Soldiers: Skyfall

"Station 13 made them pay for ever inch."
--Graffiti found a block away Keeper Station 13 sometime after their final stand.

Date: August 9th, 1666 CC
Time: 16: 50
Name: Ashes
Location: Highway 95, Vanhoover

Ashes sat in the passenger seat of a pick up as it headed down the highway. Behind the truck were multiple cars of all make and models, some were from Ashes’ gang but most were just random people who saw the convoy and for whatever reason decided to join it without even knowing where they were going.

It had been hours since Ashes saw the writing on the wall and left Killer Z’s territory behind. To his annoyance and contempt most of the rest of the gang chose to stay behind and defend the city blocks along with that fool of a leader of theirs. They even had the nerve to call him and his group cowards and traitors for leaving rather than stay and fight those things.

The idiots acted like this was no different than a rival gang or the Keepers. Rival gangs and Keepers don’t fuck up the military like those things were doing, and they sure as hell don't try to obliterate the entire city. If not for that shield that went over the entire thing they’d all be dead.

No, their best bet was to escape the city and as far as Ashes was concerned anyone who stayed was just removing themselves from the gang to help improve it.

Not far ahead of them the highway was raised up in preparation for the bridge not far after it to allow for cars to move faster through the city and the open lands beyond the city. Those things no doubt had the bridge being watched as it would be the smart thing to do.

“Stop here.” Ashes told the pony beside him who nodded and applied the break. Behind them the rest of the convoy stopped and those armed got out to watch for threats.

Ashes stepped out and his nose was assaulted with the smell of smoke in the air and gun shots could be heard echoing from somewhere maybe a few blocks away.

Ashes went to the back of the truck and climbed into the back, being careful not to step on the Keeper they had back there sleeping off his near death experience.

Ashes looked to the faces who turned to face him and he looked over them noting the fear on all their, while he’d never admit it to anyone he felt responsible for all their safety even the randoms who had joined them. It was why he had stopped as he had to make sure they understood what was about to happen.

“Alright listen up.” he spoke clearly and loudly, his voice naturally seeming to carry. “Ahead of us is the Eastern Bridge, the main route in and out of the city…..and it is most likely guarded by those things.” he said, he wasn't going to lie, that would get people killed. “Our best chance of breaking out is to hit the bridge as fast as we can. As soon as we crest that ramp ahead you put the pedal to the floor and you stop for absolutely nothing. It’s going to take everything we have to make it but on the other side of that bridge is safety and our survival.” He said and looked over the faces standing amid occupied and abandoned vehicles making sure they understood.

Seeing they did he nodded and climbed down and walked back to the passenger side of the truck.

Once inside he nodded to the driver and the truck started to move forward.

Ashes controlled his breathing and assured himself they would make it because he had zero intention of dying here to those things.

They soon reached the ramp and began to climb it. He glanced back to make sure the rest of the convoy was following and make sure the two in the back were staying low and keeping the Keeper secured.

He mentally nodded and looked back ahead.

As soon as the truck crested the top of the ramp the driver gunned the engine and they took off, ahead of them the metal supports of the bridge stretched high into the sky.

Then something caught Ashes off guard as from an off ramp a city bus rose up and merged onto the highway next to them. Ashes could see dozens of ponies aboard and the driver’s eyes locked onto the bridge ahead of them as he pushed the bus to its maximum speed. Seemed he wasn't the only one with the same idea and whoever that driver was seemed dead set on evacuating his passengers.

As he watched the bus several of the faster cars sped past them doing as he said and putting their pedals to the floor and out pacing Ashes’ own truck. Didn't matter as at least they could follow directions.

More sped past with some of the randoms also passing the truck.

The first of the convoy reached the bridge and Ashes grew concerned as ahead of them all he saw was an open road. This didn't make sense, this was such an obvious route….

Ashe’s blood ran cold as realization dawned on him.

A moment later a bolt of energy struck one of the lead cars and it became a fireball skidding down the road as more struck the other lead vehicles.

"Shit swerve, swerve! Don't go in a straight line!” Ashes yelled at the driver who jerked the wheel causing them to almost fishtail as a bolt of energy hit where they were going to be.

Ashes looked as saw multiple automated turrets attached to the girders targeting the speeding vehicles as they passed under them.

"Go go go!” He yelled, there was no turning back now as he saw in the mirrors as other cars were doing the same though some were not lucky and he saw explosions from those ones.

Several sped ahead of them as the convoy descended into a mad dash of violently swerving vehicles doing all they could to avoid getting shot.

A van ahead of them exploded and his driver swerved to barely miss the burning wreck and then the truck started slowing down.

Ashes head snapped to the driver to see him nearly frozen in either shock or terror or a combination of both.

“Drive damnit!” he yelled at the stallion who did not respond. Ashes growled and took out his pistol pressing it to the stallion's head. “If you don't hit the gas I'll personally blow your fucking head off and do it myself!” He threatened pressing the barrel into the stallion's head to drive the point home. Either the threat or the pain from the gun barrel snapped the stallion out of the frozen state and the truck jerked as it sped back up and swerved.

“Come on…come on….” Ashes said watching the road, keeping his pistol out.

He could see the other side of the bridge, just a few more meters…..

The first of the convey left the bridge escaping the rain of energy bolts and then another, the third took a direct hit and its burning husk skidded off the bridge.

Then Ashes’ truck left the bridge and the rain of bolts stopped allowing them to straighten out since they didn't need to dodge anything now.

Ashes looked back and was amazed to see the city bus having somehow made it though he could see part of the roof was gone, it must have survived just because of its size alone.

Ashes watched as more and more of the convoy sped off the bridge and soon the last of them departed and He looked ahead. The convoy had been severely reduced in number but they had made it out of the city.

Ahead of them was the open highway and miles and miles of farmland.

Ashes saw no reason for them to slow down as the refugee convoy sped off down the highway leaving the burning city behind.