TF Amethyst

TFA1 7.7 - Incoming Trouble

Buriek Guard Command Center, 3 km south of Castle Lagra

07:30, 1 Sept 2025

General Griek was carrying out a final check on the plan to assault Castle Lagra when a staff officer approached him.

"General, Grand Commander Keraz sent urgent orders. The attack on Castle Lagra must be postponed until further notification."

General Griek frowned as he asked, “Did you just say that Grand Commander Keraz issued a delay for our offensive?”

"Yes, General. Viscount Issel had sent a statement of surrender along with a request that the prisoner of war not to be executed, and Grand Commander Keraz accepted it."

"Why did he accept it? Aren't we waging a genocide war on Sandhur Region?"

Silence enveloped every corner of command center, neither the staff officer nor the field officer dared to answer General Griek's cynical question.

General Griek then turned his gaze to his XO. "Rhoe, how many prisoners do we have?"

Brigadier Rhoe immediately opened a notebook before answering, "127 in total, 19 of them are Sandhur Guard's personnel, while the rest are children who defended the outer wall. They were retreating from the east, west, and north walls when the elements that penetrate the south wall cut off their retreat route.

The Captain who captured them refused to carry out executions on the spot and he is currently serving an administrative sentence. The prisoner's execution will be carried out in an hour."

General Griek grinned. "Continue the execution and do it in front of Castle Lagra’s defenders. If they respond it, launch a full-scale attack."

"General, do we will just violate the orders from Grand Commander Keraz?"

Some people in the command center thought Brigadier Rhoe's question would provoke General Griek's outburst, but the General just smiled casually.

"Report it that we had already carried out the execution just before his order arrived."

 """"Sir!""""

Under General Griek's intense gaze, all the staff and field officers at command center answered in unison, and the execution for the prisoners was immediately being carried out.

---

Campground of Robber Brigade, A hill located 30 km west of FOC South 1750

12:20, 1 Sept 2025

While enjoying a roasted wild chicken, Brigadier Flek studied the latest report sent by his colleague in Crystal Communication Unit. The report gave him the idea regarding ​​the situation in Lagra City.

More than a hundred prisoners, most of whom were children were executed in front of Castle Lagra. Their heads were then being plugged into spearheads and were neatly arranged not far from the castle wall.

When Lagra Castle's defenders weren't provoked, taunts were thrown out. Not long after that, a salvo of arrows was being fired from the castle and the battle broke out once again.

Since it was determined that scorched earth attacks should not be launched on Castle Lagra, while the defenders' morale was at its highest peak after the provocation, victory could not be achieved in the first wave of attacks. Even so, the collapse of defensive line on Caste Lagra’s outer wall was only a matter of time.

'Bastard, they're having fun storming the dying castle while I nearly died of boredom.'

From the first day of the landings, Brigadier Flek could only sit while his comrades achieved victory after victory, and piled up loot for them to enjoy once Sandhur Region was conquered.

Brigadier Flek and 2700 cavalrymen from Robber Brigade were tasked to anticipate the foreigner's reaction that established a compound at Desolate Land's entrance. But to this day, the scouts still reported the same thing. There was no slightest movement from the foreigner compound.

Therefore, when a staff officer entered his tent, Brigadier Flek only glanced at him before returning his attention to the crystal communicator.

"Sir, our scouts reported a small convoy of refugees moving toward Desolate Land, via Nouel Farmland 18 km north of foreigner compound."

Brigadier Flek immediately put down the crystal communicator before turning his gaze to the staff officer. "What do you mean by a small convoy of refugees?"

"They are dressing like commoners, but the way they ride their horse show they are trained cavalrymen, and there were some women and children in the convoy."

'Finally, a prey to hunt.' Brigadier Flek's eyes flashed for a moment. "Order the reconnaissance platoon to herd the convoy to foreigner compound, and prepare 2nd and 3rd Squadrons to move."

"Sir!"

