Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Lothar's first full look at the square reinforced what Guan had told him. All the main arteries of the city fed into it, linking the various districts together. Clearly, it was meant to be the hub of city life.

Not now.

Opposite them, guarding the routes into the north and east of the city, the imperial forces had constructed more barricades. While the half of the square they entered was empty, a row of ten standing carts took up the north side. The carts were linked by chains, forming a significant barrier. Imperials stood ready between, in front, behind, and atop the carts. This was where the fighting would take place, and the enemy had ensured they would have the advantage.

There were at least a hundred enemy soldiers visible. They probably had more waiting in side streets and buildings; with archers positioned on the roofs.

None of them reacted as Lothar's mercs and infantry filtered into the square. The Hoffmeister positioned the infantry in the rear. It would be the mercs who would have to make the breakthrough. Only they could soak up the early damage and cut through the opposition. Sending in the infantry would just get people killed.

Lothar put himself at the front of his mercs. Usually, he was in favour of the people he paid taking the risks. But on this occasion, he knew he had to share the same dangers as his squad.

There was activity on the carts: soldiers pulling aside coverings to reveal machines, one sat on each cart. Ballistae. Already loaded.

Lothar's stomach dropped into his boots. Why hadn't he noticed? Why hadn't anyone else?

He wanted to shout the order to run, but putting your back to a ballista bolt wasn't a good idea. So he screamed "Defend!" Probably too late to make a difference, as the first whirring noise of a bolt being launched sounded. The others followed.

One came straight for him. Not agile enough to dive to one side, he made the rather stupid split decision to raise his shield. As the bolt flew at him, it burst into flame, blackening in an instant. When it hit the Shield of Resistance the shaft was as much charcoal as wood, and it disintegrated on impact. There was still the matter of the iron head, however. Lothar lost 6 hit points, knowing it could have been so much worse. Knowing also, that he owed Bletcher for saving him.

No one else was so fortunate. Randall had lost 14 hit points, his cousin picking him up after he was sent flying. Two infantry fighters were dead, and a third badly injured.

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"Run!" Lothar shouted, silently cursing himself for allowing two fatalities so early in the campaign.

The Harvester and The Guvnah pushed and pulled at people, knowing they didn't have long before the ballistae were reloaded. Oripione grabbed Randall from the other side and helped Lurin drag him away.

Lothar heard shouts from behind. The imperials weren't going for another round of bolts. Instead, their soldiers had been ordered to attack. They're planning to chase us out of the city.

Back in the street, it was chaos. "Infantry, retreat!" Lothar shouted, desperate to get a grip on the situation.

The Hoffmeister barked more orders, getting them out of the way. Mila and Randall went with them. She tended to the badly wounded infantryman, while the dwarf waited for his turn.

"We need to rebuild this barricade," Lothar told his mercs.

He began hauling the debris back into place, and his mercs rushed to join him.

Meanwhile, the team on the roof kept the advancing imperials at bay. They took out the first ten who rushed towards the south side of the square, slowing their advance. But the enemy reacted quickly. The great ballista bolts began to pepper the team's position, forcing them to find cover.

Lothar's crew had a makeshift barricade in place by the time the imperials charged their position. Twerk replaced Randall in the front line, his twin axes biting into the soldiers who came at their position. The magic swords wielded by Lothar, The Guvnah, The Harvester, Greenblade, and Oripione cut down any who got close.

From the side, a thrown dagger caught an imperial in the neck, allowing Lothar to finish them off with Slayer. He glanced to the side, to see Smoke and The Baron had reappeared.

"Keep some alive!" The Baron shouted into the cacophony of violence.

Easier said than done, Lothar thought, but he did his best, figuring the thief must have his reasons. There was a pool of blood now, making it slippery underfoot. Well over a dozen lay dead, and the Kuthenians were yet to even injure an Apple. Inevitably, the order to retreat came, and the enemy made a hasty exit.

The imperials had come off much worse, but Lothar had failed to take the square.

The stench of death hit him, and he backed away. The battle mist began to clear, and exhaustion would follow it. He'd taken a couple of hits and needed to recover. I need to find a way to take out those ballistae, he told himself.

"Bring the injured," The Baron insisted. "Oripione, save any you can."

More than one merc looked displeased with the notion, but Lothar nodded his approval, and they reluctantly saved who they could.

Georg approached. "Your orders?"

"Have thirty man the defences here. Four-hour shifts. We need to hold this position until I can work out what comes next."

MISSION COMPLETE

FAILURE: Benxi's Central Square was not taken

Some of your mercs improved their stats:

Rumblewind:

Grit +1

Hit Points +1

Action Points +1

No mercs levelled up

Apple Infantry: 119