Commando Part 31

With nothing else standing in their way the Vestrisian commando led his companions through the village and switchbacks. Back at the outpost the and the small port they found the rest of their party waiting by the yacht. Nanim Desparden, Hilastes and Eyanosa with the other cat steeds were waiting for them along with the officer in charge. Maphai explained what happened back at the clearing to their companions and the officer. Once the officer granted them clearance Seven warriors returned to the yacht. All of their cat steeds were settled down before the whole group of twelve soldiers, mercenaries, and warriors gathered inside the dining area.

Maurice began their meeting with informing the rest about the location of other Vestrisians and of the goons they ran into. Maphai included the possibilities that Caligari had sent out goons and gunslingers after them. Ordoz reported there was a group of gunslingers aside from the other groups mentioned. Vylinses and Cagan reported mainly wildlife, travelers, local tribesmen, and Uxanes. Taregan reported his hunting ventures while they were gone. His hunting included a few deer, two boars, and three large fish that appeared delicious. The Prowler had to ward off the cats with the fresh game he caught this morning.

Brittany had nothing to report to the meeting. She decided it was best to stay in the room the whole time. This infuriated everyone who almost turned on her but refrained from beating her to a pulp. Maphai proposed the men punish the arrogant lazy Red Heart in an erotic way. Maurice was against this but was shot down. He was convinced by Brittany who accepted the punishment. After all the men had been traveling for months without much time to feed certain needs. Cagan, Ordoz, and the Vestrisians were left with Brittany in the showers. She stripped herself nude before the men. The lone Red Heart pleasured them one at a time before each one mounted and copulated with her for some time. Each one took turns until they were exhausted. Acting like nothing had happened all participants showered, redressed, ate evening meals and retired for the remainder of the day.

Brittany crawled back into bed with Maurice who wrapped an arm over her hoping she learned a lesson. In the morning Maurice woke up trying to forget what they did to Brittany. The two lovers got up for a morning meal with their companions. Not one of them said a word about the dirty activity. Right after morning meals twelve companions took positions aboard the yacht. Some went to their steeds, a few drove the vessel, others relaxed in their cabins, and the rest kept an eye out for trouble.

Within minutes of taking positions they embarked from the dock. Maurice watched their progress from the stern. Maphai's yacht was driven through the opening that was created in days. They came across the river Vylinsis mentioned. Maurice noticed the river was wide enough for a frigate to sail through it. It was flanked by the jungle forest with branches jutting over the river forming a tunnel of leaves and wood. Taking the river route flanked by jungle proved a dangerous feat. Maurice had a flashback of the early days of Vestrisian expeditions into the eastern Unknown Lands from Borvados. This jungle river appeared identical to the one he and his comrades went through in smaller craft before being ambushed by Gantronese, Savages, Winged creatures, various predatory beasts, and other nightmarish things he did not recall, but were also the undoing the Imperial Gantronese forces. When he snapped out of the flashback he looked from side to side seeing nothing but the trees. Despite the appearance he knew eyes were watching them. Years in those mountains and the expeditions taught him that instinct.

This way brought them to a river that snaked its way through the jungle. He kept an eye out for hostiles and their Vestrisian friends. Although he saw mostly jungle he also saw jungle animals such as snakes, large lizards, and deer here and there. There were plenty of logs, fallen trees, overhanging branches, a few species of creatures he never saw , and abandoned huts. This one creature caught his attention. It appeared large, fat, dark gray, with no ears, large heads, a trunk, and thick legs. Maurice glanced at a large herd of this large species drinking from the river.

As they passed this herd of creatures the river branched out a little like a tree branch. Creeks and other rivers branched off this river to other directions. For a few more miles they made their way through the river with the same type of foliage flanking the river banks. Coming around the corner their yacht came upon a small dock attached to a jungle hut that was expanded into a lodge. On the dock stood a group of figures waving at them. One of these figures waved a tattered Vestrisian flag. Maurice raced to the side of the yacht and waved back at the figures. As the yacht came closer he counted seven Vestrisians in different clothing mixed with their uniforms. He recognized the faces of Steele-Oakley, Overton, and Gilleth among four other Vestrisians he hardly recognized. The Yacht was slowed down to dock along the river. Maphai had the anchors dropped to keep the vessel from drifting down river. Maurice tossed a few lines at the Vestrisians who tied the lines to the dock.

After docking each companion aboard the yacht disembarked to greet the found Vestrisians. Steele-Oakley introduced them to the four other Vestrisians who were Litavis Advorixson, Vello Cenallus-Mac, Osmid Dubus, and Takeda Willumson. Their story was no different than most Vestrisians who lost their way in the vast wilderness of the Unknown Lands. These four Vestrisians knew about an Old Gantronese fort that used to be an outpost where six other Vestrisians resided. Maurice took in this information with a few ideas. He turned to ask Steele-Oakley where Giffordson and and Olagella were. Steele-Oakley told him they had gone to find the three Vestrisians at the village east of Tsubib Pajibe. They would meet them at the Old Fort where they hoped to call a temporary headquarters. One of the other Vestrisians approached Viyamor with a Major's pin on his left breast. He wanted Maphai and her crew to go down to Waikun to find the Vestrisians there while the rest went to the fort. He introduced himself as Major Osmond Dubius of the Expeditionary Forces.

This came in too fast and caught some of them by surprise. Maphai appeared outraged that her vessel was to be commandeered. She about to object when Major Dubius told her he only needed a transport. He reassured her that she would still have command of her vessel. Maphai's jaw nearly dropped when she heard this. She nodded with approval then told her crew inside the Yacht. Maurice took this time to gather his original companions while his county men left them some privacy on the dock. Each one of them knew what the mission was and their new objective. They heard the words and what was said. Going to a Gantronese fort could provide protection and a beacon for any more Vestrisians to rally at. From there they would be able to lure Caligari's goons and hired guns to face a defended area.

Maurice turned to Oraceth, Taregan, and Eyanosa who were the ones in charge of maintaining, and rousing the steeds on the journey. He ordered the three of them to get their steeds off the platform and ready to travel soon. With his companions around him Maurice went inside the Yacht to retrieve their traveling equipment and belongings. They grabbed the steed masters' things for them while they lured the steeds off the platform. When they came back to the dock the Major had left Steele-Oakley in charge of the Vestrisians along with Maurice. The Major himself boarded the Yacht with Maphai and her crew who prepared to keep going. With the steeds off the yacht Maurice's trio of steed handlers prepared each one for another journey. Their new Vestrisian friends looked bewildered by the sight of such cat steeds that swat at them whenever they tried to approach.

Steele-Oakley caught their attention from the jumbo cats beckoned them to follow him. Without hesitation the Vestrisians and companions followed Steele-Oakley to the other side of this lodge. Turning the corner they found Steele-Oakley with eight strange reptilian creatures with a horse and deer like appearance. Each one had hooves, smooth scaled skin like a snake, long snouts no different than a horse. The found Vestrisians used these beasts as mounts and pack animals. In this part of the Unknown Lands there were plenty of these beasts, and others used for transportation. That was done the native local way, which involved an endurable cloth, flexible thin planks of wood that roll up, and a piece of leather over it. Maurice did not get much of a chance to study more of it. Steele-Oakley urged them to mount up and press on to the Gantronese Fort. Taking the Vestrisian's word Maurice, his companions, and the rest mounted the steeds. From the lodge more than a dozen soldiers, warriors, fighters, and beast handling braves began their journey to this fort.