The staff officer immediately gave a salute before exiting the tent. Not long after that, 1600 Robber Brigade’s personnel leaved the campground and headed east at full speed.

---

At first, Captain Rasser breathed a sigh of relief, because as soon as the convoy he was escorting reached an area 20 km from Desolate Land’s entrance, Buriek Riders who had been hunting them for the past few days suddenly stopped their pursuit. The trip could be continued during the day since then.

However, the convoy had just come out of their hiding when 80 Buriek cavalrymen spotted them, and then herded them to a small compound in the south.

Captain Rasser turned his gaze to his subordinate who rode next to him before saying, "Looks like Buriek Guard wants to use us as a pretext to attack the compound."

The subordinates looked at the compound 3 km in front of him before answering, "Captain, we have no other options."

"Yeah, I know."

Of the 200 elite cavalrymen he brought, Captain Rasser had lost 146 of them.  Meanwhile, of the 70 noble family members he escorted, he had lost half of them. So, Captain Rasser didn't have much choice if he wanted to prevent a bigger loss.

---

As soon as Captain Rasser arrived in front of the small compound's main gate, he immediately concluded that the compound was very fragile.

It was located in the middle of open plain and would be very easy to attack it from any direction. While its outer walls were only made of sand bags with a height of 3 meters, wrapped with iron frames, topped with barbed wire, and behind it some people were pointing strangely-shaped stick.

The enemy could indeed be seen from a distance, but if they came in massive numbers, in an instant they would sweep the compound like a giant flood. It would be very easy to climb its wall or even knocked it down. But that's not necessary because the compound's main gate was widely open and there was only a bar in front of it.

The personnel in the main gate also didn't wear body armor. They only wore plain green clothes. Moreover, apart from oddly-shaped sticks and knives on their waist, they did not carry standard weapons such as sword, spear, or bow and arrows.  

Their bodies did appear to be stronger than civilians, but still too weak compared to regular Sandhur Guard’s personnel. Their posture also did not show signs of a combatant who routinely conducts close combat fight.

However, one thing was bothered Captain Rasser to the core. He could feel that the green-clothed people were veterans full of life and death experiences. Besides, with a massive Nouel's Farmland behind the compound, how could they survive from Black Eagle's disturbance?

But in the end, Captain Rasser put aside various questions in his mind.

'I hope they can distract Buriek cavalrymen that are following us.'

Captain Rasser then dismounted from his horse, and introduced his convoy to the three men in green clothes who came out from the main gate.

"Greetings, I am Captain Rasser, commander of Viscount Issel's bodyguard from Sandhur Region."

One of the men in green clothes in front of Captain Rasser answered, "I am Captain Nathan, commanding officer of Outpost South 1750. Captain Rasser, may I know the purpose of your visit?

Captain Rasser nodded slightly. "We were on our way to north when bandits attacked us. We lost more than half of our convoy and supplies.

So, we look forward to stay at this outpost and refilling our supplies. Of course, we will pay it with a fair price."

Captain Nathan did not answer immediately, and turned to the convoy behind Captain Rasser.

'At a glance, I can smell they are bringing disaster. But XO has given instructions, so I can't kick them out.'

Captain Nathan then said, "This outpost was established to protect the surrounding Nouel Farmland and has no political or territorial purpose. So, if there is a political conflict or territorial dispute, we will take a neutral stance as long as we are not attacked.

As for any guests with peaceful intentions, we can provide supplies, accommodation, and medical treatment for free. Of course, all weapons must be handed over to us when the guests stay in the outpost."

For Captain Rasser, handing over the weapons was not a big problem. He believed his men could retrieve it back easily. Given that in close quarter fight, he and his men are far superior to the personnel in the outpost.  

Especially, if later he succeeded in conditioning the personnel in the outpost and his pursuers to be involved in a conflict.

Captain Rasser answered immediately, "We understand."

After Captain Rasser and his men handed over their weapons, the convoy then entered FOC South1750.

*****