TF Amethyst

Under the darkness of the night, 42 cavalrymen from 18th Makai Cavalry Division walked down a dry and hard highroad. Their mission was to intercept and capture villagers who tried to flee into Haldon City.

It was a simple and quick mission. The route they had to comb was also only 8 km from Camp Forrez. Therefore, they could take their time leisurely.

However, Lieutenant Rigard, a youngest son of a Duke who decided to join the hunt in the last minutes, started losing his patience. In a moody tone he asked, "Captain, at this speed, will we catch up with our target?"

"We will," Captain Goran calmly replied. "They have to bring luggage, kids, elderly, and slow-moving livestock. We will get them sooner or later."

“I know, but why don't we complete this mission as fast as we can?"

'What a dumb head.' After hearing Lieutenant Rigard's suggestion, Captain Goran immediately took a deep sigh inwardly. 

Even an amateur understood that galloping a horse under total darkness was dangerous. If the horse was tripped, it was certain that it would suffer a severe injury. As for the rider, he could had a broken limb, or arrived at afterlife with a broken neck.

Meanwhile, row of torches would be easily being spotted from far away. If TF Amethyst's capability in launching air strike at night was real, then deliberately showed them where to strike was bad idea.

In a calm tone Captain Goran then said, “Lieutenant, let’s not take unnecessary risk and proceed as we ordered to.”

“What risk?” After snorting in annoyance Lieutenant Rigard continued, "Three platoons who departing before us have reported there are no Buriek Guard's activities up to 30 km from our position.

Moreover, I can guarantee that Buriek Guard and TF Amethyst will rely on their Riders for their offensive. They will not launch ground warfare outside their stronghold."

“Maybe, but in a battlefield precaution is a must.”

Captain Goran had heard the talk about Makai Riders withdrawal. Command Center in Renne had to pull them back less than two hours after they were launched to carry their mission. It seemed Buriek Rider adopted new and unknown, but effective tactic to hunt and kill Makai Rider. Fortunately, crystal sensor didn't detect unidentified activities in the sky as soon as the sun was set.

Then, a chill suddenly hit Captain Goran’s nape as his unit entered a wide empty field. Normally, ambushing a cavalry unit in this hard and wide field was not a wise move. The cavalry unit would have a lot of room to either welcome or evade the ambush. Moreover, crickets and other night insects were still singing as usual.

Even so, Captain Goran rationality couldn’t shake the uneasiness in his heart. Wasting no time, he put his right hand on the handle of long saber in his waist. In high alert, he then scanned the area. However, something that beyond his prediction caught him off guard. His horse and other horses were suddenly slowing down before kneeling and fell to the side.

As a good cavalryman Captain Goran was able to roll to the side and avoid being trapped under his horse. Other than Lieutenant Rigard, all of his men also managed to avoid from being crushed by their horses. However, it was not enough save their life.

Tap! Tap! Tra-tap! Ta-ratatatatataaaappp!!!

Almost at the same time, crossbow bolts pierced Captain Goran's men on the head. Their body then fell to the ground and lay motionlessly.

Without delay, Captain Goran dropped his body and crawled his way to his horse. Throughout his life, this was the first time he crawled so quickly. From behind his horse, he then peeked at the direction where the crossbow bolt came from.

Unfortunately, he only saw total darkness. Under the night sky without stars or moon, and in the middle of a wide field without torch or artificial light in the distance, he would only be able to barely saw someone who stood eight meters away, even though he had trained his eyes to see in the darkness.

Even so, Captain Goran didn't panic. As long as he knew the correct direction to attack, it was more than enough. He then carefully reached out for his longbow and quiver on the saddle back. After calming his breath, he immediately knocked an arrow. However, he didn’t have a chance to fire it.

“Keuk!!”

A jolt suddenly hit Captain Goran’s left shoulder, followed by unbearable sting. A moment later his left arm was losing strength to support his longbow.

At the same time, a dozen silhouettes slowly approached him. They wore black clothes, black scarf, compact helmet without visor, weird things that covered theirs ears, and some kind of monocular that fully covered their left eye. Meanwhile, their hand firmly held a crossbow with a tube under its barrel.

