Inferno

U.A.C. troops that had been sent forward to fight the cult troops of the A.F.A.F.I. had been caught in a terrible fate. Hellfire had been dropped from the sky on them by cult members that had taken the Defense System tower from the Italian regulars that held the tower. This could spell bad news for Mahek and his war effort. It reminded him of how good it was that he didn't allow cameras to follow him on his conquest. It was something he saw was the biggest difference in all conflicts.

All wars had been able to be won without difficulty until cameras and news came along. They started broadcasting all the vile things that needed to be done to win wars making it harder for people to get their jobs done. It was an idea of keeping everything as far from the public eye as they can. Mahek remembered it being the downfall of many of the battles when he was back at home. Back when everything was broken in pieces. He learned a lot of hard lessons back then. The most important being that he can't hold himself down with attachments or letting too much information through.

"We need to get past that fire wall! One way or another!" Mahek yelled to his troops as they scattered trying to get the fire out.

"We're trying sir, but this fire is only getting worse with water being thrown at it." One of the soldiers said in a panic.

Mahek let out a sigh as he saw that the truth was told about the fire. Every bucket got thrown a new pillar of fire would appear. It was causing him to feel a deeper and deeper pit of anger as hours passed trying to fight the fire. He would have tried to scatter jets, but no nation on earth could use their air-force due to the fog that has covered the earth. It was a positive and drawback to the weapon that they had used without thinking about it first. He sent troops to the left and right set out for the coasts. He wanted a way around and wanted it now.

When each group made it the coasts they had been met with mines and artillery. Each had been set up on the areas to provide constant protection. It began to get frustrating as days started to go by and the supplies they had brought started to dwindle. Ships had tried to bring supplies over but each one met with the fate brought on by mined waters. He had noticed that they had been carried right in line with the path of the currents. It was clever seeing as the people in charge of Italy now had no past experience.

He only had two choices left for him. He either needed to keep sending troops until he found a way, or to cut his losses leaving Italy to the leader they had now. He decided to make a tactical retreat by going back to Africa and leave someone to defend their Italian territories. He would either comeback with more troops or make a drive up the coast in the middle east bring a fight from their rear. It was a hard choice to make with how many unknowns it had with it.

"I am going to leave someone here in charge of the forces here, and I am going back to Africa to plan for our next move. Don't try to push unless it is possible. Try to hold as much strength as you can." Mahek said to one of his officers as he walked with them to the port.

"Yes sir, as you say. We will make sure to hold our ground at the least while you are gone." His officer said as one of their landing ships pulled to the shore.

"I don't know how long this will take. Just stay strong!" Mahek gave a salute before boarding the ship and drifted away from the port.

As he drifted back to the U.A.C. territory his mind started to race. The war and conquest he offered in his speeches had said that Africa would conquer the world one day. It was the destiny for them and they needed to have it given to them. The fog was the first step and it shouldn't be a wasted fire. He needed to find more support and a reason for returning from the front. In his mind he thought telling them about a hiccup in their first invasion it would make him look terrible.

He looked and saw the lights of New Townsport on the horizon cutting through the fog. He never thought he would see the shores of home for a long time. The sounds of the city slowly faded in as the ship slid onto shore and dropped the ramp. He stepped off to the sounds of cars honking and men yelling at each other. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as he noticed how empty the beach itself was. It made him think back to his past.

When he was younger the beach the state on the edge of New Townsport was a dangerous place. The city of New Townsport was his way of placing remembrance onto the change his army brought to the country. When they had pushed The Republic Of The Horn out of northern Africa he had the beach swept for mines before building started. Townsport was the place where his life was lost and New Townsport was where his new one started.

That is why it was where he placed the capital and set out on his mission from. It brought hope to the people when they saw the missiles fly and the boats set out from this city. What could it possible cause when they see him returning alone to its shores. He took a moment and closed his eyes pushing the thoughts away from his mind before continuing on.

"I hope this will go okay." He said quietly to himself as he vanished into the sea of light and sound.