All Chapters of Neon Desert: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"What's the plan?" Razion asked as he laid with his stomach flat on the ground."By the looks of it, they were probably around fifteen. It's nothing we cannot handle." Keron assured himself. "This was getting frequent." He added in a whisper."I heard that." Razion replied. "Are you going to talk to the Supreme-General about this?""Do you hear yourself? He only communes with the Tribune-Commander. That's whom I will take my sentiment to." Keron replied as he took aim at the advancing column. The shadow of the monolith obscured them all from immediate view, giving them advantage."Say he listened and he took your imploration to the V'rounian King. What if he simply ignores it?""Then this conflict will draw more days until something of significance take place. Maybe the end of this world." He sarcastically said. "Have we not seen enough planet lost because of incompetence?""Maybe it wasn't the Supreme-General's fault?" Aran said

The door of Forward Post-131 opened. The walls of the circular structure had no corners but it was big enough to house the modular radio and monitoring equipment inside. There were fifteen Protectorates from the Sons of Trident assigned to the post, but half of the detachment were missing.Keron was greeted by a fellow Tier-4 Sergeant-Commissar, whom he also knew personally. She stepped aside to allow the Patrol Team to enter."Where's the rest?" Keron asked."Responded to an alert." She replied with thick Tritonite accent of the Isle-Dwellers. "But that was three hours ago.""Still no word?""That's why we called you in." She replied.Keron and his team stepped inside. His gaze went around the interior before settling it at his fellow Sergeant-Commissar, who approached the monitors at the farthest back of the room. They followed her."What's going on, Toran?" Keron asked. "I've never seen you so quiet before."

Once more, they walked across the sands of V'rounsthan. The sun was peeking at zenith point, painting the desert in light tan. The slopes obscured their advance, covering them from the prying eyes of the Dusk Riders who were encamped in the distance. They were half way across when Keron heard the rumbling of engines and the sound of spoilers spewing smogs in loud coughs."They're advancing!" Razion said."And there is nothing to be afraid of." Keron replied as he continued. "We will be able to outflank them definitely.""I hope you are right."They reached the end of a long slope and moved around the corner. Keron strode with confidence before a round was fired and penetrated his right breast. Keron recoiled backwards as he spat blood from the interior of his helmet. The filters ejected the red liquid while his Battle Gear automatically doused the wound with healing fluids that were dispensed from the damaged part of his armor.

The city was surrounded by large concrete barriers simply known as the Wall both to its citizenry and defenders. It measured far taller than the mundane corporate buildings inside the city borders but its height were equal to the tallest skyscraper there is. It was the last line of defense for the inhabitants of V'rounsthan and the Dusk Riders, unaided, would never be able to penetrate it...yet.Outside the Walls stood a column of armored artillery, each bearing the colors of their respective ADFs. The Solar ADF M1 Abrams and Cromwell tanks being black and blue while the futuristic armored beam tanks of the Gemminite being bright blue and gold. In the opened cupola of the Gemminite vehicles stood bright blue droids with golden skull face plates. Red lights emanated from its empty eye sockets. Green lensed monofocals were attached on their left eyes, displaying yellow corsairs at the advancing Dusk Riders.Beside them, the Divisions of the Black Squadron SAS, 666th

Keron led the team ahead, his Blast Rifle sweeping the view from left to right. He continued a few steps further when he detected no immediate threats and entered the city's border underneath the archway of concrete.Beyond, the streets were asphalted in grey. The structures that flanked it were small business establishments with dead neon signages. Perhaps the conflict had the owners running elsewhere, leaving this street in gloom. He could see shards of glass and broken furniture in front, tell tale signs of conflict. Keron eased his trigger finger but kept it inside as they moved further. As the Tritonite saying goes, he does not trust the air."Me neither, brother." Razion replied out loud after hearing his leaking thoughts. Keron reminded himself to teach Razion a lesson later in the sparring mat after they are off-world for intrusion, if they ever make it out."Keep your eyes peeled." Keron simply replied, redoubling his mental defense as they travel