“Put your weapon down or we will nail your head!” one of the men in black clothes shouted a warning.

Captain Goran then stood up and took a time to assess his situation. Unfortunately, other than Lieutenant Rigard who shaking and sobbing under his horse, he did not hear signs that could show him one or some of his men were still breathing.

‘Well, he is only fifteen and this combat tour was his first.' After looking at Lieutenant Rigard for a moment and heaving a deep sigh bitterly, Captain Goran then drew his long saber and charged forward. 

“Glory to Kingdom of Makai!!” 

In reflex, two men in black clothes fired their crossbow and perfectly nailed Captain Goran on the head. Captain Goran then fell forward as if his feet were tripped. His body hit the ground hard, and then laid motionlessly as blood dripped from two crossbow bolts on his head.

---     

In addition to 1st Tuscan Vanguard Brigade, TF Amethyst and Tuscan Guard were also established platoons of hunter killer. Each platoon consisted of 1 Captain as a CO, 4 Lieutenants as team leaders, and 45 NCO as team members. 

The training was lasts for seven months and produced ten platoons of hunter killer. They were then placed under the command of 2nd Tuscan Commando, and six platoons were deployed to Kingdom of Buriek to gain combat experience.

As soon as Battle Group C established Camp Forrez, three platoon of Tuscan Hunter Killer were immediately deployed to silently observe four highroads in the nearby area. Then, they received new assignment this afternoon. 

As soon as the sun set in the west horizon, two divisions of Buriek Guard from Haldon City would start the march towards Camp Forrez. The Hunter Killer platoons deployed around Camp Forrez had to make sure this big convoy didn't meet oppositions along their journey. Wasting no time, each Hunter Killer platoon left their hideout to carry their new mission.

As CO of 3rd Hunter Killer Platoon, Captain Zuther very satisfied with the performance of his men. They were quietly lying on the ground, listening to the artificial sing of cricket and other night insects. While waiting the opposing cavalrymen entered into killing zone, they calmly prepared their rapid loading-crossbow.

One of the advantages of rapid-loading crossbow was that the crossbowmen could manually place a small dart with various effects to the arrow track, and set the bowstring on half pull. Then, they marked each opposing horses on their hind leg using targeting laser that could only be seen through NVG.  

When the opposing cavalrymen were trying to understand what had happened to their horse, they finished them off simultaneously. Never did Captain Zuther imagine that a such neat and quick ambush could be done. 

Captain Zuther then approached the only survivor of the ambush. Even though his left leg was pinned under his horse, the young survivor didn't suffer serious injury. Judging from his pale face and trembling lips, it seemed this was his first combat tour.

After his men finished stripping the young survivor of his weapons and armor, Captain Zuther immediately asked, “What is your name?”

“Rigard Kash, Lieutenant, 18th Makai Cavalry Division,” replied Lieutenant Rigard with a trembling voice.

"What is your mission?"

"Capturing villagers to be used as human shields."

Captain Zuther nodded and said, “Lieutenant Rigard, we will not kill or torture you, as long as you don't try to escape. Is that clear?”

“It is.” In an instant, relief was visible in Lieutenant Rigard's eyes.

“Good.”

Without delay Captain Zuther then ordered his men to collect the loot. Even though Kingdom of Buriek was rich in mineral reserves, metal was still one of the most valuable commodity and Amethyst Merchants would pay for it at decent price.

As for the warhorse, each horse was equivalent to a mid-size fertile farmland. Moreover, they couldn’t let the horses returned to Camp Forrez and alert the whole camp. 

After getting a shot of counter-anesthetic, the horses were able to stand again. Even though they were not strong enough to run, walking normally would not a problem for these horses.

Wasting no time, Captain Zuther called Lieutenant Kraig and said, “Take the loot to our hideout and don't harm our prisoner. IDG want him as good as new.

Stay there until main unit from Haldon City arrive, while I take the remaining team to help 2nd Platoon annihilate sentries around Camp Forrez.”

“Copy,” replied Lieutenant Kraig. “What about the other three platoons of Makai’s calv?"

“They had been taken care of by 1st Platoon."

“Understood.”

Without delay, Captain Zuther and Lieutenant Kraig then carried out their next mission.

*****