Commando Part 29

This bearded, and shaggy haired Vestrisian barely noticed them standing there. Maurice cleared his throat trying to catch the MIA soldier's attention. The attempt did not work forcing him to several more times. When that didn't that didn't work the commando walked up to the missing Vestrisian. He placed a hand on his shoulder. In response to the physical contact the soldier turned to face and nearly jumped out of his skin. Maurice calmed him down introducing himself as Lieutenant Maurice Viyamor.

Surprised the missing Vestrisian blinked several times in disbelief. He appeared speechless, and mute staring at another Vestrisian before him in a city-state within the Unknown Lands. Maurice explained to him that he was here in search of missing soldiers. The Tsubib Pajibe Council pointed them to soldiers like himself and knew where others were located. When he finished explaining the Vestrisian introduced himself as Corporal Nestor Steele-Oakley of the former Vestrisian Expeditionary Forces. Nestor appeared too surprised that his country sent someone to come looking for him and his comrades. He did not have same reaction as the ones Maurice encountered before coming to Tsubib Pajibe. This soldier showed more ecstatic happiness that woeful relief. Without saying anything to the rest of Maurice's party the soldier welcomed them to sit with him at a table he set up behind his hovel.

Maurice beckoned his companions to follow him and Steele-Oakley. Maphai, and Nanim hesitated for a moment, but were encouraged by Hilastes and Amonif. Eyanosa and Oroceth chose to stay at the door and keep a careful look out for trouble. Oakley led the party of soldiers and mercenaries to the table where he had a map placed on it with locations dotted allover it. Maurice and his companions took a careful look at it seeing it was a map of the southern parts of the unknown lands. As they sat down with two look outs at the front porch Steele-Oakley brought out a map of the city he managed to draw himself with locations of gangs, known thieves, assassins, prostitutes, and names such as Overton, Giffordson, Olagella, and Gilleth under a blue marking. The commando ignored the locations of gangs, thieves and assassins. He asked who these men were on the map. Oakley explained these men were four other Vestrisians in the city. One was in the heart of the city, two lived together near the entrance, and the other one lived in the edges of the city. Maphai contacted their yacht to see how things were doing over there. According to Ordoz the Yacht and the Tsubib Pajibe post came under attack by gunslingers. None of their own were killed, but the guards lost two men. A group of ten gunslingers were hunting them down and there could be more coming for them.

The mercenary leader put the radio away. She turned to Maurice who appeared eager to get Oakley and the rest of these Vestrisians out of the Unknown Lands. Odeliah their pirate friend must have taken the found Vestrisians over to this smuggler who must have been nearby or in one of the cities. He was about to ask Maphai when Oakley suggested they gather the four Vestrisians here first then have Maurice and his men go back to their yacht. Oakley and the Vestrisians in the city will gather the Vestrisians camped in the outskirts and a trio of Vestrisians located in a village to the east. He said there was a way to get to the city of Waikun, and to the sea itself through the swamps, and jungles via river.

Making this arrangement did not go the way Maurice wanted or thought things would be going. However it did offer an alternative to the original plan. Both Vestrisians shook hands agreeing to the plan where they would head towards a river that ran through the area to the sea. Maphai ordered Nanim to head back to the yacht and tell them what was going on. Eyanosa and Hilastes decided to go with Nanim through a quick permission from Maurice who leaned against the table in waiting for Oakley. The newly found MIA Vestrisian went to his hovel in preparation for leaving for awhile. He returned armed with a Vestrisian pistol, ammo belt, a harness with a trench knife and jungle blade. When he closed the door the part split again one group going back to the yacht, and the rest heading deeper in the city to gather the other four Vestrisians. Maurice, Oraceth, Maphai, and Amonif joined Oakley to find the other four whereas the other three left for the yacht.

