11. Prodigal Returns

THE YEAR was 1400. The English Empire was but a memory- The Russian Empire consisted of one city- Moscow- surrounded by enemies. Following the annihilation of the English forces the Chinese empire had declared war on them- whilst Indian units had to overcome the English defenders the Chinese empire strolled in and captured city, after city. Then both sides went after the Russians, again the Chinese repeated the same trick. As the dust settled the Chinese empire became the most populous in the world once more- a renaissance came about, Chinese scientists worked hard to catch up with the Indian ones. The German empire meanwhile had integrated itself with the Zulu empire- both sides feared for their safety as the giant Chinese & Indian empires allied. Recently the political situation had become tense. The English sections of the Indian & Russian empires wanted back 'good queen Bess'. Elizabeth was being held in a cell in Peking. The Franco-Zulu alliance was doing all it could to cause trouble in the area (covertly). Over the next few years’ tensions built. Fortifications were built along all borders and both sides did all they could to build themselves up militarily.
The raiders were no ordinary barbarians. The Franco-Zulu riflemen fired at these vehicles, but their bullets did nothing. One of the vehicles had eventually been blown up as one frenzied German ran up to it clutching a grenade, a small gap in the armor had emerged, the riflemen threw more grenades at the vehicle. Bruised and battered the vehicle stopped, then it exploded, sending shards of metal far and wide. Other vehicles were untouched, and the riflemen had used most of their grenades on the one vehicle!! The order was given to retreat, the slow moving vehicles continued their march over the rough terrain. Artillery was brought up-  the vehicles fired in unison, the artillery commander looked up, and saw his team dead. He lit the fuse as another vehicle fired. He had the pleasure of seeing one of the enemy blow up before the shards of metal came for him- the artillery commander died a happy man.
Fritz Gunnheld Shaka- a man of mixed descent watched these vehicles with amazement- nothing was stopping them- they continued their relentless advance- on top of the vehicle was mounted a long forgotten banner- the Aztecs were back.
Back in the frozen wastes Montezuama surveyed his empire. Since the time now called the exodus much had happened. The Aztec Empire moved in a giant train to the frozen wastes- Montezuama knew he had been called here, but as the food supplies dwindled he sought guidance. One wind torn night he left the train. As the snow whipped across he momentarily entertained the thought of not going back to the train- as one of the immortals Montezuama needed no food and felt no hunger- why not get away from the responsibilities of leadership? In the middle of the bleakness Montezuama heard a little splash as his foot stepped in a puddle- odd- all water froze here, except here a hot spring provided warmth enough to melt the water. Montezuama looked through a thin layer of ice and thought he could see the swift eddying currents. From he saw the glimmer of fish before it disappeared. Montezuama hurried back to camp, this place was not as barren as it seemed!
During further explorations large subterranean caverns were discovered, and, with the warmth from the springs soil peeked through... during the 3 months that was summer light fell continuously on the outside and life blossomed around the spring- The Aztec empire grew...
Back on the “Great Continent” Great changes were occurring. The Indian & Chinese empires watched as the Aztec empire formed a beach-head at the South of the continent. A non-aggression pact  was signed by all inhabitants of the Great Continent until the Aztecs were beaten- The Aztecs had not responded to any diplomats and were destroying everything that lay in their path-even the Franco-Zulu empire seemed less inclined to make trouble realizing that they would not last 5 minutes against the Aztecs alone. War councils were held- trying to find ways to delay the advance of these numerous Aztec machines- the only thing capable of breaching their armor was artillery- and that only at close range. Ambushes were planned- and roads destroyed- 3 massive armies made their way South- to the War Zone.
Montezuama was pleased at the progress that his machines were making- they were more than a match for anything the opposition could throw at them. A distressingly large number of tanks has been lost in ambushes- but Montezuama knew that if they could make it past the Southern mountain range then there would be nothing capable of standing in his way along the giant plains of the Great Continent.
The Seventeenth tank division was attacking along the right flank of the advance. The Aztec advance could be likened to a spearhead. The elite tank units were taking the center (1-7) and the other 10 units were taking the flanks (5 each side). Behind this spear head Aztec alpine troops were providing close support where necessary, and fortifying important positions- further still Aztec riflemen were helping engineers to construct roads and railways to support the front line but they- as a tank division were the steam roller- the unit that ground everything down. Recently however they had been doing a little more grinding. The Alliance facing them was adapting its tactics- making hit and run attacks- placing ambushes. Once an entire enemy rifle battalion had hidden itself, and then thrown hundreds of grenades upon part of the convoy- 5 tanks had been destroyed in one go- the rifle battalion had then escaped with surprisingly light casualties- considering the other 20 tanks of the division had been firing at them. Now this looked like a likely place for an ambush. 2 hills- very difficult to get round, a narrow path through the center, with steep slopes. Damn their command- if they had support from alpine troops the tanks could be advancing twice as fast.
The twenty remaining tanks in the division advanced slowly- guns pointing up towards the summit of the hills- turrets slowly swiveling. As the sun set the tanks continued- maintaining their vigil- then the alliance attacked....

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