Malhadra' Wake by RG Long
The icy winds of Gramthuln howled throughthe vast tunnels of Ambrahald, carrying a haunting, metallic resonance thatseemed to pierce right to the bone. Gundra Karnhath squinted through the haze,her sharp gaze trained on the horizon where the fog met the endless stretch ofrock and frost. Her Missile Launcher, a massive, well-worn piece of Dwarvencraftsmanship, rested heavily on her hip, ready to spring to life at the firstsign of movement.
In her hand, she clutched a smallgemstone. She had put a bit of cord through the hole to make a bracelet ofsorts. She kept it with her as a token of their hopes for the mining colony.
Ambrahald was more than just anothermining post—it was the last remaining stronghold of the Dwarven Guilds in theSabar system. For nearly a year, the Irnwuld Guild had poured every resourcethey could muster into this desolate system. For a time, the discovery of losttechnology on the nearby world of Malhadra had given them hope that their long,downtrodden Guild might stand on its own.
Yet this had only served to draw theattention of others; the Robot Legions, Blessed Sisters, and even ChangeDaemons all showed up to the previously forgotten system to snatch theirGuild’s prize from their hands.
After their defeat on Malhadra, theIrnwuld’s position grew increasingly untenable. Whispers of retreat begancirculating through the ranks.
But to Gundra, leaving was as good asgiving up.
She wasn’t prepared to consider the idea.
Not yet.
The grey horizon remained still, butGundra’s instincts told her it wouldn’t stay that way. Robot Legion ships hadbeen sighted overhead several times over the last month, and they stillinsisted that they held a claim over the Sabar system. They had left the systemempty for over a century, but Gundra knew better than to believe that they’daccept the Dwarves’ presence here.
Skirmishes had been reported with RobotScouting teams over the last few days; their defences were being tested. Eachattack had cost them precious resources and worn down their resolve, yet theyheld the line. The Irnwuld Guild had travelled far, and they were not preparedto leave Gramthuln empty-handed.
As Gundra watched over the horizon, shefelt a hand clap against her back.
“Another day, another heap of scrap metalfor the pile, eh?” Kaldrin chuckled, clapping a hand on her shoulder. The DwarfChampion’s laughter was contagious, spreading down to the Dwarven Minersworking below, the icy wind carrying their voices.
But as the laughter faded, Gundra’s gazedrifted back to the north, her stomach sinking.
“One day, we’ll look back on all this andlaugh,” Kaldrin said. “Hard to imagine now, but trust me.”
“How can you be so sure?” Gundra asked hercommander.
“I’m not,” Kaldrin said with a bittersweetsmile. “I just have to believe it. Believing gives us the strength to keepgoing forward, even on this forsaken old rock. Keep your courage up, and theMiners will follow.”
The commander smiled and carried on withhis inspection. Gundra saw how he had buried his anxiety, hidden deep beneathan unshakeable exterior. Her comrades needed his strength, humour, and defianceagainst the odds.
A flicker of movement to her left caughther eye, and she swung the Missile Launcher in its direction, tensing foraction. Only a Miner hauling a load of ore back to the main site. She loweredher weapon, exhaling sharply, and cracked a grin, determined to show her fellowdwarves the confidence they needed to see.
The Miner offered a strained smile beforecontinuing with his load. Gundra tightened her grip on the Missile Launcher andglanced back at her comrades, some of whom looked worn and restless in thecold. A few caught her gaze and nodded, their eyes reflecting their doubts, butthey straightened their shoulders.
With one last look at the barren,unforgiving landscape stretching before her, Gundra steeled herself, silentlydaring the Robot Legion to make their move. For now, Ambrahald was theirs, andshe intended to keep it that way.
A hum broke through the otherwise frigidsilence, and a volley of shots flew from the distance. The Gauss Rifles lit upthe cavern ceiling above them.
Gundra turned just in time to see Kaldrinfall into the quarry below.
The Robot Legion had arrived.
“Kaldrin is down. Everyone, takepositions!” Gundra shouted, her voice carrying across the site as DwarvenMiners scrambled to the wall. She hefted her Missile Launcher, bracing herselfagainst a low stack of ore crates, and waited for her comrades to take theirposts. They moved with a practiced efficiency born from weeks of living on theedge, but Gundra could see the apprehension in their faces, the fatigueweighing on their shoulders.
