Spiral Knights Origins: Iron Wolves

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Alfreton

Hey guys!
So after finally finishing Kataclysm, (a story that, because I am a shameless self-promoting fiend, you can find right here), I've teamed up with the awesome Reddeh-San to make a two-sided story based upon the Iron and Gold Wolves and Dragons, the guys who took out the high-profile Morai targets (see the costumes)
Our writing styles are a bit different, but we're writing from the viewpoints of different characters, and hopefully you'll like it. The storyline is the same, but as the stories grow further apart, there will be different sides to them.

So here ha go! Chapter 1!

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1: planning the beginning

Morai foundries weren't places people usually went by choice. Even the workers were somewhat reluctant to stay, overseeing the creation of tools to aid the Morai in the war against the Isorans. The war had dragged on for many years, comparable to the war machines being housed and constructed inside of the factory. They endlessly thundered on, not budging no matter how many of the Isorans soldiers threw themselves at it, trying to delay the inevitable. It was a sour war, somehow creating a vile taste when pondered, how, despite the fact that victory was in sight, most Morai were trudging through it with pain in their hearts.
Ventorin was not most Morai.
In fact, he was the largest weapons producer of the Morai. It was his facilities and forges that were keeping the war going, that were, every day, shortening the distance between the front lines and Isora. He was a snobbish fellow, one that knew full well that he himself had acquired the position of chief weapons supplier and prioritised himself above his peers for this fact. As soon as Karun saw him in the briefing, he knew he would be an easy first target.
"Ventorin. He's a high profile Morai target and also the head of a weapons manufacturing chain. Intel provided shows that he's not held in the... Highest... esteem. He's a perfect target for the new Knights under our orders." Barrus pointed at the screen behind him, clearly displaying the target. A medium-height Morai, looking as though he had stepped straight out of the propaganda posters. No sign of any remote shred of combat skill. An easy target for a new recruit.
It wasn't easy to get into the Iron Wolves. Karun still wasn't entirely sure how he got in. The Wolves and Dragons are regarded as suicidal troops, taking out high-profile Morai targets. Trying to cut the head off of the snake.
"The attack will be in phases. The instructions are clear, so there should be no problem." Barrus changed the slide to a layout of the factory, and began explaining the plan in further detail. "First of all the Recon Knights will scout the area and write down any guard locations for later usage."
Karun regarded a Knight clad in Iron Dragon gear, taking in the orders. The Iron Dragons were famed for their roles, usually being the first to arrive on the battlefield.
Barrus continued; "They'll hand the Strikers what they've recorded and the Strikers will have the job of swiftly executing the guards as not to cause commotion, but allow us entry." The slide had changed again, complex schematics filling the screen.
"The Tech Knights will be guarded as they enter the complex. Their job will be to disable the defensive systems. This will, obviously, include Security and Turrets." A knight sitting to Karun's left began to note down the schematics with eagerness. Karun began to wonder where he would fit in amongst this band of highly trained Knights, unafraid of death. Karun ticked either of those boxes.
get a hold of yourself, Karun. It'll be fine. You're with the Wolves now.
He told himself as Barrus pulled out his Valiance Blaster.
"From there in, all that's needed is to get to the point marked on the map." The schematics had changed back to the layout of the factory, a red X visible on one of the towers.
"You'll be in direct sight of the target. Simply get all of your gunners to focus on Ventorin. Then count down and fire on 3..
2...
1..."
*bang*
Karun jumped back in his chair slightly as Barrus pulled the trigger, firing a shot from his Valiance. However, it simply dissipated before it had left the chamber. A blank. Karun quickly sat forward again, praying that nobody saw that.
"Got it?" Barrus smiled, the Golden Wolves that sat towards the end of the briefing room conversing at this plan. Barrus continued.
"Of course, as there are new recruits..."
(Karun shifted back slightly as he felt the helmeted gazes of the Wolves and Dragons focus onto him)
"...and also due to the Order's policy, we must have some of you accompany the squad. Just a Striker, Recon Knight and a Guardian." The screen changed a final time, displaying the Knights Karun would be working with. He'd heard of Striker Tarken before, of course. The one who'd sniped one of the Morai's most coveted scientists whilst cut off from his squad. That had ran in the news for at least a week.
Recon Knight Mora looked shifty, but to be a successful Recon, Karun knew that a Knight had to be constantly aware of their surroundings. She seemed to be almost reluctant to be on the screen, as though she was uneasy staying in the same spot too long.
And as for Guardian Jentra... with a jolt, Karun took in the Gold Wolf armour that she donned. A Gold Wolf, on his first squad?

