A little note on time structure: In my fanfiction, I’ve decided that using ‘2035 AD’ doesn’t really seem right. Instead, I’ve gone for using an alternate to the ‘AD’, and a brand new line of years. Instead of having ‘After Death (??)’, I’ve decided to go for ‘After Gate’, that is; after the first gate appeared. This is what Norton’s group uses. Other groups may use different fixes, such as ‘After Hell’, ‘After First Contact’, ‘After Civilization’ or ‘After Government’. This is a temporary thing used by the survivors, and to help me make it more obvious that the survivors do not like at the world they live in now as a part of the world they used to live in. In their minds, AD and AG are two completely and absolutely different things.

Also! I figuredit’d be a good idea to note that after the survivors started banding together, Norton implemented a new policy: with this being a wholly new world for them to not only liberate and redeem, the people living within it should be considered ‘new’, or reborn even. He thus set a rule that all persons should be renamed to a name of their choice, with Christian names being preferred by far. This hopefully explains the names of Ammon, Joan and whoever else in the story, and wont make people sad about the lack of normal English names. Continuing with the story...

The Road to London - Eyes on Dorking
A Hellgate: London fanfiction, by yours truly.


2 AG.
12th of November.
Mt. Dorking, England, south of London.
1030 hours. (10:30 AM)

It’s snowing again outside. Gray flakes of snow fall gently towards a bleak, black and white Earth. The guards on duty watch the depressing flakes fall, remembering that not three years ago, that snow was white and safe to play in. Now? It’s polluted and filled with chemicals. The enemy loves it, probably because anyone that ingests much of that snow will get sick, with a good chance of death following. Many children and parents found that out the hard way. The guards grimace. Great timing for snow.

In the hallway behind them is a large group of people, around thirty of them, all cramped up and uncomfortable, huddling together for a bit more warmth. Each and everyone of them is checking their weapons, doing their best to make sure they actually work without actually shooting off a round or two.

Beneath them, in the living quarters, are the rest of the survivors and the leaders of the oncoming operation. Norton, Ammon, Joan and a two other males, designed for support; Peter and Lancelot. Said leaders have gathered in a small semi-circle at the middle of the quarters, with Norton standing infront of them, holding up a crudely drawn map, lit by a flashlight.

“Alright. Let’s go over all of this one more time, just be absolutely sure, alright?” He offered a smile to the group, whose nerves and patience were drawing thin; the excitement and fear of battle was taking its toll. If it weren’t for their respect, and his own fatherly stature and voice, they probably would’ve gone off to get the attack over with an hour ago.

“We have thirty men divided into four squads. Four for each support squad, and ten for each assault squad. Lancelot, you’ll get Abraham, the first NG and the lightning rifle, along with whatever other weapons your men already own. Peter, you’ll get Isaac, the second NG and the fireball mortar.”

“Joan,” Norton continued, his soothing, steady voice hiding any hints of doubt or fear, “You’re going to have nothing but mixed weaponry. However I give you this only because I know that you are a talented commander, and that you’ll do fine without any of the heavy weapons.”

“Besides my blade, right?”

“Ah, right. Besides your blade. I would not send you into battle without that, Joan. Forgive an old’s man memory for leaving that out.”

Joan grins like a ten year old that’s finally right about something, while the parent is not. “Don’t worry. You didn’t forget about it the last ten times you went through this with us.”

“Exaggerations.”, Norton replies in a slightly more serious tone. “However, continuing. Ammon, since your men will be given a very serious task that’ll require a good deal of close combat, I’m handing to your mean our entire meager arsenal of holy blades, not counting Joan’s. All four of them. I’ll trust in your judgement on who’ll wield them.”

Ammon nods firmly, “I already have them picked out, Father.” The almost up-tight respect shown from Ammon to Norton is obvious.

“Indeed. That’s the order of battle then. Now the actual plan of attack.” Norton steps back away from the map, to let his flashlight shine upon the entire thing. “I apologize once more for the lack of ... artistic qualities the map shows, but I assure you it’s absolutely accurate down to every building. Now, -“

“Hold on! What’s that?”, Peter points at one of the unlit corners of the map. “There’s something there. What is it?”

“Ah.” Norton, with a slight bit of embarassment, points the flashlight at the corner, revealing a doodle of a seamonster. “I thought it’d give the map a bit more character, like the maps of old.”

“A ... seamonster? But, there isn’t even-“

“Yes, yes, yes, I know. Look! We’ve got more serious things to deal with, other than my doodlings, alright? You can make fun of it after you come back!”

