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Chapter 4: What We Fight For

Parnell "Piston" Dashwood sat in his trolley's solitary sanitation capsule, barely watching as the outside locomotives drove towards the slaver camp. The Locomotives shone white and silver, anointing their convoy as one of the Silverjaws, marking them as above the local raiders. Several Locomotives swerve and fire their arsenal; but Piston ignored that, instead focusing on a print of the Novella "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

The battle outside HIS capsule did not matter to him, the muffled sounds of explosions and gunfire barely fazed him because they didn't affect him. Honestly, He didn't know why Lord Byron had sent him on this retrieval mission. The Baron had dealt with these...commoners enough. He had his bride secured; there was no need to send Sir Piston! At least, he thought so.

"Sir Piston, we have an issue" Came a radio comms from the battalion's frontrunner. Lazily picking up the radio, Piston spoke into it with annoyance.

"What" He said, barely hiding his contempt. His job was to collect the mistress, secure enough wives for the men to be happy, and collect enough men for the fighting pits for entertainment.

"Look up" came the reply, causing Piston to curse slightly. Who was this nothing to order him to look u-

A huge pillar of smoke billowed from the encampment he was meant to trade with, the gate shattered and launched to the opposite side of the courtyard. Piston's locomotive came to a halt inside the walls of the once flourishing slave encampment. Now bullet holes were the main trade here.

The pillar of smoke billowed from a giant piled of bodies, hiding who was who among the dead.

"Search for who did this...AND secure the package" Piston ordered into his radio, stepping out of his locomotive and pointing a heavy revolver at the nearest of the service.

The Service was only there to serve the Silverjaws elites, maybe with enough work and tithes, one of them could join the elites but until then they served without question.

"Sir, package is missing" Came a voice that wanted to report something big, but not one who wants to report bad news. Immediately Piston's mind exploded into thoughts of what to do, there is a reason he is the second in charge of the Silverjaws. In the same moment He pulls the trigger of his revolver, blowing the nearest serviceman's head off. Of course, the man didn't do anything wrong, but Piston wanted a momentary release of frustration.

That's what the service is for anyway, to service the elites no matter what.

"Search for tracks, oil spills, anything out of the ordinary, Lord Byron will NOT accept this slight against his honor!" Piston screamed into his comms; rallying the service through terror.

Lord Parnell Dashwood would find the barbarian responsible for this and have him crucified under the laws of Lord Byron.

Of this he was certain.

>Sunlight shines right into your eye, making you swear momentarily as you're blinded.

>Last night was a haze of warm fires, sharing food, snuggling Coul and fucking up Ravish, beyond that it's a blur of nothingness.

>You're currently in you chariot, ready to go and blaze a path forwards.

>Coul sits in her comfy seat next to you, giving slight snore purrs as she sleep with her goggles on.

>You must've drunkenly decided that your new chairs were more comfortable than your sleeping mats.

>You sit up sharply, twisting your back slightly to earn a few pops, then twisting your neck to earn a few more.

>"Magnus you awake and ready" you grunt, checking over the status of your chariot.

>Power good, fuel good, cannon air pressure good, tread durability good, oil good.

>"Yea yea it's all good" you hear through the comms along with a hardy thump on the roof of the cab.

>Gently, you place's Coul's headphones on her, and turn them to simply noise cancelling.

>No need to wake her sleeping perfection.

>You admire her for a moment, JUST a moment before you get down to business.

>"WAKE UP" you growl loudly through the main radio acting as a VERY mean alarm clock.

>"Get your shit ready in the next 5 minutes" you growl "or get left behind".

>You hear a chorus of "ready boss" and "let's go boss!'.

>Coul purrs softly as you let your chariot roar to life, screaming hatred into the wasteland.

>"Lets fucking GO" You yell into the comms, ready to slam onto the gas pedal.

>At this point, any group wanting to attack you would go the way of the clankers.

>They were bold, or desperate to risk so much to try and take on such a large group.

>Before you floor it, you double check Coul's headphones.

>The headphone microphone combo is noise cancelling, if set to the right setting.