Karun silently hoped she was friendly.

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If you want to read Reddeh-San's side of the events, you can read it right here. Hope you enjoy the story!

-Alfreton

Sat, 04/25/2015 - 05:11 #1
Alfreton
2: The Facility

2: The Facility

Getting into a Morai city had been easier than Karun thought. The Iron Dragons had scouted out a path through the district, and so far, the squad had passed through undetected. Karun held his Rigadoon tightly, despite the fact that he was in the middle of the squad. Behind him was Jentra, Triglav in hand, leading the Guardians and making sure that they weren't being followed.
They turned a corner, and there it was. Under the light of the moon sat the munitions facility, Morai emblems clearly visible behind the barbed wire. The only visible entrance was a huge gate, and was exactly where the Knights were heading. Karun quickened his pace, catching up to one of the Recon Knights. "Are we just going to walk in? That doesn't seem safe..." He whispered. The Recon Knight turned, grinning through their Iron Dragon helmet. "Yes, we are."
The Recon Knight darted away towards the facility along with a few other Iron Dragons, fading into the darkness. The rest of the Squad stopped, and silence enveloped the group.
The Strikers in front of Karun stood to attention as the Recon Knights finished their scouting, and a few made their way towards the facility, a chorus of blades unsheathing filling the night sky, before they vanished in the darkness.

Seconds later, the Squad Leader ordered the squad to move towards the facility, where the Recon Knights and Strikers were waiting for them, amongst the littered Morai guards, face-down on the ground. The gate lay open, and the Knights filed into the facility. Up ahead, the Techies were being escorted by the Iron Dragons, making their way towards an access point. Karun watched as their fingers flew across the terminal, crippling the security and defence systems of the facility, wiping any CCTV footage that could've betrayed their arrival whilst opening all locked rooms. The Squad began to split up, heading down the various corridors of the facility, silently assassinating any guards unlucky enough to be in the way. Karun's comm unit crackled as the Squad leader gave him his orders.
"Recruit, you're with Guardian Jentra and Gunner Winden. Follow them and provide backup if resistance is met."

Karun followed Jentra and Winden, Rigadoon held at the ready. When he was training for this role, his mentor had trained him in heavy weaponry, insisting that a Guardian was the best role a recruit could have in the Iron Wolves. Karun had listened, but once he had gotten a taste of a Rigadoon, he immediately preferred it. There was something about the delicate but deadly flourish of those blades that Troikas and other heavy weapons couldn't match. He had a unique set, that was for sure. A Piercing Blaster and a Rigadoon, but whilst he wasn't strictly a Striker, he didn't show any preference for the other roles. He just used what was the easiest for him. So far, his weapons hadn't seen any action. That would change soon enough.
Jentra led the way with her Triglav, Winden following with a Magma Driver at the ready. They burst through a set of ornate iron doors, unlocked thanks to the Tech Knights. And there he was. Standing hunched over in a fancy room, presumably his living quarters, on a balcony overlooking the entire complex sat the target. Ventorin.
He stood perfectly still. No movement. Calmly watching all that he owned without a single care in the world.
No movement.
Jentra realised this as well, sheathing her Triglav and drawing an Iron Slug, cautiously making her way towards the target. Ventorin may have been a stuck-up coward, but surely he must've heard something. He didn't even react when the door opened. Jentra stopped in her tracks, helmeted gaze focused on Ventorin. Immediately, the comm unit crackled to life as the Tech Knights flooded the frequency with panic. "We've lost control! Repeat, we've lost control! Main gate is closing! Turrets are back online! I've never seen anything like-"
Static took over the airwaves, causing Karun to wince and shut off his comm unit. Then he caught sight of Ventorin, falling limply to the floor. A single bullet hole rested in his temple. He was dead.
Karun was experiencing his first ambush.

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Quick end note: me and Redd are going to divert the two viewpoints a bit after chapter three, so both sides are going to become more unique, and the story's going to be way snazzier.

-Alfreton