Fire From The Sky
The steamer Danke arrives at the head waters of the Jungohella River with a relief force sent out to investigate an emergency telegraph that was cut short. Famed mercenary turned adventurer Rupert Steiner leads a squad of German Rifles, Askari Rifles, and a 3.5 centimeter Quick Firing Cannon with German crew.
All is silent - the old city on the hill...
...the jungle pathway leading to the docks...
...everywhere it is devoid of all life to include the animals.
It is not a good sign and Steiner's personal body guards seem unnerved by the situation - and they're fearless!
Steiner disembarks the infantry and then changes his mind about leaving the artillery and crew on board the Danke.
The gun sergeant eagerly orders his men to drag their "little baby" off of the steamer.
The captain of the Danke tries one last time to disuade Steiner. "You have no idea what you are up against! I have heard tales of the evils that lurk in these jungles that would turn you whiter than my uniform!"
A senior member of the crew keeps watch off of the bow. Over hearing the ominious tones of his captain helps to keep him alert.
The infantry commander calls out to Steiner, "We're ready when you are!"
To Steiner it almost seems a taunt. He turns to the captain," You just make sure you are here to pick us up when we get back! You wouldn't be the first steamer captain I've had to track down you know!"
The captain of the Danke feels the sting of the suggestion. "I'll be here Herr Steiner, if there is anything left of you to pick up!" To the artillery men laboring with the field piece, "Get that pop-gun off of my deck!"
The ancient city of Torgoato was resettled with civilians loyal to the German way of living. The new town was simple placed on the ruined mound of the old and the people have lived there for many years in relative peace.
Steiner briskly marches with his riflemen down the jungle path after one of his keen body guards determines it to be clear of immediate danger.
The gun crew struggles to catch up, the soft ground does not make for an easy go of it!
The Danke's crew watch as the men struggle with the gun. They keep a sharp eye out for any threat that might require the use of their two deck mounted gatling guns!
The artillery men reach the small foot bridge and prepare to lift the wheels onto the planking.
Far ahead the native rifles press forward reaching the first bend in the pathway to the town. Instead of taking the most obvious route they are diverted through the dense jungle to make a trail directly towards their goal.
The eerie silence of the jungle does not escape their attention. It is as if the very trees hold their breath!
The gun crew have a hard time negotiating the narrow and slippery foot bridge.
The body guards wait impatiently for the men to cross so they can rejoin their fearless leader!
The German infantry plunge into the thickest part along side their native cohorts!
The gun crew heaves and pulls and slowly get the gun up to the crest of the little bridge. Some job!
The askari break free of the jungle first and reach the wall of the silent city!
Steiner's body guard catches up to him and remain alert for lurking enemy.
The German NCO follows the lasst of his native rifles out of the jungle.
The German officer is no far behind and to the left.
The gun and crew finally make it over the bridge and down the path.
They approach the spot where the previous two squads abandoned the trail - but they cannot!
The German commander looking sharp.
"What? What do you mean I cannot order my artillery to drag the gun through the thick jungle growth?!?"
"Hmmmmm, I guess they'll have to forage ahead on their own...." You heard her, on their *own*.....
The German officer reaches the wall with some of his men. The askari have just crossed over not a moment before.
The rest of his squad struggles to break out of the jungle and join their fellows at the wall.
Inside the German NCO watches as his natives take up over watch positions while the others advance.
But what is this?! A ruined building and what looks like a large shiny rock dug into the ground!
It looks like a huge meteorite - it could be part of one that exploded in the air severla miles from here last month!
The rest of the askaris have rushed past the astronomical oddity and close in one the ancient temple.
The old god watches the foreigners gathering at the base of his temple.
The artillery starts off down the empty jungle trail... alone....
Who knows what could be lurking out there ready to ambush them!
Steiner seems to be lost in thought as he takes his time moving through the brush.
The remainder of the German infantry start to climb after their brothers.
They are on the temple ground at left distant, while the NCO closes on his natives who climb the first tier right distant.
The temple grounds appear to be empty. The whole locale appears to be deserted - not a trace of anyone!
What secrets does the ancient god know that he is keeping to himself?
Outside the men start to scale...
...down the trail the artillery keeps pressing forward.
The askari climb the last tier of the temple - but what is this!?! A giant arachnid sweeps away a hapless man!
One of his fellows runs for his life in uncontrolable fear while the others remain!
The German officer presses his men forward unaware of the horror that scales the rear of the structure above them!
Suddenly there is a tumble of scratching and cries like a hundred baby cats - but these terrors aren't feline!
The large spider beats her legs against the mound of the city and from every crack the horrors emerge!
From inside the outer buildings!