>Gently, you ensure her headphones to cancel noise only, not allowing her to hear radio chatter.

>For another moment, you sit in your chariots seat, admiring Coul.

>Golden fur...thick thighs, and a bubbly personality; her looks and rarity was enough to draw anyone to her, but there was something else you could feel under that.

>But now was not the time for a deep dive of feelings.

>Your Chariot screams to life as you floor it and shift gears.

>Dozens chariots and several dozen war rigs scream into life behind you, leaving a huge cloud of dust and sand.

>Under your mask you smile, knowing this force was something to be reckoned with.

>One war rig was enough to take on a few chariots, no matter how well equipped they were.

>You had at least 3 dozen of them accompanied by at least a hundred chariots.

>Losses and gains happened on this excursion, you would have a more accurate count later.

>Now is not the time to think of that though, although you think you have positive gain.

>Sand streams behind your chariot as you speed onward, leading trails of sand and dust.

>You hear every vehicle in your convoy scream to life behind you.

>At this point it might as well be a living breathing thing that moves as one; engulfing, digesting, and excreting uselessness.

>The might of the Sand Eaters moves as one.

>You drive through the forsaken plains of sand and dust towards your home.

>Crumbling skyscrapers begin to dot the horizon, showing the might that USED to be humanity.

>Now...Now they are just land, something used as land markers for you and your faction.

>You know of a faction that lives on the tip top of the skyscrapers.

>They called themselves the sky people, and they were good for trading with for seeds.

>In any other situation, you would have raided them and stolen everything.

>But who wants to climb dozens of stories of staircases?

>Plus they were so few that raiding them would be pointless.

>So they were a sometimes trading partner, only because you couldn't effectively raid them.

>As you drive through the dust covered remains of the city the sky men called home, you wonder that life was like before the nukes dropped.

>People lived and worked here; traveled up and down these giant buildings.

>Did they both live and work here? The "cubicles" were big enough for someone to live and "work".

>Aka push buttons for "work".

>A few of your more history centric scouts have told you how it worked in the past.

>People worked hard, pushing buttons and solving math.

>And then they traveled to tiny little rooms to live.

>Then then mostly just killed themselves.

>With a shake of your head, you push those thoughts away as you hear Coul's soft mumblings.

>The buildings are big enough for multiple floors of manufacturing.

>But there was nothing meant for building in these "Skyscrapers".

>These tall building scratching the clouds where filled with "computers", which were nothing more than machines that thought like a person.

>The few you had let be saved were useful, but you didn't really know why.

>Some of the men read about how to work the computers, and as such helped you keep power and fresh water.

>Of course, you could read the old world alphabet, but most couldn't.

>As your convoy swerves through the remains of this once prolific city a pink flare detonates in front of you.

>For a moment, you dig in the center consul of your chariot, shifting between colors.

>At last you find the pink flare and set it into your flare gun, aiming upwards to avoid any buildings.

>The flare launches with a loud hiss than pop, spreading pink dye outwards.

>Going through the cities was easier, pre made roads allowed easy travel.

>The wastelands was full of roads to everywhere, but many were set with "tolls" or checkpoints you had ordered to simply be destroyed.

>The sky people were a good ally though, a naturally...what was the word.

>Symbiotic relation?

>They gave a great early warning, seeing further that you ever could and you helped repel and one who sought to harm them.

>The sky people likened it to Ants fighting ladybugs to protect aphids; whatever that meant.

>Regardless the seeds and vegetables they occasionally bring you was worth it.

>Of course they had their toll too.

>"Gabriel" you radio calmly.

>"Yea, want me to drop off the usual?" he responds.

>"Yea"

>The sky people; despite having a safe society, didn't have access to meat, so you would drop some off at the base of one of their buildings.

>You trusted Gabriel to handle the task as you race through the city, your treads kicking up dust.

>As you drive, you see Coul yawn, carefully not opening her mouth as she yawned, even though she has a mask covering her nose and mouth.

>She blinks a few times then fully opens her eyes in surprise, gazing at you with fear while shrinking back slightly.

>You see her mouth moving, but her headset is still set to silent.

