Commando Part 35

Without warning Waikun and Khasungai forces opened fire on the combatants. Hundreds fell onto the corpses littered earth adding more to the heap that was already there. Not a single combatant remained standing once the last bodies fell. The only question remained was who was still alive and wounded or who was dead on the field. In force the two arrivals sent out troops to kill off the remaining wounded and those who still drew breath in the corpse covered area.

While the Waikun, and Khasungai killed off the rest a small group broke off from the Waikun forces. This small group had an escort of thirty or more Waikun soldiers and warriors. Escorted by the Waikun this group went straight for the fort. In this small group were some familiar faces that Maurice recognized. Among this group he recognized Maphai, the leader of their mercenary friends, and Major Dubius with four more Vestrisiansin dirty torn uniforms. Maurice got down from the wall to greet his friends and countrymen. Major Dubius saluted Maurice and so did the Vestrisians who came with Dubius. Maphai just shook his hand in a form a greeting to a friend.

She told him her crew were at the Waikun river docks and the Vestrisians of the area became allies with the Waikun over the years plus the Khasungai state sees them as potential friends. He wondered if the Major managed to convince the Waikun to come here. Apparently the Major did not convince the Waikun. Their paths were actually the same since the Waikun were on the hunt for various gangs who happened to gather at this very fort. Their mission were the same as the Khasungai who began hunting down various gangs, and outlaws from other cities, countries and kingdoms. Because they were going to the same place as the Waikun, Maphai and Major Dubius decided to tag along with them under an escort. After the brief conversation the three leaders were introduced to the garrison of the fort. In unison the groups chose to leave the Khasungai and Waikun to their task of clearing the field since both armies did not bother the fort. Even the four found Vestrisians were introduced to everyone of the fort as Privates Sig von Mernitz, Dorvig the human-orc, Grigor Nedson, and Captain Lenere Forgiir a female Forsythan, and human. The four Vestrisians got separated from the units when it was ambushed by the enemy and other hostiles. From there they fled the are trying to escape the hostiles and made it to Waikun where they had been ever since. A story like that was not too different from the rest. The Vestrisians gathered in a large room to discuss what happened a little further in more detail.

Most Vestrisian units were scattered after many engagements, run ins with various predators, hostile tribes, getting lost in the jungle and the swamps. Maurice informed their new country men what was going on and there were some fellow Vestrisians being held captive by the Caligari Syndicate. One of the Vestrisians, Grigor mentioned that they had worked as caravan guards along with four others who had gone to work else where near Caligari territory.

Those four countrymen were most like to be back in the vicinity of Waikun. Captain Forgiir had searched for them, but Dubius came up to them. He nabbed her and the trio of privates. Maurice looked around the room remembering what his commanding officer, Colonel Bryce said to him about the Vestrisians being held prisoner or Captive. He stood up getting their attention and mentioned there were estimated up to two hundred fifteen Vestrisians held captive some where in the Unknown Lands. He was tasked with retrieving them by the Colonel.

Major Dubius and Captain Forgiir both mentioned the Caligari syndicate. Their goons ambushed some small battalions under the command of a Colonel Brianna Tenno. Under her command were close to five hundred half of whom were captured, while the rest were killed, scattered, and hunted down. Another battalion, his own, was nearly massacred in the edges of the swamps and marshes during their expedition through the central western areas of the Unknown Lands. He and his unit tried to rescue as many as possible. As for Colonel Tenno herself she fled with a small unit up north not heard from or seen again. It posed a question of where Bryce got his information, but that didn't matter now since they're mission was already underway for the past few months.

Dubius suggested they send out word to other Vestrisians and also search for the ones in Khasungai, Oceanrest Var and locate the ones near Waikun. As they discussed the idea of sending out groups to gather these Vestrisians a thought entered Maurice's head. There was also the idea of sending out word to other Vestrisians who may be hiding in the marshes, and jungles.

Before any final decisions were made on sending any groups or messages the hierarchy of rank or chain of command needed to be established. This fort had a small garrison with other warriors willing to join them in defending what they considered home. In moments all the Vestrisians organized into a unit that was barely over a platoon's strength. Their allies chose to stay in the fort to protect those who decided to live inside its walls. Lieutenant Vincent mentioned the radio within the fort. Captain Forgiir straightened up in her seat saying Mernitz could get it working, but it would take some time. Maurice then mentioned a certain Vestrisian who dwells in a Gantronese outpost who would be useful for further contacting as well as Colonel Bryce.

Major Dubius selected Maurice and his companions to begin their journey towards Khasungai and go to Oceanrest Var. Maurice nodded his head and saluted knowing it would be a long way to Oceanrest Var. In his head he knew Amonif, Hilastes, Eyanosa, Oraceth, Brittany and Taregan would still be willing to continue onward. However they would need a guide to Khasungai. They could take the road, but where would they have to locate the city in this jungle? Dubius ordered for Captain Forgiir to send word with help from Maphai who could call any of her own allies to lend aid. Eager to get his searches going Major Dubius dismissed all Vestrisians and allies.

Maurice and his Unseen Bears left the war room tailing the other Vestrisians. They entered the barracks side where all the warriors and soldiers resided after the chain of command was set up. Inside they found the twenty seven or ore warriors at their beds and bunks along with the several Vestrisians not on duty. His own companions were in a cut off portion where they shared a large room. He and his Unseen Bears went to this room to find their own companions. Brittany laid on her bed, Oraceth sat on a stool cleaning his weapons, Eyanosa, and Taregan played a game of sticks. The Vestrisians' entrance into the room caught their attention. Each one stopped what they were doing to look up at their leader.

Maurice ordered his companions to get ready to set out for Khasungai. He also commanded them to leave whatever they didn't need behind. Maurice and his two Unseen Bears gathered up what they needed for the journey. Maurice took his pole arm sword, and his revolvers leaving his prized tokens he took from his enemies. He also left the notched he had taken from the masked bounty hunter. As he rolled up the weapons and placed them under his own cot the companions prepared to leave.

Their weapons consisted of rifles, pistols, revolvers, a pole arm sword, Quarter staff, war club, knives, tomahawk, and machetes. Each rifle was different from the other. One was made in Grussia, one was a modified rifle, another was the T.M. 13 bolt action rifle, a few Borvados jungle rifles. Their supplies consisted about several weeks or more of food plus food for their steeds. Seven soldiers and warriors prepared their cat steeds for another journey through the Unknown Lands to Khasungai. As they sorted through supplies Maphai approached them with an Uxane looking woman. She wore a traditional hide skin dress with a bead necklace and a colorful shawl around one shoulder. This woman appeared to be in her thirties. She spoke in her native tongue which Maphai translated to Maurice Viyamor.

According to Maphai's translation Maurice and his party were to follow the road to the south then they will encounter a large lake. There the should take the eastern path before the lake starts. For if they don't a large monster of the lake will devour them. To mark the right path they should come upon a vast bat dwelling. Once on the eastern they should not be startled or surprised to see invader corpses or signs of death and chaos. That was only the after math of the peoples rising against the invaders. Maurice nodded keeping this information inside his head hoping he would not forget. He then turned to Maphai saying for her to get in touch with Odeliah and find out where she was. It had been some time since they heard from her. She nodded in agreement promising to get in touch with Captain Odeliah. With these words and directions Maurice and his party loaded up the steeds and mounted up. Under orders the party of seven began their journey to Khasungai.