51 To the north! (1/2)
I am sitting on my chair at the command centre of my flying fortress grinding my teeth while I think about the situation.
We left Ireth, Aengus and Rose back in Midpoint. Celes didn't want me to walk into this alone. Arthur and Nicosar are with me too. Katrine went another path to oversee the evacuation of the north.
The north was already emptied of most people to begin with, but there are always some idiots who wont leave their houses.
But what I am more worried about is how to deal with the magic circle to summon Tjenemit. Should we just keep shooting at the city until there is nothing left except dust?
Arthur informed the troops which besieged the city. They are ready to advance.
”What are you thinking about?” Arthur asks me while he is taking a look at the map. After two days of flight, we have almost reached our destination.
”I am not sure if we should take the risk and destroy the magic circle from afar with everything we have after the shield is broken.” I scratch my head.
”Why should that be risky?” -Arthur
”What if the whole thing blows up? There is a serious amount of energy in there! What if the aftermath makes the world uninhabitable?” -Me
Arthur goes stiff. ”Do you think that could happen!?”
I shrug my shoulders. ”I have no idea how well the summoning circle is made. It could have some safety mechanisms and it could have none.”
”Then what other possibilities do we have?” -Arthur
”We break the shield, bomb everything to pieces, except the building with the summoning circle. Then we invade and take a close look at the thing. Maybe we can cancel it safely somehow.” -Me
”You don't sound convinced.” -Arthur
”That's because I have no idea what we will find there. The only safe possibility would be to blow the whole city to smithereens. But that come with a serious risk.” -Me
”Those Meltheim and Tulhelm fellows have already proven that they have some screws loose. I don't want to gamble on the possibility that they did something smart like installing safety mechanisms into the circle!” -Arthur
”I don't think it's a question if they wanted to install something like that. It's a question if the blueprint for the circle came with something like that. I doubt that they understand the circle. I doubt even more that they would be able to modify it if they wanted to.” I lean back in my chair and look at the ceiling.
”That makes me even more uncomfortable with a gamble like that! We will invade by foot if necessary! That's it.” -Arthur
”I don't now Tjenemit well enough to take any guess, so we should really try it the safe way.” Celes gives her opinion too.
I nod and take another look at the map. ”Start the long range bombardment. I want the shield weakened when we arrive.”
”Yes, Sir.” -Technician
The fortress shudders, as a full salvo of blue energy balls is fired. They are pure plasma, encased in a magically upheld electromagnetic field under high pressures. Upon impact the field crumbles and hell is set loose upon the world.
A few seconds later the screen shows blue flashes on the horizon. ”Start the drones and give the command to swarm the city as soon as the shield goes down. We will use them as the first wave.”
”We will loose many of them to our own fire sir.” An officer reminds me.
”They are just metal and maybe some can find valuable targets in the confusion. Set them up to clear out the area around the summoning circle. I don't want any surprises there.” I point at the locations I want them to be.
”I will order the troops to overrun the city as soon as the shield goes down.” -Arthur informs me.
”They will run into our fire.” Celes interjects.
”Everyone knows what's on the line. I have picked only veterans to serve here. They all know that this could affect the world. If I tell them that they improve our chances a little by throwing themselves into a firestorm, they will do it.” -Arthur
I nod. ”I hope it will be worth the risk.”
The rest of the time we watch in silence while the fortress is shaken by our own artillery. After another hour our target comes into view.
Located at the biggest mountain range, we can see the City of Seria. A white bubble over the city constantly lights up and disappears again while it is hit by our artillery.
It looks like any other city, but a few structures stand out. First the big tower at the centre of the city, second is the dome, which most likely houses the summoning circle. And third are the smaller towers around the city which are similar to the big one.
Around the city our besieging troops started to intensify their bombardment too and the whole city is constantly hit by projectiles.