Even the storage facilities - all of the buildings were dens for the denzens of vile evil!
Large brutes emerge from the guard shack cutting off an easy escape!
More flood out of the larger building basements - they seem to be every where!
Their eyes glitter and their maws work in fierce hunger - they've eaten the villagers and now they're hungry again!
The meteor fragment must have shattered the seal of an ancient spider nest - awakened the monster and her spawn!
The Germans at the temple grounds waste no time and fire at point blank range - these critters are tough!
Steiner hears the calls of the spawn and the firing of his men. "No...! It cannot be true! The Seed of Shenk lives!"
The askaris are slightly shaken but also fire felling a few of the beasts!
Germans and natives shooting in every direction dropping monsters as they go!
The body guard hear the start of a fight that excludes them and quicken their pace to draw blood!
Surviving askaris on the temple fire at the horde of creatures across the yard - a hand full writhe and then die!
The two gunners are left with their charge to watch the trail alone...
Their sergeant leads the remainder of the crew across the jungle track and toward the firing!
The body guards reach the wall and begin to vault over! Firing inside remains heavy and most of the horrors die!
Only a small hand full continue to advance out of their new homes hungry for easy flesh!
Most only find instant death from Mauser rifles and pistol shots!
The NCO tries to steady his natives. "What going on - why did those two run and what are you jabbering about?!"
An arachnid scuttles around the corner and receives a bayonet into the head from a disgusted soldier. Ew!!!
The others quickly over whelm two German soldiers and one dies on a native sword!
The coward who ran from the temples discovers his fate was sealed no matter what as he is swarmed!
More of them! Impossible that so many of the creatures could be lurking below! But onward they come!
More legs emerge from the darkness to crawl across their dead sisters hungry for the men who murdered them!
Others close in from behind!
The might Shenk closes in on a brave askaris who has stood his ground - perhaps foolishly!
Another is assailed by mother and young alike!
The askaris on the roof top find themselves surrounded and swarmed!
AS do the German troopers who had made a stand near the wall - they're every where!
Event he body guards outside the walls quickly discover that they need not climb inside to find their fate!
For some it is too much and they run in terror for the relative safety of the jungle!
While others develop a blood lust and start hacking at every leg and mandible that appears infront of them!
Back at the temple wall the Germans find themselves in a loosing battle trapped against the temple wall!
Steiner rushes forward tot he edge of the jungle - he cannot believe his eyes! The old legends and wives tales - true!
He pulls out his pistol and at long range fires three deadly shots which drop as many of the beasts! Such a man!
Beyond Steiner, in the foreground, one of his body guards rushes to join the fray at right!
Another cries out in victory as he slays a monster! The others shot by Steiner litter the ground!
The crazed killers throw themselves at more of the vile hatchlings! There appears no stopping them!
Another askaris falls leaving a steadfast comrade to fire point blank at the enemy! Die! Die! Die! (Not 'The the the'!)
The arachnid wave crawls up the bodies of the dead as easily as a ramp!
If only the artillery could some how be brought into play - alas!
Suddenly the rest of the artillery crew rush out of the woods in terror - they neared the edge of the jungle only to see the horror that rushed out to meet them! "Back to the ship! There is no dishonor - run!" They do as the NCO says!
The lone askaris finds himself helplessly overrun but fires a new!
Shenk crawls down from the temple having eaten several natives and thumps out a command to her children!
"After them! They get away! Catch them in the trees!" The brood turns as one and complies! Horror of horrors!
They walk over the fight outside the walls hot on the trail of the fleeing artillery crew! But the struggle goes on!
At the temple wall there is a hope if the officer and remaining German soldier can just kill their opponents!
But they fail! The remaining askaris and German soldiers disappear under a flood of unholy bodies!
At the bottom of the hill Steiner can see the approaching wave - if he is going to run he had best start now!
But what is this? Old Prussian stock, he hardens his stance and fires shot after steady shot into the coming wall!
Several beasties fall dead at his feet! His pistol empties!
The death cries of Steiner can be heard above the ceasless chirping of the spider young!
But the sounds echo down empty pathways...
...and over the abandoned out post!
For the captain pulls away fromt he dock barely giving the terrified artillery men time to hope aboard!
"Faster, Captain, faster! We must get away from here!" The captain simply looks at the crazed artillery NCO. "Ja."
The crew ready their gatling guns preparing themselves for the horror that is sure to follow!
But nothing appears into view as the steamer pulls steadily out into the river body and safety!
All that can be heard is the endless eerie chirping as the Seed of Shenk feeds for a second time this month!
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THE END
Germans - Minor Victory! (Some of them actually got away!)
Spiders - Minor Victory! (They ate a lot of Germans though!)
Regards