The Autocraft Alchemist

Richard arrived at the Sword Soul guild building dark and early the next day at 6:45am. Not that he really got any sleep due to the upcoming battle against the orcs. While the ratter invasion was taken care of with little injury, a lot of that had to do with them being lower leveled than the Mourning Horns that defeated them. If the orcs were on the same level as the Horns, wouldn't that mean that a lot more damage could be done? They were a high ranked break species.

His door pass got him into the building and there wasn't anyone at the receptionist desk. Once Richard entered the elevator he scanned his pass again and an additional floor lit up. Usually he would have only been able to get to the 30th floor. But Daniel had got him access to the command room and he pressed the button for the 60th floor.

As the elevator climbed the floors Richard wondered if there was anything else that he could have done. The potions he made last night would have left the building with those going to fight already. And anything that he could make at the moment would be too far away to help. The only thing that was left for him was to serve as a witness to what was happening. As he didn't relish the idea of sitting at home while his clan and the guilds from Welf were fighting.

The elevator finally reached the 60th floor, binged, and the doors opened. When Richard stepped onto the floor he did a double take at the room that appeared in front of him. There were windows to the right and left, while the far wall was taken up with several screens. There was a main screen in the center while dozens of other smaller screens showed different video feeds. Many of them appeared to be from the air, so probably drones or other flying crafts. While others appeared to be body cams.

There were dozens of desks littering the room and everyone was working in a frenzy. Typing away at their computers, conferring with one another about what they could see through the feeds. Running back and forth between the teams. The pure chaos made Richard wonder if he had somehow ended up on the wrong floor.

Since he didn't want to bother with the people so busily working, he looked around and found a small section where several chairs had been set up. A lone man was sitting there and smiled when Richard noticed him.

"Are you here to watch as well?" the man asked. His thinning grey hair was slicked back. The dark suit he was wearing appeared a little crumpled and his tie was undone.

"Ah yes. That's right. I'm uh. Well. Part of the Mourning Horns. Though newly joined."

"Richard, is it? We've heard that you would be coming. Take a seat," the man said. "There's also coffee or tea if you want any." He gestured to the refreshment bar on the other side of the chairs.

"I'm already jittery enough as it is," Richard said and sat down. "Are you part of the Swords?"

The old man laughed. "Right. I should have introduced myself. I'm the guild leader, name's Lloyd," he said and they shook hands.

"Ah, I uh, well…," Richard said.

"Why am I here and not out there with the others?" Lloyd asked and motioned to the screens with his chin. "Too many injuries in my youth. While I still have the will, my body is no longer able."

"I'm sorry. The thought popped out before I could stop it."

Lloyd chuckled. "Don't worry about it." He turned towards the main screen. The feed had changed to one that showed a mass of orcs marching through the woods. While the sun was just rising and the feed was rather dim. It was clear enough to tell that they weren't humans. Beings with hulking shoulders carrying axes and swords that appeared more blunt than sharp. As well as more bare skin than a human would be comfortable showing on a brisk November morning. "More than anything I wish that I could have been there as well. But we all have our parts to play. Everyone here will do their best to make sure that we win with as few losses as possible."

Richard sighed and nodded. "Between those fighting and those supporting, all we can really do is our best."

They were approached by a woman who looked rather frazzled. Several strands of hair had escaped the pony tail she had it up in and were shooting off in all directions. "Boss. I think that we are going to have contact soon."

"Right. Put it on the main screen if it won't interfere with your reports," Lloyd said.

"Right Boss," she said and returned.

As they watched the main screen the sun slowly rose proper. It probably would have been a nice sunny day. Only the light allowed them to see that a greater number of orcs had gathered. From the other feeds Richard could see that the defense had been set up in a large meadow. He wondered what was the reason for such a decision. Though it wasn't like he had a handle on how the orcs fought. He hadn't been able to find any public sources when he looked last night.

From what he could see there were several different forces represented on the human side. The biggest appeared to be the Sword Souls along with a motley collection that he assumed to be the clan. Then there was the red armored ones which should have been the Break Angels. As for the others… they were probably out of town guilds. Though groups of the enforcers in their futuristic black armor were scattered here and there.

Richard took in a sharp breath of air when he realized that the milling orcs had started to charge.

***

In the dim light of the predawn Jackie looked across the united front that they had managed to cobble together. They were lucky in that Lala made it back in time. Otherwise they might have been still scrabbling to create some sort of defense. The alternative of letting the orcs bang on their walls until they mustered enough people to fight back didn't sit right with her.

The Welf top guilds were present, the Sword Soul Guild with their silver armor stood out the most. Then the Break Angels with their garish red armor. She squinted at the red banners that they also brought that seemed to be only for appearance. Then the Bear Cannons, all of their armor was made from waheela drops. Which, aside from hunting down normal bears, was probably the closest that they could get to the real thing.

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Scale Rangers and Waterhounds from New Berl were present. Even Leafbringers and Rowan Down from the big city. As well as a couple of guilds from Bridgefall, a settlement to the south, that she didn't recognize. And then scattered about were enforcers, mainly provincial with a squad or two of federal ones. What was surprising most of all was that spineless lump of a Premier had allowed the other clans to gather.

The Punchers still had a considerable amount of old timers still around. Which was surprising considering how much they loved fighting amongst themselves. And then the Eggies, they were a laugh back then. And they still were now. Strutting around like they hadn't been shut down the most by the government.

