Chapter 49: The Group Have Arrived

James was currently being treated on the ship. Some soldiers dragged him back to get treated, leaving Jack to fend for himself. Obviously, due to the military's forces suddenly increasing they were able to start pushing back.

But after the flying intelligent beast introduced itself everything went back to the beginning, just that they were on the worse side. Although a lot of beasts had been killed, that intelligent beast was all that was needed for the power balance to tip.

Jack was currently surrounded by his birds, each of them being incredibly colourful. Their feathers were an array of colours, their enemy was similar to them in that they were colourful. But the first felt suppressed, just staring at the intelligent beast seemed to weaken them.

Jack was immediately informed about the suppression and his expression turned grim. He didn't know about this suppression thing, it was something that would play against them heavily.

'You four go and take that thing down' Although Jack wasn't confident that his beasts would be able to take it down, there wasn't much else he could actually do. All their fighter jets would be torn to shreds by that wind, same could be said about bullets and missiles.

'Yes,' The four replied in manly voices as they shot off. Although they felt suppressed they had the confidence that they could bring it down. That confidence stemmed entirely from the fact that they looked more beautiful.

Seeing some beasts coming towards it with the intent to kill displeased the intelligent greatly. It felt mocked that they would only send four beasts to attack it, it would show them how wrong they are.

*Screech*

Just like before, with the flaps of its wings, wind blades will form and create a powerful attack that has the ability to shred them to pieces. Fortunately, the birds had some affinity with the wind and managed to dodge narrowly.

Some of their feathers were grazed off, sending them into a fit of rage. As their beauty is what made them the greatest and most unique, yet it was tarnished by some beast that looked uglier than them.

The four birds reached their opponent and opened their talons wide, in an attempt to grab the intelligent beast and crush it to death. But just as they were about to reach it they were blocked. Blocked by a wall of wind.

*Screech*

Blades were quickly shot from that wall, smashing into the birds and causing them a great deal of damage. They fell to the ground defeated, as their wings had been badly wounded, having a cut that goes across it.

*Screech*

The intelligent beast attacked one more time. Cutting the birds' heads off instantly. Jack fell to his knees and spat blood, he felt that his head was about to explode. The soldiers around him quickly surrounded him and guarded his body, they weren't certain what happened and they weren't giving orders yet.

'Come back quickly' Jack was trying desperately to get his birds to come back. But to no avail, he knew their mental connection had been cut. He had seen his birds' heads been decapitated but he didn't want to believe.

He raised those birds with his wife since they were young, he had grown attached to them. Yet now they're dead, they died due to his stupid decision. He felt regretful about his order, he wanted to reverse time but knew he couldn't.

"Wha." He felt someone suddenly smack his face. He turned in shock only to realise it was James.

"Hurry up, we need to get you back on the boat," James said as he grabbed onto Jack's hand and started to drag him. He gestured to the soldiers surrounding him and a few of them helped out, grabbing onto the other arm.

"But wait, my birds," Jack's voice began to crack through his sadness.

"They're dead," James said harshly. He needed his friend to accept it quickly, otherwise he'll be dead as well.

Jack looked towards the ground bitterly, his tears rolling down his nose and falling onto the floor. James noticed it but didn't care, he started pulling harder, dragging him up a ramp. Jack was secured on board James took out his rifle and began firing again.

the soldiers that helped began shooting as well, some of them targeting the intelligent beast in hopes that it might let down its guard, even just for a second.

*Screech*

James felt something different about this bird noise, it sounded like thousands of lightning bolts going off at the same time. He poked his head out of the shelter and looked up, he noticed four birds, three of which were blue.

"They're here, they've finally made it," James felt annoyed that they came so late but were ecstatic that they made it at all.

Lachlan got his Rocs to descend in front of the ramp where James was located. He hopped off and James came running down.

"Oh I'm so glad you've all made it in time," James said with genuine joy in his voice. Although they might not be able to take back Sydney, retreating safely was now a viable option.

"In time?" Simon responded displeased. He saw the battlefield in front of them, they weren't in time at all. Hundreds have died already, all trying to fight for this place.

"Yes, we need to retreat soon, before we lose any more lives," James explained with desperation in his voice. He knew they needed to get out soon, there was now no point in staying here. Aside from losing unnecessary lives, all they can gain is land. They can try to get it back later when they get stronger.

"We aren't retreating yet," A voice sounded behind him. He was familiar with that voice, but her response didn't make any sense.

"Why aren't we retreating Admiral May?!" James shouted back.

"Because they took my soldier's lives, I need to pay them back!" May shouted back. Her voice was hoarse from her shouting all the commands.

"People like you are the reason I hate the military," Simon suddenly said from behind everyone.

"What did you say, boy?" May asked coldly, her face tensed in anger.

"You want to pay them back, but at what cost? At the cost of everyone?! Is that what you want?! For everyone to be dead?!" Simon started arguing back furiously, his face was red from the anger, he felt as though he should beat the damn Admiral to death.

The group was surprised at Simon outburst but they were able to quickly put the clues together. Simon's hatred for the military was all due to a similar situation that they're currently in, someone in his family must have died due to the orders similar to what May gave.

"Yes I do," No one expected for her to admit it so easily, her age has made her insane. She pointed towards the battlefield, "I ain't leaving till all those beasts are dead!" She shouted as spit came flying out of her mouth.

"Nope," A voice said from behind May. Before she could react a large amount of force smashed against her head, knocking her out instantly, "We're retreating now."

It was Lachlan, he had snuck behind her and knocked her out.

"You just knocked out the admiral," James said with a shocked expression. The soldiers up the ramp were just as shocked, they hadn't seen anyone that was so gutsy.

"No I didn't, a beast snuck up on her and knocked her out," Lachlan replied calmly, he shrugged his soldiers as if he had nothing to do with it. James was momentarily stunned, he believed it for a second.

The group slightly giggled, except for Simon who was still fuming out the mouth.

"We'll hold the beasts back, you get everyone out of here," Lachlan said as he walked towards the battlefield. The rest of the group followed, considering they were so late it was the least they could do.

James nodded before running up to the control room and telling them to retreat. The room was shocked when he informed them that Admiral May was knocked out by a beast, which did mean Vice Admiral James was next in charge.

They followed his orders promptly and started moving, they did continue to fire towards the flocks of birds and the battlefield.

Back on the battlefield, Lachlan was shaking, not from fear but from excitement. He didn't get to fight the intelligent beast back at Mount Barker because it retreated. Now he had the perfect opportunity, not to mention he has new partners.