then disappear. It was deep in the forest, but I knew it was there. Maybe that’s where it took Tont. I backed away from the source of the movement and began to head towards where the squad was lost - maybe there were survivors. Maybe they could help me save him. I stumbled over rocks and broken trees in the dark. My eyes hadn’t adjusted to the dark, but I didn’t dare turn on a flashlight. I stopped to catch my breath near when I heard a cough and a groaning sputter a few meters in front of me. I looked to its source and could make out a soldier in the seafoam green frontline body armor. His chest piece was shredded open, revealing his opened chest cavity with blood pooling in his lap. He had something dark in his hand, I couldn’t make it out but he was gripping it tightly.

I slid down quietly next to him. It was M237, I think.

“Ma’am…” He whispered. His voice was strained and forced. I don’t think he could control that his voice was only a whisper. “The gods aren’t here. Only… fiends.” He sputtered through a bubble of blood gaping from between a badly burned mouth. The bones of his cheek and jawline were exposed. It looked like a weapon was discharged right next to his face. How was he still alive? I had to stop myself from throwing up into his lap after seeing him. He let out a labored breath and handed me what was wrapped in his hand.

I thought it may be a letter to a loved one, or tags, or even just a charm to Ayeke. Then I wrapped my fingers around it

It was an extra clip for a kinetic rifle. The standard issue. The same rifle I had in my hands. Something about that made it feel even more serious. Then his body went limp next to me, his eyes staring into mine… forever.

I turned back towards the caravan. I had left it abandoned but I didn’t really care anymore. I thought I was going to die. I needed to find Tont, he had to be alive out there.

He was known as a survivor. Fought on both fronts - on land and sea - and had more confirmed kills than anyone I knew. He was practically working the convoy route as a vacation before heading back to the front lines. Shit, Faren might have us surrounded, but they’d never have someone like Tont. If anyone could survive whatever this thing was, it had to be him.

It had to be.

I made my way back to the caravan and looked around. Nothing in sight. I saw that same strange light in the distance again. Only this time it was getting closer. I crawled under the caravan in a panic. If this thing had good hearing, it probably heard my panicked breaths that I struggled to hold in. 

The light became brighter. I wonder if I would’ve gone blind if I was fully exposed. I heard a strange groan and a chitter like a massive insect. I used the light that made its way to me to find the emergency hatch into the back of the caravan and snap it open. I thought I’d be safe inside. I fumbled, throwing my rifle up into the hole before pulling my body up.

I poked my head up just in time to see a claw as big as me scraping its way into the back. The soldiers hadn’t sealed the back hatch - a break in protocol that in the moment I thought might cost me my life - and this creature was rummaging around like somebody who couldn’t see into a jar. I froze a moment, then slowly reached for my rifle. The creature’s claw was getting closer.

And that’s when it happened.

I don’t even remember it fully. I wasn’t thinking, I wasn’t sure what forced my hand, but I couldn’t have been thinking straight.

The next thing I knew, my rifle was in my hands, and I blasted that monster right in the palm of its slimy claw. The hold blazed with blue light, and I saw its hand begin to sear before the shot had fully registered on the creature. The air was electrified, and I swear I saw a munitions rack light up like the energy had activated it. It let out a disgusting screech and its claw slammed against the top of the caravan, jerking the entire vehicle up. 

I tried to duck out of the hatch, but I got stuck with my arms spread out. Instead of ducking out, I rocketed up off the dirt road and into the air with the caravan. The creature’s arm was thrashing against the walls, trying to get loose from the back of the caravan. I was lucky it didn’t hit me. 

Until he got loose, and the entire truck went into freefall.

And there I was.

Falling through the air, half in, half out of the emergency hatch in the bottom of the caravan. I fought to get loose, to get free, and I only just got out before the caravan landed and smashed into a tree. I landed in a muddy pocket of dirt that I think broke my fall. I heard a warning klaxon blaring from the caravan hold.

There was a containment breach inside. One of the artillery rounds must’ve been damaged in the thrashing. The blinding light of the creature galloped towards the caravan and began to slam against it, letting out a bellow and a screech. The klaxon didn’t stop, and I realized I was too close. I needed to get away before I was stuck in the blast radius of an artillery leak that this thing was making worse.

I stumbled away, limping as I went.

I’m not sure how, but I managed to come away from this with my rifle still in hand. Just as I was about to break free of the tree line - or what used to be before the caravan was thrown into it - the klaxon stopped and there was a pause.

A pause before the entire caravan went up like a plasma bomb.

To be honest, I don’t remember feeling any of it. I don’t remember it burning my skin, or throwing me out of the tree line and across the road. Before long I was standing on the road again, looking at the blue flames of superheated air and lost cargo. I realized all at once, that the creature was standing inside the flames, its own light diminished. There it was in all its horrendous glory, finally clear enough that I could see its entire form.