>As you reach over to fix her headset she flinches from your hand but doesn't retreat.

>With a flick of a switch you turn her radio to talk to yours and are immediately flooded with gibberish

>"THITMEIMSORRYMASTERIOVERSLEP"

>"QUIET" You roar over her babbling, looking back at the road ahead of you.

>Coul falls quiet and shrinks away even further from you in her seat, trying to protect her head with her hands and forearms.

>Gently, you reach over and grab one of her delicate paws.

>"What's wrong little one?" you ask as you hold her soft paw gently.

>Coul refuses to make eye contact as she answers.

>"I-I overslept! I did not provide my master with food" she squeaks quietly into the mic.

>You smile at the silliness of it.

>"That's all? Shush and look behind your seat" you calmly instruct, letting her paw go and pointing behind her seat.

>Coul looks at you skeptically, then spins in her seat deftly, showing her shapely ass and body encased in tight leather.

>Oooo if you weren't driving.

>Maste-uh Tread? There is just a-" She begins, her tail swishing back and forth in front of you.

>God dam it, it's hard to keep focused on the road in front of you when she is here.

>"Just a few bags of jerky, pick one and come up here" you respond to her.

>Coul does as she's told, sitting in the new comfy seat next to you.

>"Mas-Tread, why am I not punished for oversleeping" Coul quietly mewls as she settling back into her seat.

>"Gimme a big piece!" you say, using one hand to pull your mask out of the way.

>Coul cautiously gives you a big piece of beef jerky, which you promptly devour.

>"WE ARE ON THE ROAD, EAT WHAT YOU WANT DO WHAT YOU WANT" You shout through the radios, letting everyone hear it.

>You try to snatch the bag from her.

>Coul nearly drops the jerky, but her claws dig into it in defiance.

>"There ya go, you earned that bag, so what are ya gonna do with it?" you ask Coul, reaching for the bag once more.

>"MINE!" She hisses, baring her fangs at you, pulling her bag to her chest.

>Your mask is still down as you smile, letting her see it.

>"Good girl" you say as you reach forwards and rub her ears.

>You can feel her purr as she munches on jerky, letting you rub the sensitive spots between her ears.

>Pulling your hand away, you reach behind you seat and grab another bag of jerky, then grab one more.

>"Maxon, heads up" you say as you toss a bag to him.

>You don't even have to check to see if her catches it, knowing he will.

>"We got any company" you call into your radio, knowing they sky people will pick it up.

>"Nothing since you defeated the winged cars yesterday" comes a shallow whispered voice, barely audible in your radio.

>Coul devours her jerky ravenously as you respond.

>"Copy, usual left for you in the usual spot"

>"May the gods smile on you friend" answers the voice and a slight click lets you know they aren't listening anymore.

>Weirdos, the lot of them, but more useful than a hindrance.

>That that doesn't occupy your thoughts as you see Coul finish her bag and dive behind her seat for another.

>As she settles into her seat with the bag, you pat her thigh and squeeze it to get her attention.

>"Last bag little one, we're almost home, we'll have more there" you instruct.

>Coul holds the bag close for a moment, then nods and digs in; purring happily.

>The only reason you know she's purring is you feel the vibrations as you hold her thigh.

>Another hour of driving and you start to see home.

>Walls raise up on the horizon, 10 meters tall with towers every few dozen meters.

>This was once a military base, now it is your home.

>One tower is above everything else as you approach the walls, and once more you aim a flare gun skyward.

>With a slight FOONT sound a red flare arcs up and red and black flag raises on one of the towers.

>A huge door slowly swing open, wide enough for only 2 chariots at a time.

>Towards the end of the wars, these military bases were the last holdouts of society.

>As such they had huge walls, stopping raiders.

>Towards the end, the military was fighting off desperate civilians, not foreign adversaries.

>What was left was a literal fortress, full of buildings and supplies and a VERY defensive position.

>Steering calmly, you're through first leading the entire convoy through the base and onto a runway.

>The sound of honking horns fills the air as the entire group mobilizes.

>You step out of your chariot and meet 2 figures waiting to greet you.

