Discovery: Dual Assaults

Jarvis' thumbs massaged his temples as a loud grunt tore through the gun encampment. He turned away from the battlefield and plucked his radio off his belt. "Fenton, those monsters are devastating our eastern defenses. Why haven't you dispatched the dwarven detachment to shore up the line?" A garbled reply cut through the heavy din. Jarvis pulled the comm to his lips as his eyes narrowed. "What did you say?" "They're currently supporting our western defense." Jarvis slammed his fist into the wall before dashing across the cluttered chamber and sliding behind another firing position. With a guttural growl, he placed the scope to his eye and studied the skirmish. "They'll survive without our allies. Get them over to the eastern flank." "Do you want them cut to ribbons as they bounce between breaches?" "Fenton, I'm not in the mood. Send them down the tunnel!" "Having them disengage will devastate both fronts." Swallowing a curse, Jarvis's gaze focused on the western defenses as he tapped the closest gunner's helmet. "Do you see what's holding up the dwarves?" The gunner nodded. Jarvis squeezed the gunner's shoulder. "Clear them a path." "Yes, sir," the gunner said, as he shifted his weapon and started thinning the herd. A second later, the other nearby gunners joined him, creating an opening for their allies. Once cleared, Jarvis activated his radio. "They're good to go. The dwarves need to be where they'll do the most damage. We'll do what we can to keep that hole clear and provide them with covering fire." "I need you to confirm that order." "Fenton, open the gate and get our allies out there!" Jarvis spun toward the eastern front and tossed a power supply to a gunner. The soldier quickly snatched it up and began swapping it for the spent one. Once the gunner finished, Jarvis yelled, his voice slicing through the din. "Reinforce the eastern wall!" "Moving the dwarves has left our western defenses dangerously exposed now." Jarvis swore as he rushed back to survey the raging battle, discovering a score of treeants lifting green-skinned monsters onto the wall. Initially, as the beasts landed on the path, the turrets vaporized them. Then a clever treeant grasped the edge, allowing the green-skinned monsters to race past the automated defenses. "Take out the treeants!" The cannon team next to him adjusted its aim and fired at the nearest treeant. The beam tore through the creature's back, splitting it in half, and the monsters racing up its length fell into the flaming ruins of the tree. With the first target and its payload engulfed in flames, the crews shifted their attention to the remaining treeants. Jarvis rushed to the next team and tapped the gunner's shoulder. "Take out the trees! If we don't cut them down, we'll be overrun by those vicious green-skinned beasts!" "The dwarves are clear of the walls!" "Copy that, Fenton." Jarvis lowered his radio and took a deep breath. "There are two objectives! Take out those shambling trees and protect the dwarves!" "Roger that," all the crews echoed. Jarvis spun and pointed at the teams resting against the walls. "Are those cannons ready for use?" Gregory hovered one hand over his heated cannon. "They still need to cool off." Jarvis clenched his jaw, studying the cooling cannons...