A quartet of soldiers, Rangers, and mercenaries followed the MIA Vestrisian to the edge of the city to the south east. Their path brought them back to parts they had come across to get to Oakley's hovel. Going through the city with a guide who lived there made things a little more easier since the city's layout was fresher in Oakley's mind. Maurice and his companions passed homes, shops, and craftsmen shops and plenty of Tsubib Pajibe's inhabitants. Most did not pay any attention to them or notice them as some glanced at them. A few watched them for a few moments before going back to their own business. He did not know how long it took them to make their way through the city. They arrived at the edge of the city's wall where they came upon a large structure that appeared like a modern or Gantronese barracks transformed into a layered complex of homes along the wall. Outside the complex were other structures like an outside tavern, vendors, a few artisan shops, and other craftsmanship. At the tavern they found a trio of figures wearing dirty, tattered blue clothing. Each one looked to be shaggy haired and thick bearded like Oakley was. Oakley turned to Maurice pointing out the trio were the Vestrisians he had marked on his map.

Maurice noticed one of them had the appearance of a Forsythan, a second was a Zedirian (a mix of other races), and the other was a half elf. They sat a small table next to the bar area that was partially alive with Tsubib Pajibe inhabitants and a few foreigners. He approached the tavern with his companions drawing attention from those in the tavern including the three missing Vestrisians. Five newcomers that appeared foreign must have drawn a mixture of attention from the patrons inside. A number of them eyed the foreigners with some distrust, but remained where they sat. Others ignored them as the rest watched them with suspicious eyes. The trio of Vestrisians waved Oakley with glances at Maurice with disbelief to see other Vestrisians this deep in the Unknown Lands.

Oakley led the four warriors over to the trio of Vestrisians without much resistance from them. After weeks if not a month of traveling the commando and his companions had grown wary of hostiles in cities, roads, and the wilderness. Their own experiences in bar fights, quarrels, skirmishes, and ambushes gave them the senses to be on their guard at all times when entering a settlement such as Tsubib Pajibe, and Kunmar. With Oakley at the head of their group Maurice took a good look around to see if anyone else was still focused on them. Among the patrons he spotted an Orc with dark skin in a large sash wrapped around his body like a tunic and a robe held together with lacing and belts around his abdomen. He had tribal tattoos allover his arms and he was armed with a Gantronese style sword. The orc's gaze was not on them, but more on his own thoughts. At the bar area he saw a few figures who appeared to be Drows wearing more modernized suits compared to the rest of the patrons. They seemed to stick out far more than the orc and a few other patrons not native to Tsubib Pajibe. To his greater fortune none of them turned around with their backs facing them. Before he could check if there was a mirror at the bar Oakley introduced Viyamor to Privates Alexander Overton, Castian Olagella a volunteer, and Ellion Gilleth.

Just after their names were introduced to each other the trio of Drows got up from the bar. Each one turned around to reveal a pin like symbol of the Caligari Syndicate. The pair of goons they encountered yesterday appeared from an empty building next to a vendor close by. A few other figures came in from behind them. Maurice looked over his shoulder to see four more goons, two goblins armed with batons, one large human with brown skin armed with a machete knife, and a kuruk without the horns armed with what appeared to be some kind of club mace. Feeling another fight was about to break out Maurice inched for a weapon. He noticed his companions doing the same as the Caligari goons closed in. Within a blink of an eye all of him and his companions sprang into action. Most of them drew pistols and revolvers while some drew throwing knives. In moments of drawing their weapons each one selected a target while forming a circle. Maurice turned on the pair they saw earlier firing a few shots into each watching as a stray knife penetrated one of them in the stomach. Shooting was quick ending with caligari goons on the floor and ground, several glasses broken, a few bullet holes in the furniture.

Everyone else in the tavern and bar either ducked down, or ran off leaving a few witnesses to the shootout. Before the crowds, and authorities arrived at the scene Oakley, and Gilleth urged the rest of them towards the center of the city where a Private named Miles Giffordson lived. Maurice and his increased number of companions raced towards the center with the MIA soldiers at the lead. They crossed the bridge to the center from there they came to a platform and ascended a few levels before arriving at home that appeared more like an apartment. Oakley knocked on the door letting this Miles know who was here. When he opened the door revealing a bearded man wearing clothes similar to the inhabitants only his dog tag stuck out from the rest of his appearance. It seemed to give away his identity as some soldier who had gone missing, awol, or abandoned the army. This Giffordson was briefed in quickly as his comrades gave him details introducing him to the commando and other others. When it seemed to make sense the Private nodded his head and turned around into his house. He reappeared ready to travel.