> Sebastian, your Siege master, a tall yet hunched over hyena, in charge of the defenses of the base.

>And Kazza, your quartermaster, a Shark female in an enclosed suit full of sea water.

>The Ocean didn't dry up after the bombs fell so long ago; in fact they expanded.

>As such getting seawater for her suit and underwater quarters wasn't hard.

>Generally most aquatic anthros died of drying out, but this base had underground quarters that had pipes connected to the ocean, which wasn't far.

>It actually made your home more defensible, the ocean at your backs, you only had to defend one side.

>But that isn't important now.

>"No attacks while you were away" comes Sebastian's quick report in a bored monotone voice, nodding towards the now closing gates of the base before turning away.

>"Got something you might like, see me later" he calls over his shoulder as he walks towards the nearest guard tower.

>Sebastian was never one for conversation.

>Kazza stands tall and gives what could only have been a sloppy pre world salute.

>"we're still good on most supplies besides fresh meat! Me an' a few of the aquatic anthro have tried hunting in the ocean but nothings out there besides seaweed" she reports, gesturing in the general direction of the ocean.

>"We got some meat on this raid, is the seaweed edible?" You ask, walking past her and motioning for Coul to follow you.

>Coul Follows and Kazza doesn't so much as acknowledge her as she also follows.

>"Seaweed IS edible, but salty; we would need to up water production, what else did ya get?"

>"Alcohol, lots of metal and fabric, ON the pillar there is a bed I want delivered to my living area"

>You hear Kazza scribble away on a notepad, keeping track of what you say.

>She can't read the pre-world language, but made her own up to keep track of everything.

>"Annnnd the dame?" Kazza finally asks, meaning Coul.

>"Mine" you growl, as you reach the elevator to the tallest tower, beckoning Coul inside it.

>"Get me my share and divide the rest up with the crews, I want that bed before sundown"

>Kazza looks non plussed at your demands as she stares at her notepad (although it's a bit hard to tell with her suit); and simply waves negligently.

>"You'll get your share boss. Let's see how big a score this job was" she remarks as the elevator door closes.

>The elevator starts to rise and you stare out through glass windows.

>Coul quietly presses against you, her paws wrapping around your arm.

>"Ww-what is this mas-er- Tread?" she asks, her claws gently digging into your sleeve.

>"This is home, and more specifically our home" you answer as the elevator dings and the doors open wide.

>You took your home at the top of the Airport tower, able to watch the whole base and far beyond it.

>While decor is not your strong suit, living was; a thick metal and stone furnace for heating has been constructed.

>The entire "room" has been cleared, and the full 10 meter by 10 meter room is full of furs, tools on racks, and different weapons.

>But as a tradeoff, most of the walls are made of glass.

>Of course your bed (Which you will be upgrading) is in the very center, next to the furnace.

>A large sofa rest in a corner, a squat table in front of it, covered in weapon cleaning

>A Large Freezer sits in one corner, full of some "Fresh" food, a simple wooden construction holds other foods and drinks.

>A small room with a rear wall to the elevator shaft is full of clothes and gear.

>The entire base has power of course, you're place is no different, but you have plumbing and hot water in your home, located in a small bathroom.

>Some of the others had the same, but most had to share communal bathrooms and showers.

>"Welcome to my cage little lower" you say as you step in, leading Coul by the paw.

>She looks around as you watch for her reaction.

>When she finally meets your gaze; she smiles wildly.

>"I love it! We can see so much! can I help decorate?!" she happily mewls, pulling her paw from your hand and spinning in place, looking around.

>You let out a breath you had been unknowingly been holding, somehow finding her approval...comforting?

>"Of Course you Can Coul, it's your home too" you answer as you set your weapons down on the table and sit down on the couch.

>Her eyes positively sparkle as she looks around then settle on you.

>"Mas-...Tread...We are finally alone, maybe I can...show you some of my other training" She purrs, her tongue sliding out of her mouth, showing of the dual piercings.

>"I would very much enjoy that Coul" you answer, feeling your body tense in anticipation.

>Coul's eyes turn predatory for a moment and she purrs happily.

>"Goooood, let me show you what I got"