Far to the South.
The few residents of the village of Ensenada that woke before the sun had little reason to fear the new day. Since the terrible days that followed the great fire, they had known hardship. Many of them had perished. And yet, a few had struggled and survived, and so the town was once again growing. The villagers worked hard, trying to grow crops out of the dry and near barren earth, keep goats on the desert vegetation that grew nearby, and on occassion scavenged from nearby to make what they needed. They were alone, or so they thought, and being so found happiness.
The sun's had yet to rise in the East to leave long shadows across the day, and few could not see the towering figures that came from the west. In the dark the Mutant column came, the last vestiges of nightmares that would not surrender to the day.
The Mutant commander, Corr, an intelligent giant, watched as his men began to seperate into squads. They were strong, proud mutants. Believers in the Destiny, keepers of the faith. Proud in war and conquest. They carried themselves with the dignity than mutants proud. He was proud of them. And they were of the newer stock, stronger and more intelligent.
"Krogan" Called the commander to one of his sergeants. "Remember we come for captives, not for heads."
"Bah. These little ones are not worth the dipping!" Called back the sergeant to his commander.
Krogan was a leader who led by strength and motivation. Around his belt he kept a collection of human heads, tied up by their hair. Each head had been seperated by the shoulders by Krogan's favored weapon, a mighty axe. His men preferred to fight close and brutally, hand-to-hand.
Krogan would laugh and say he liked the feel of blood splashing on his skin. Axes and blades were better than energy or heavy weapons." Because you never know when one of your plasma rifles, or lazer rifles will burn out, or when the gattling gun no longer buzzes," He would say at night. Then he would laugh. Besides, what pride is there in killing when it's done far away. You want to kill your enemies up close, and look them in eye.
"These are the next generation." Said Corr. Although privately Corr thought these humans poor examples of the species.
"They look more like ghouls. Judging by the bodies of those we have captured, most have not eaten properly for days." Said Krogan.
"Captives Krogan, not heads today."
"Bah!" Said the big mutant, but he would do as he was told.
The commander looked out over the village of Ensenada. This would be easy. They didn't even have walls!
In the morning mist, his men fanned out. Corr's men would seize the town center, and raise havoc within. His other squads would slowly encircle and subdue, raze the town and take the best stock. The rest would serve as slaves.
Krogan was pleased. This would be another easy victory, and he enjoyed subdueing the humans. And he enjoyed feeling the bloodlust rise inside of him.
Observing his man fan out around the small village, he waited then told his men to raise the flag. On cue the death of Ensenada began with Corr's war cry. Then began the terrified screams of the Humans. The electic sound of Lazer bolts and plasma bursts. Even the buzz of a chain gun. A scattering of small arms. A house explodes in brilliant red and yellow flames. It must be the guard house. Here and there a few of the people try to escape, and make target practice for the mutants. There is little organization, little discipline by the humans, they are caught completely by surprise. Resistance collapses, more screams, moans. Like music in the morning.
In an hour Ensenada has died. Those who resisted are crushed but the mutants, swept aside like insect by the Mutants hand-to-hand weapons. Corr has added to his collection of heads.
The building are put to blaze and the survivors are rounded up and roped. Then they are divided, a slower process. One half will go to dipping, the other sent to the slave camps further away. It is a recurring practice, and Krogan knows the procedures and methods. By noon, Ensenada is nothing but burning buildings and in a day, not even dogs will roam it's streets.
Krogan selects a few of his men to take the captives away, then orders the rest of his men to continue. They are going North, to Nevada, to find the military stores there. For an army needs its weapons and there will be more conquest to be done.
