2nd of Ymiden, 716
The war-machine that was the Legion was starting to move. Shesha was absolutely ecstatic to find that she and the rest in her training group were to be among those sent out in the first raiding parties. scouts had brought word of groups of Nashakii soldiers out on maneuvers. It wouldn't do to let them see the Legion in full swing and let them have the chance to run home and warn their comrades. Besides, after a speech such as the one Raskalarn had given, inaction was not an option. Her Raskithecals were for the most part too disciplined to go against orders, but they would chafe at the bit were they kept back from this. Better to let them go. Blood them, appease them and keep tactical superiority and surprise.Their scouts said the Nashakii were roughly between the Border Fort and the Claypan. Close. Poking about. Prying. Intruding onto territory that was not theirs. And didn't that set the rattles going and the pseudo-snakes hissing? Regardless of what maps said, the land around the Border Fort was theirs. The rest soon would be. The entire Century under Vierka Gardise was being sent out. This was because after this skirmish they would continue to press on into the desert.
The full century wouldn't be brought to bear on this force however, not unless things went well and truly sideways. A hundred men did not march through a desert with no supplies when they were going to war. Centurion Gardise had half her Century heavily burdened with supplies themselves as well as gardening precious pack animals.
The other half raced ahead, moving as quickly as wisdom allowed for the enemy. The forces were fairly evenly matched, though the Nashakii Forces had been out in the field for longer. Which both meant that they likely had more experience in the terrain, and that they were more likely to be fatigued. Ideally there would be no survivors, no one to run home and give warning.
Shesha moved steadily through the sands, burdened by her plate armour, vision narrowed by her helm, mace and shield both ready to be drawn at a moments notice. She was hot already, but now with the first true battle kicking off the first true war in her life fast approaching, she'd stop or slow when she fell over dead.
Half a break ahead there was a dried riverbed, another half break beyond that should be the Nashakii. Would they meet in the middle? Would they reach the riverbed first, before the Nashakii who did not know they were being pursued yet? If so would they be able to lure them into a trap? Controlling the riverbed could be a tactical advantage, if they could get the Nashakii to engage. With their shields, the downside of being an easy target for ranged units could be more easily adjusted for and dealt with. Shield walls were not unknown to them after all. It all depended upon what the enemy did.
Shesha grinned over at Hud on her right.
"Ready to add to Negahnepoc's legacy?"