A series of metallic glints emerged fromthe snowy expanse—a squad of Robot Guardians advancing steadily, their sleekframes barely disturbed by the wind. They advanced towards the Dwarves withmechanical precision.
Gundra’s heart hammered in her chest, butshe forced herself to exude calm as she steadied her aim on the closest Robot.
As Gundra's Missile Launcher roared tolife, sending plumes of smoke into the air, she felt a surge of adrenaline rushthrough her veins. Each pull of the trigger sent a volley of rounds hurtlingtoward the advancing Robot Legion, whose metallic forms glinted ominously inthe harsh light of the mining site. The sound of clanging metal and the eeriewhir of servos filled the air, drowning out the cries of her comrades.
“Keep it steady, lads!” Gundra shoutedover the cacophony, her voice cutting through the chaos. “Remember yourtraining! Hold the line!”
Amidst the thunder of battle, Gundracaught sight of Darrin, the newest member of her Dwarf Support Squad, with moreenthusiasm than experience. He had always looked up to her, hoping to follow inher footsteps. Now, she saw him struggling against a hulking Robot, itsmechanical limbs swinging with ruthless precision.
Without thinking, Gundra shifted her aimand fired a burst of rounds that struck the Robot square in its midsection. Itshuddered but did not fall.
“Darrin, get out of there!” She called,her heart racing.
But he was already locked in a grapplewith the Robot Guardian, using every ounce of strength to keep it at bay. Witha primal roar, he shoved it backward just as Gundra laid down another hail offire, finally sending it crashing to the ground in a shower of sparks.
“You owe me a drink for that one!” Gundrayelled, forcing a grin onto her face to hide her concern. Though it was astrained sound, Darrin laughed, filled with equal parts relief and terror.
“It’ll be a cheap one!” he shouted as hehefted his own Missile Launcher and took aim at the advancing threat.
The battle was far from over. The RobotLegion pressed forward; the Guardians were supported by several warriors. TheDwarves were outnumbered and outranged, but Gundra was determined to hold on.
She looked to the perimeter, where theremaining Dwarves were engaged in a fierce struggle. She could see the fear intheir eyes but also determination—a shared resolve that reminded her of whythey were fighting.
“Remember how far we’ve come!” Gundrashouted. “This mine belongs to us! Don’t give it to them without a fight!”
Her comrades rallied around her. Side byside, they fought fiercely, their Iron Pistols spewing out fire at theiradvancing foes, giving even the Robots pause.
Just as the tide of battle appeared toshift, a massive hulking figure emerged from the smoke—a towering war machinewith a serrated blade for an arm. She had heard of this enemy before.
“Doom Tank,” she muttered under herbreath.
“Hold steady!” she shouted, her voicefirm. “They’re inside our walls now; the fools are just walking over ourtunnels.”
She fired a volley, the Missile Launcher’sblasts thundering in a steady rhythm as her squad spread out along thebarricades.
She turned to a team of Miners and said,“Get into the tunnels. Take whatever platforms you can. If you hit them hardfrom below, we might just turn this around.”
They hurried towards the tunnels, whilethe rest of the Miners moved to the walls. Gundra maintained a steady stream offire with every step back, trying to suppress the Doom Tank’s advance.
The vehicle retaliated with its cannon,sending debris flying as it cleaved through the stone barricades like they weremade of paper.
“Get behind the barricades!” Gundrabarked, feeling the tension coil in her chest. She knew that if the Robotsbreached their last defences, it would spell disaster.
Amid the chaos, she caught a glimpse ofDarrin and the others regrouping. They were exhausted and battered, but theireyes burnt with determination.
Gundra's heart swelled with pride and fearalike.
She had to inspire them.
“Stand firm!” Gundra called out, her voicebooming. ”For Irnwuld! For Ambrahald!"
The battle cry ignited something in thehearts of her fellow dwarves, their resolve solidifying like tempered steel.
As the Doom Tank continued its relentlessassault, Gundra felt a sense of unity among her comrades. They were more thanjust Miners; they were family, bound by a common cause. At that moment, sherealised that their strength lay in their weapons and unyielding spirit. Evenin the face of overwhelming odds, they would not falter.
“Gundra, do you think we’ll make it?”murmured Darrin.
The young Dwarf had taken a positionbeside her, his Iron Pistol poised but trembling slightly. His face was drawn,worry etched in the lines of his brow.
