The Martian warriors stood waiting. They knew that the final battle would be here as the part of The Way known as Celes came into view. The war had run it’s course for seven hundred and three turns of the sun and many on both sides lay dead. Invasion was the enemy’s intent but those born on red soil had pushed back the intruders. Now as the Warriors waited, adjusting the straps of their crab shell armor and tapping their iron spears onto the soil, the mood became tense. The Jovian forces had massed at the fortress-city of Noc and moved sunward towards Olympus Mons as The Way turned.The majority of Martian warriors were entrenched at the head of the main road while others scouted the planet’s edge for outflanking enemy forces.
“There! The Jovians!” Someone shouted, heads raised to look at the horizon. Along The Way was what looked to be a massive orange river. The Martians knew it was the full might of Jupiter’s army coming to bear. Huge orange banners bearing the Unending Storm upon them fluttered in the wind and the sound of horns could be heard.
“By the dark side of the Sun!” Exclaimed a young warrior.
“There are so many of them!” His fear evident, he spoke for most of them. From the rear ranks came a warrior mounted on a strider. He dismounted and shooed the beast away. They looked upon his dark red, almost black armor. It was made from the shell of a bull tower crab and instantly identified him as a fighter of unparalleled skill. The other warriors took heed as he spoke.
“Brothers and sisters.” He said loudly.
“Approaching us is a vast army of Jovian scum that would see us wiped from this land. Our land! This red Martian soil which we call our home is our birthright. Our ancestors have hunted, fought and died here for generations. It is not for outsiders to take our history from us!” Cheers went up among the gathered fighters.
“They may think that their numbers assure them victory but they do not know the true nature of a Martian with everything to lose. Now gather arms brothers and sisters and let us show these Jovian fools that if they wish this land to become theirs it will cost them every last drop of their blood!” The warriors roared in response and steeled themselves for battle.