“I wasn’t-“

Norton continues, regaining his posture and lighting up the rest of the map again. “The attack will be a two-pronged assault. Joan, you will attack from the direct south; your first target will be Rose Hill, and it’s neighbourhood. The buildings surrounding the hill have all been demolished, so you wont have to worry about house to house combat. Your objective will be to escort Peter and his men to Rose Hill, secure the area and then help them set up the fireball mortar.”

“Peter,” Norton gives him a pointed look, “You’ll set up your NG-42 and the rest of your men in such a way you can defend Rose Hill against even overwhelming odds. Once Joan leaves into Dorking, you can NOT lose Rose Hill! You must also try and place the NG-42 in a high enough position to try and give Joan some cover fire if she needs it, and you must have the Church in sight. Doubly important for the fire mortar.”

“Also, Peter, you’ll not be the one carrying your teams radio, but your mortar crew will. They’ll need to be able to recieve commands from Joan and Ammon and fire within a second. No middlemen between the mortar and the commanders.”

“While this is going on you, Ammon,will be attacking from the west. Your first goal will be a hard one. You’re going to have to secure the neighbourhoods west of the church, including the school! You’ll take Lancelots team with you, but your main objective is to clear out the neighbourhood, capture the school and install Lancelot and his men inside of it, so they can offer you support fire when you assault the church.”

“I expect that most of their resistance will be at the church, so you’re going to have to unite your forces and take them head on. Support from Rose Hill and the Dorking University should be utilized as much as possible. Ammon! It will be your responsibility to clear out the insides of the church. This shouldn’t be a hard task. Although the enemy does seem to be attracted to churches, they rarely seem to stay inside of them for long, so I doubt you’ll have much problem there. Just in case though, you’ll take all your close combat men with you.”

Ammon cracks his knuckles and grins a little bit. He’s getting eager. Excited.

“After you have retaken the church, things will probably die down when it comes to enemy resistance, but you still have a long way left. The entire north-east neighbourhoods must be cleared out, building by building. Have no remorse when it comes to destroying fortified houses! No mercy to manmade structures shall be given, besides the church! If at all possible, if we can get that church undamaged, it will without a doubt send a clear message to enemies and allies far and wide.”

“Finally, there’ll be the last two fortifications. The Dorking Arts Hall, which will be Ammon’s task, and the mansion at the edge of town, which will be Joan’s task. These are buildings I’d like to have standing when all is done, but don’t let that stop you from tearing them to the ground if they are enemy fortifications.”

“I’ll note that these might become a hard last fight. Joan, you’ll have the forest to keep your men covered, but there’s a clearing between the forest and the mansion. Expect the enemy to be prepared for any assault. Ammon? You’ll have an easier time. Take control over the bank facing the Arts Hall, and you’ll only have to cross a street; not to mention your long range weapons will have a clear shot at the mansion. Lancelot? I’m expecting you and your NG-42 to be there, just in case.”

“Finally, let me go through the rules one last time. First! There will be no retreating of any one squad! If one squad must retreat from Doring, all must retreat! This only counts for retreats out of the city; retreating to a more defensible place within the city is of course encouraged: we do want to keep as many as possible alive. Every soul counts.”

“Second! You will NOT lose the mortar, the lighting rifle or the NG-42’s! Should the wielder of those weapons be killed, you will find some one else to use them! Same goes for the blades. If one of the blade wielders is killed, another must pick it up and fill his place immediately.”

“Third! Show no mercy! No matter what happens, you will not show any mercy! If the enemy turns his back on you, you will take that shot! You will use any dirty trick in the book to take them down. There will be NO being ‘fair’ in this war! We are outnumbered, outgunned and probably outclassed by those damned creatures, so we better damn take every shot we can and make each one count.”

“And... that’s it.” He turns the flashlight off and takes a seat with the rest of them, offering them a gentle smile. “I’ll see all of you again after the battle.” He reaches out and takesa firm hold on Lancelot’s shoulder. “All of you. Stay alive, for God’s sake. We need every single one of you.” A moment of silence, a feeling of unease comes over the group. Death isn’t on their wishlist, but it’s become increasingly more obvious that it’s coming their way.

“Gather your troops, we’re heading out in an hour.”





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Apologies for the lack of action so far; ironic though, isn't it? Two chapters and no action, even though this is a fanfiction for an action RPG. The attack on Dorking will begin in the next chapter, so stay tuned!



Fun facts: I've based the plan of attack on Dorking on a real map of the town. Those interested can look at it here: http://www.visitdorking.com/MA/Pictorial_Map.htm

The story is going to be wildly inaccurate when it comes to individual housings, the interiors, the size of the town and pretty much anything, so don't be surprised if you see something on that map that wont be in the story. =)

Thanks for reading!!

(Next chapter coming soon; may be a few days though)