“Make it? Ha!” Gundra scoffed, flashinghim a crooked grin. “We’re Dwarves, lad. We’ll make it and then some. Keep thatpistol steady, and just follow my lead.”
Her voice carried a confidence she didn’tfully feel, but that didn’t matter; Darrin’s grip on his Missile Launcherfirmed, and his eyes took on a determined gleam.
The Robot Legion closed in. Gundrasteadied her breathing, watching as they approached as she had hoped.
Then, an explosion from below. Minerscharged out, pushing an M-Platform, which one of them unloaded into the DoomTank. The tank heaved under the weight of the fire, and the Robots seemedcaught off guard.
The Dwarves around her cheered as theRobots halted, their tank now showing signs of damage. After unloading theirshotguns, the Dwarf Miners scattered, retreating back to the barricades.
Ignoring the chill that pricked her skin,she squeezed the trigger. Her Missile Launcher roared to life, and soonexplosions tore across the open expanse.
“Hurry up! Get back to the walls!” sheshouted, signalling to her squad as she held her ground, covering their retreatas her ears still rang from the explosion. Dwarves scrambled back to the outerwalls, taking shelter behind hastily erected barricades and crates.
Drawn by the sounds of battle, they werejoined by other members of the garrison: Miners alongside Warriors andGuardians.
Gundra’s Missile Launcher thundered,laying down a curtain of fire as she backed up, her steps heavy but steady.
With the Robot Legion’s forces halted fornow, she took a breath, quickly checking her Missile Launcher. Their reprievewouldn’t last.
The tension in Ambrahald was nearlypalpable as Gundra watched her squadmates reset barricades and reload theirweapons. The skirmish had rattled them, and she knew the reprieve was likelytemporary. A brutal wind bit through the mining site, carrying the faint echoof clinking metal from the north. Yet it wasn’t only the chill that had seteveryone on edge.
A radio down the line signalled a messagewas coming in with a blinking light. They were being sent word of somethingimportant. Darrin ran toward the radio, listening to another Dwarf chatter intoit. Gundra watched as he turned and swore.
Darrin approached, his face tense.
“Gundra, some of the Warriors said thatthey saw Blessed Sisters ships in the skies above...”
Several Dwarfs muttered curses,remembering skirmishes with them on Malhadra.
“Sisters? Out on this rock? They’ll befrozen as soon as they set foot on the ground,” Gundra interrupted, hiding herworries with a wry smile. “Of course, if some of them make it down here, we’lljust give him a good taste of Dwarven hospitality.”
Darrin nodded, but Gundra saw a flicker ofdoubt in his eyes.
She shared that same doubt. How couldtheir dwindling garrison, mostly filled with Dwarven Miners, armed mostly withheavy tools and a few weapons, hope to stand against two powerful forces? Butshe pushed the thought away, knowing now was the time to bolster morale, notshake it.
Gundra surveyed her squad, noting theexhaustion in each of the Dwarves’ faces.
“Listen here!” she called out, her voicecutting through the frigid air. “I know you’re tired. We've spent our livesfending off scavengers and debt collectors, squeezing us for every penny ofprofit. We’ve had to leave behind our homeland, and now just when we’ve foundsomething worth taking, someone new shows up to take it!”
The Dwarves murmured in glum agreement.
“Well, I’m not having it,” Gundra shouted.“Let’s show them that the Irnwuld Guilds won’t be pushed around any longer!”
A cheer rang out from the crowd. Some ofthe Dwarves thumped their picks on the ground, a fierce glint returning totheir eyes. She gave them a nod of encouragement, swallowing back the uneasethat gnawed at her.
The respite was shattered by a low,rumbling echo. The Robots were repairing themselves; Gundra watched as theirfallen Warriors and Guardians rose again.
“Damned Robots don’t know when to staydown." Darrin cursed.
Gundra’s pulse quickened as she took upher Missile Launcher again. Darrin stood beside her, shooting a volley ofMissiles at the approaching Robots. The Miners retreated into the buildingbehind them, getting ready to defend the doors of Ambrahald themselves.
Gundra and her squad continued pouring outfire, falling back as the Robots came closer into range. Soon though, they hadfallen back inside the wall. Gundra looked at the Miners as she passed them,clutching their Iron Pistols and Iron Shotguns as they waited for the RobotLegions to come closer.
