An attempt of the ages!!!!

And So It Ends
by Sharzademar___________________________________

Chapter One: A Crumbling Empire

Section One: Infiltration

Explosions. Constant explosions filled the sky, their thunderous sound shaking the ground beneath the soldier's feet. Screams and gunfire could be heard in the distance. As the soldiers drew closer to their destination, their movements slowed down, as if they were expecting an attack at any moment. If it wasn't for the commander, the soldiers would have lost their nerves hours ago.

Relan Haero was a young man of 6' 2", only eighteen years old, with long, brown hair and brown eyes. It goes without saying that he was met with resentment at first, but these soldiers had survived twelve hours of hell because of him, and they were grateful. So grateful that they had placed their entire hopes on him. Despite Haero's calm demeanor, it was a heavy burden for him to bear. At any moment, he could lose focus, and not foresee an attack. Then it would be all over.

Haero's radio transmitter cracked with static, until a voice could be heard.

"Commander Haero, do you read me? What's your status, over?"

Haero quickly grabbed his transmitter from his belt.

"We're thirty minutes away from the city, over." he responded.

"Damn it Haero, what happened? You should be there by now!" the man said, sounding rather frustrated.

"We were ambushed upon arrival! We lost over half our men, it's a miracle we're even alive!"

"Listen Haero, we don't have time! There's a transport ship near your location, I'll have it pick you up and drop you off as close as it can to the city. Just stay put!"

"Will do! Out!"

The soldiers looked upward at the sky, still filled with explosions. The idea of being on an aircraft obviously didn't please them.

"Commander Haero," one cried out, "don't you think after all we survived, getting on an transport ship would be a bad idea?"

Haero looked the soldier over a bit. He was young, like Haero, but wasn't nearly as skilled. "Is this your first battle?"

"No, sir!" the soldier piped with a sense of pride. Relan noticed something about his teeth. They were sharp and jagged, much like that of an animal. In fact, his face mask hid most of his features. That would mean that-

"What, you've never met a dragonblood before?"

Relan looked surprised. "Well... no. I thought you stayed out of human affairs."

The dragonblood looked shamefully at the ground. "I'm an exile. Or, rather, my leaving makes me an exile."

A medium sized metal ship propelled by several ionic engines at the back came into view, flying low. Upon reaching the squad, it's thrusters changed direction to prepare for landing.

Relan beckoned everyone on the ship. As the dragonblood passed by him, Relan called out to him. "Hey! What's your name, soldier?"

"Razar is my name." He said, almost as if that statement had lost meaning. Relan made sure everyone was on the ship, then boarded it himself.

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Ok, that's the beginning of my story. I'm still just a beginning writer, so go a little easy on me . But I'll be more than willing to accept any constructive criticism, as that is always helpful. And of course, y'know.. some.. *coughcomplimentscough*