As for the Bobs… One showed up. A token force of a long dead ally. Peirce wasn't someone who would be left out of such a battle. He even said as much with a laugh. Being one of the few who made it out of the double break that all but killed the clan. If there was anyone that shouldn't be on the battlefield it was him.

Jackie sighed. "I hate waiting. It's the worst part," she said and squinted into the distance. The orcs had started to gather at the edge of the woods on the far side of the meadow. While they could start the combat now, it would push combat into the forest. And it would be much easier to fight with the orcs on open ground.

"You know that we wouldn't be able to win in the forest. Orcs take to trees like… uh. Things take to other things," Albright said and nodded like he had just delivered sage advice.

"What? That's the best that you were able to come up with?" Grace asked.

"Well, let's see what you come up with on the spot. While sleep deprived and staring down an unknown horde of orcs."

Grace blinked. Scrunched her face. "How about… damn it."

"Hah!" Albright said and pumped his fist into the air.

"Leave it for now," Jackie said and scrunched her nose. "It's just a little bit, but I think that I smell something bad."

Alright and Graced shared a look. "Shouldn't we wait a bit more? Or are you detecting something else?" he asked.

"Something like that. Gunther! Come on up here. I think that it's only fitting for you to start things off. Just like old times."

The old man jogged forward from where he had been sitting in the shade of one of the rest tents. "If anyone told me that I would be tooting my hoot before a big battle with orcs at this age I'd call them a liar."

"We don't always get to pick how things turn out," Jackie said.

"Oh I'm not complaining. More I just can't fathom how such a thing came to be. Ah. There's a bunch of them already. Your call Jackie. Just let me know when."

Far in the distance more and more green forms could be seen milling around the tree line. They would wait until enough of them had gathered before charging. Not caring for anything else other than the thrill of the battle. Their thirst for killing would not be slaked until either they or their foes have fallen. Jackie felt a chill run up and down her spine. Due to the promised combat. As well as the knowledge that it wouldn't be easy by any means.

While they waited for the orcs to gain enough mass for a charge Jackie continued to shoot out commands. "Get the birds ready and waiting. Keep me informed if the eyes find anything that might cause us problems. If you take a hit make sure that you try to retreat to the healers. This is going to be a slog, a battle of attrition. We can win it with all that we have stockpiled…"

She was fussing like an old woman. Which she was! Though she'd punch anyone who pointed out such a fact. Finally there was a loud whaaa in the distance. Which was the sound of many orc's voices joining together. Either someone with some balls showed up or they finally felt that they had enough numbers to win with a charge. The allied lines tightened up as a flood of orcs came spilling from the woods.

It was the moment that Jackie was waiting for. "Alright Gunther. Show these punks what it means to be a member of the horns. Sound out our namesake and let the world remember who we are."

"Right away boss," Gunther said with a smile. He trotted forward to put some distance between himself and the allied battle lines. A murmur broke out through those that wondered what he was doing. The smiles on the faces of the clan members showed that they knew exactly what was going to happen.

Gunther shot a smile of his own over his shoulder, then placed his horn against his lips, and blew out a single long peal. The sonorous sound shot out and pulsed through the allied line first. Jackie could feel herself getting stronger as the buff took hold. Her heart pounded in her chest at the long forgotten feeling. Her hands gripped her sword and shield tighter than they had for years.

It wouldn't be much if it was just a buff. And once the sound wave impacted with the orcs several of them were sent flying. While those who were just a bit further away were pushed to the ground. The sound wave then crashed into the trees and toppled several of them. And with only one sound of a horn the charge that orcs had been so feared for was forced to a halt.

***

"Do you think that they are already fighting?" Brenda asked. She trembled after the words left her.

"They might be. I haven't heard what time combat was expected to happen," Hal said and hugged her closer. As promised he had stayed home. And the two of them were sitting on the couch in the living room. The news hadn't had anything worth seeing for some time and he had turned the TV to some random romcom movie.

"Do you…" She closed her eyes tight.

"What is it?"

"Do you resent me at all Hal? For forcing you to stay home. For making you promise to stay away?" Her hands were gripped tight enough that her fingers had turned white. Hal gently pried her fingers apart and pushed his own into her palms. While she could hurt herself, she wouldn't be able to hurt him.

"No. How can I do that? I know what you went through. What everyone went through. We all shared the same experiences."

She tried to rock back and forth but he held her tight. "So many deaths. So many friends and family just senselessly gone. So many that we didn't even get to bury. Their bodies disappeared and they turned them into-"

"I know. We know. The clan got them back for that. Everyone who came at us. We got them back. Paid them back for those that they took from us. Enough that they couldn't hurt us again."

Brenda sobbed. "Richard is safe right? He wouldn't go out there. I know that he is an adult. But I want him to stay safe. I want you to stay safe. Please."

"He's downtown, safe as can be. Don't worry about him. I'm here too. You don't need to worry."

"I know. I know. But I just can't help it."

The morning wore on as Hal continued to try his best to comfort Brenda. The lead of the romantic comedy made some mistake and they fell apart. But in the end it was a misunderstanding and they got back together by the end of the movie. Lunch came and then the afternoon. And then finally a message appeared on his phone.

"It's over now," Hal said as he stroked Brenda's head. She had fallen asleep sometime before. The stress was too much for her to handle. After that time with his brother his strong wife cracked a little. Then as they mourned more and more friends and family she finally could no longer take it any more. Too many losses. Too much grief.

He sighed. The world had become such a hostile place for Brenda. And he didn't know how to help other than to hold her tight.