As the Legion came close enough, theMiners sprung up from behind the barricades, spewing fire into the first waveof Robots. Soon, the Miners and Warriors were brawling and exchanging blankrange fire inside the wall.
An explosion erupted near the farbarricade, and Gundra felt the ground shake beneath her feet. The fightinglulled a moment as everyone turned to see the source.
Gundra felt her heart sinking as she saw aline of Blessed Sisters emerging from the ridge. Their robes billowed like darkclouds, led by a Sister in a towering Exo-Suit, wielding a massive, two-handedsword. The Sisters moved forward with grim purpose, their formation imposingand unyielding.
“Alright, you sorry lot!” She shouted,grinning through the chaos. “Looks like we’ve got more guests for the scrapheap! Let’s give them the proper Dwarven welcome!”
Caught between the Robot Legion'srelentless firepower and the Sisters' arrival, Gundra’s squad was nowsurrounded.
The clang of metal and the boom of weaponsechoed across the icy expanse, mingling with the shouts of dwarves as theyfought to hold their ground.
Gundra bit back a surge of despair. Theirsituation was growing untenable, and she knew the pressure was wearing on hercomrades. But they looked to her for strength, so she kept her stance firm, herface set in determined confidence.
The battlefield was in chaos, with debrisand smoke filling the air as Gundra and her comrades fought back against theunrelenting Robot Legion.
Just as she weighed their options, adeafening roar cut through the battlefield. Gundra froze, her gaze snappingtoward the ridge. There, framed by the haze of dust and smoke, was a hulkingfigure.
The leader of the Blessed Sisters hadarrived on the frontlines in her Exo-Suit. Her massive sword released a surgeof energy, slamming into the building. With a sickening crunch, steel wallsshattered, sending Dwarves scrambling back in shock and horror. Gundra’sstomach twisted.
They were surrounded, with little hope ofholding out long enough for reinforcements.
“Listen up! We’re Dwarves, and more thanthat, we’re Irnwuld Guilders!—tougher than stone and twice as stubborn.”Gundra’s voice cut through the chaos, steady and unwavering. “We can fall backinto the Miner’s tunnels and lose them there. Now, make ‘em work for everyinch!”
Panic began to ripple through the ranks,and Gundra felt her own pulse spike in response. She saw the fear in the eyesof her comrades. She saw some Dwarves looking at each other as if wonderingwhether this was the moment to abandon the fight. The despair was palpable, butGundra swallowed her terror, taking a deep, steady breath.
She fired a barrage from her MissileLauncher to cover her comrades, gesturing for them to fall back further.
“Stay close and stay steady!”
Gundra moved quickly, checking weapons,passing out remaining ammunition, and keeping her voice calm and encouraging.She caught Darrin’s eye, seeing his resolve strengthen in response. The squadtook heart, their fear melting away with Gundra’s assurance.
At that moment, Gundra realised their onlyoption: they would have to retreat. Her chest tightened at the thought ofabandoning Ambrahald. They wouldn’t be able to hold out long now that the RobotLegion had a foothold on Gramthuln.
Still, she pushed the final decision down,knowing that her comrades needed to see her confidence more than they neededthe truth. With one last deep breath, she set her jaw and prepared to give theorder.
“Once we get to safety, we can radio tothe fleet,” she said. “We’ve made it out of worse situations than this.”
As the last echoes of battle faded intosilence, Gundra’s heart raced not just from adrenaline but from the weight ofher comrades' sacrifices. She slumped against the cold, unyielding rock of thecavern wall, her Missile Launcher clattering to the ground beside her. The rushof emotions was overwhelming—relief, grief, and a stubborn spark of hope alljostling for space in her mind.
Gundra glanced around at her unit, seeingtheir faces etched with exhaustion and sorrow. Each Dwarf bore the marks ofbattle—bruises, cuts, and the hollow look of those who had faced the spectre ofdefeat. She felt their pain, and it tore at her heart. They had lost friends,comrades who had fought bravely alongside them, and the weight of that losssettled heavily on her shoulders.
“Gather round,” she called, her voicehoarse but firm. One by one, her companions edged closer, forming a circlearound her. The dim light flickered, casting shadows on their weary faces. “Wefought valiantly today. Each of you showed incredible courage, and I’m proud tostand with you.”