It was like an anglerfish upon land with claws like a poisonous reptile. Its mouth gaped with ciliated teeth that were sharp despite the way they rocked about in its gaping oceanic maw. The creature was all of three stories, with a giant lure of now dimmed light hanging past its face and down in front of its primordial body. It less walked on land, and more dragged itself on the knuckles of its claws on what could fairly be described as a stump of a lower body with small flippers.

It was the horror of the deep washed upon land. A curse from the gods, I swear it.

But it bled, and I knew that now. The explosion may have left it unmoving, but I saw blood seeping from between cracks in its hard outer shell. Its maw had a gooey mix of saliva and blood seeping from its lipless jowls.

It saw me. I think it knew I was sizing it up too, because it brought its claws to the earth and began to drag itself forward. I could see where its claws dug into its own wrists as it forced itself to move across the land. I backed away, trying to steady my rifle.

I backed right into a tree and let out a gasp before realizing what it was. When I refocused on the creature, it had ripped a tree from the ground and was holding it like a cudgel. 

It held the tree to its lure, and it went up in flames.

I gasped and steadied my rifle, taking aim on the creature's head. I took a shot at its colorless eyes and the creature staggered back before bellowing in pain and throwing the flaming tree at me. 

I dove down in time for it to miss me, leveling the tree behind me. But as it rolled downward, it landed on my leg pinning me in the mud.

The flames were beginning to spread all around me. I think I was burning too, but I can’t remember feeling it. The fire was spreading from the tree, and the ruptured caravan. I was trapped and I knew I only had one way out: Kill the beast.

I readied my rifle, but I couldn’t see the creature yet. I saw its light approaching, but I wasn’t sure at first. All of the light looked the same, it could’ve been the fire spreading… but I don’t think fire can move like that.

Before I could figure it out, its gaze was looking down on me through the flames. It let out a roar and I felt the world around me shake. It was coming to confirm the kill, and here I was aiming my sights on it.

I fired a barrage of shots into its huge other eye. It fell backwards, and I heard it land with a wet thud. The shaking of the earth knocked the flaming tree loose, and I pulled myself out from under it. I remember not fully having control of the leg that was pinned, I was practically dragging it. I went to fire again, but I was out of ammo. I felt lucky for M237’s extra magazine, and I made sure to thank him and Ayeke as I reloaded and began firing on the monster again.

The forest around us was engulfed in flame. I could see the fire spreading. And I feared being consumed by it. Almost more than I feared the monster writhing on the ground. 

I steadied my breath and continued firing on the monster. This time it stopped writhing. Maybe it was my turn to confirm the kill.

I took a few steps forward, and looked over it. Before I knew what was happening, a claw from the beast shot out, and came down upon me. I lifted my rifle just in time for the claw to slam into it. The rifle exploded in my hands, searing my face and my fingers. I remember feeling that. The world was spinning . My hands and face were seared. I fell back onto the ground and struggled to pull the pistol from my holster with exposed fingers on cooked flesh. The monster loomed over me and let out a roar unlike anything I had ever heard. 

A battle cry. 

A cry of pain. 

A final whimper of defiance.

I didn’t know what drove me, but I took aim at its glowing ball of light and fired on it with my pistol. It dangled down over me and I felt its heat, but I quickly propelled myself through the mud on fractured and broken legs trying to get away from the creature.

After the third or fourth bullet, the creature seemed to stop.

Hesitate.

It sat down… almost calm. It let out a wail, echoing off the darkest corners of the forest. I fell back against a tree that wasn’t on fire and let out a deep breath. It was too weak to go on and I thank the gods - every one of them - because I was too. I dropped the pistol next to me, and watched as the creature looked up into the sky continuing to wail. It barely held itself up by its claws as the uncontrollable fire of its bulb spread across its body.

The monster turned to ash before my eyes. Turned the whole forest to ash. I blacked out, and woke up in a forest completely leveled and turned to charcoal overnight. All except the tree I was laying against.

I never found Tont. I found his book though. Nurse wouldn’t let me keep it. Said it was too triggering. Said it would keep me up thinking about it. I think she’s full of shit.

I stood up, and dragged myself back to base. Nothing but an emergency pistol with a low battery, a book, and me. Nothing stopped me. Nothing attacked me. And thank Ayeke, a security convoy found me at the fence of the base and brought me in. I swear, even now I can hear that horrible wail, like it followed me through the burned forest. That’s how it happened, sir. Everything I can remember.

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Beln left the militia members' room baffled. Len followed behind with urgency in her step, “Commodore, we need to speak with a high priestess immediately.”

“I know.”

“We need answers. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, officer. It makes perfect sense.”

“Sir,” She said as she caught up to him and they stepped outside of the medbay, “with all due respect, how does this make sense?”

“He’s sending us a message, officer. Ayeke is warning us about something… what’s he telling us? Are we doing something wrong? The Admiral must know something.”

“I don’t know, sir, but I can already tell they’re going to frame this as a caravan that went against protocol and endangered the frontlines. M173 will be discharged - medically if she’s lucky - and scapegoated as a fiend among mortals.”

“We need to get behind what’s happening before then.”

“Yes, commodore.”