Darrin spoke up.
“But we lost, Gundra. How can we callourselves proud?”
“We’ve lost battles before, even homes,”Gundra corrected him, her tone steady. “But we’re not beaten. Look around you.We’ve still got each other. We survived to fight another day. Now, we just needto make it to the Assault Drill and get out of here.”
The room fell quiet, and the air was thickwith unspoken thoughts. Gundra knew they were all thinking of those whowouldn’t return—the brave souls who had charged into the fray only to beswallowed by the chaos. Each name felt like a weight on her heart.
“Move out,” she said.
As Gundra and her squad descended into thecool, dimly lit tunnels, the echoes of battle faded into a distant memory.
They sat in silence, their breathsteadying as the last echoes of the conflict fell away behind them. The tunnelsfelt safe, yet a weight hung heavily in the air—a mixture of relief and grieffor what they had left behind.
“I remember when I landed on Malhadra. Itwas the first time the Irnwuld Guild found something worth fighting for,”Gundra began, her voice low as memories surfaced. “Kaldrin was in charge of mysquad then. I was ready to fight to the death back then rather than give itup.”
The weight of her confession hung in theair. Gundra’s gaze drifted toward the tunnel floor, tracing the patterns in thestone.
“Kaldrin told me that what made usIrnwulds wasn’t that we won every fight, it was that we kept fighting. Nomatter what happens, we won’t stop scrapping so long as we draw breath.”
Darrin nodded, his eyes glistening withunshed tears.
“Kaldrin believed in us. He always saidthat it’s our unity that gives us strength. Even in the darkest times, we needto remember who we are. It’s why we’ve survived this long.”
Gundra looked around at her comrades, eachface reflecting the same mixture of sorrow and determination.
They all took a moment of silence,honouring their fallen brothers and sisters. Gundra closed her eyes,envisioning the faces of those they had lost, and a sense of warmth washed overher, filling the void that loss had carved in her heart.
“We’ll regroup. And we’ll train harder. Ifthe Robot Legion or the Blessed Sisters think they can take what’s ours withouta fight, they have another thing coming.”
There was a murmur of agreement among the Dwarves,their spirits lifted by Gundra’s words. The Dwarves in the Assault Drill werecharged with a new energy fuelled by the memories of their fallen friends andthe unyielding desire to honour their legacy.
As they discussed their plans, Gundra feltthe weight on her shoulders begin to lift. She wasn’t just a soldier; she was aleader. And with that realisation came the determination to forge a pathforward, not just for herself but for every Dwarf who had ever fought for theirhome.
In the flickering light of the vehicle,Gundra knew they had a long road ahead. But together, they would face it, handin hand, with the memory of their fallen comrades as their guide.
Emerging from the depths into a cavernfilled with the flickering glow of emergency lights, Gundra took a moment togather her thoughts. She looked at her weary comrades, their faces marked withexhaustion and loss but still resilient. They had retreated, yes, but they werealive. And that meant there was hope.
“We did what we had to do,” Gundra spokesoftly, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart. “We held our groundfor as long as we could. Ambrahald may have fallen today, but we are notdefeated. We live to fight another day, and we will rebuild.”
Her words hung in the air, wrapping aroundher comrades like a warm embrace. One by one, they nodded, the flicker ofdetermination igniting anew in their eyes.
They were Irnwald Guilders—resilient andstrong, their bonds forged in the fires of adversity.
If anything could bring them back from thebrink, it would be their unyielding spirit.
“We’ll honour our fallen,” she continued,clutching her gemstone tightly. “And we’ll rebuild Ambrahald, not just as astronghold but as a symbol of our unity. We won’t let the Robot Legion or theSisters define our fate.”
As they prepared to emerge into the largernetwork of tunnels that would lead them away from the destruction, Gundra tookone last glance back toward Ambrahald.
The memories of their home, the laughterand camaraderie, the sacrifices made swelled within her heart.
In her hand, she touched the gemstonearound her wrist, pledging to herself that it would not be the last time sheheld a bit of this moon in her hand.
With a determined breath, she turned away,leading her comrades deeper into the safety of the caverns and towards theirships. They would face whatever lay ahead together, their bonds forged inbattle and tempered by the shared hope of a brighter future.
Gundra Karnhath knew they would riseagain.
Subterranean cave walls dripped with green glowing
