Commando Part 44

Whatever happened to those victims or sacrifices Maurice did not want to know. He did not really care for the gunslingers, goons, and cutthroat pirates who had caused so much commotion, and bloodshed inside Khasungai's walls. Following the Uxane warriors, and trail blazers the enlarged party pressed through the forests, and marsh the next day. Like a convoy the enlarged commando's company trekked through the forest, and marsh. Their path snaked around trees, puddles, patches of tall grass, fallen trees, strange totems, and rocks. Among the swamp-marsh and forest were nests of reptiles, and other carnivorous creatures that forced the large convoy to wrap around the large lake they meant to avoid. It took several days to move around the lake native woman warned Maurice and his company to stay clear of. Because of their new friends they could not avoid this route.

As they came to the end of this lake Maurice looked over his shoulder to see if anyone had followed them through the forests, and marshlands that encircled the lake. He kept his watchful eye on the trees allowing those behind him go onward to the road. For several minutes he scanned the trees in search of anyone coming after them. It did no matter whether it was savages, Khasungai Guards, goons, gunslingers, or even bounty hunters. They would have a full company to fight off if they wanted to get them. His attention was suddenly drawn away from the trees when Maphai's voice emerged over the hand radio. He picked it up and responded to her. She informed him there were mercenaries that belonged to her organization that should be in contact with the Vestrisians they found. He told her they had already found them and they had taken a longer route to Oceanrest var. The two leaders hung up allowing him to stir his mount to catch up with the rest of the convoy.

For the rest of the day they pressed for the road taking a route through the marshes. Dusk was now coming by the time they came upon the road between Khasungai and Oceanrest Var. Over Seventy warriors, mercenaries, and soldiers made camp next to the road leaving enough room for other travelers and convoys to move on the road. Their tents and fires must have appeared like an encampment crossed with a village. They set up the tents in a defense formation that resembled a half circle. Maurice got in contact with Maphai again while inside his own tent with Brittany on her side of the structure. The two leaders conversed over their current situation, which was improving thanks to the efforts of communication. A few more warriors and Vestrisian Soldiers arrived at the fort just this morning with a few families trying to run away from the Caligari Syndicate. Maphai warned Maurice there would be hundreds of Caligari goons, gunslingers and hired thugs heading towards them. They would not be after them because of what happened in Khasungai. Caligari has a few new targets. Small bands of heroes, and young warriors will be heading their way as well as Odeliah's crew. That lone radioman with the cat will also be heading towards them, but with a company of warriors, and knights for some reason. Maphai told him to hand over the radio to the leader of the mercenaries, and tell their enlarged force to stay put. Maurice got up and left his tent to find the leading mercenary. He searched the whole camp until he was informed where the leader was.

Maurice found the leader known as Segun at the edge of the encampment drinking from his flask. The orc turned to see him coming towards him and offered the flask. Segun had scars on his face and average skin texture of a brown orc. Maurice took the flask and drank its contents. It tasted very bitter and sour whatever this content was. The Lieutenant nearly spewed it out until turned sweet inside his own mouth. He swallowed it before continuing to speak with Maphai over the radio who had contacted his superior in the Sarcagos. Colonel Bryce was about to pack things up and head south with help from new allies. Maurice handed the radio over to Segun who seemed to change when hearing Maphai's voice who was apparently the head of the organization. Whatever she said to him the orc understood and stood at attention like a real soldier would do when under fire from a higher command. Segun switched off the hand radio when Maphai was speaking to him. The orc recalled hearing a band of sixteen warriors, knights, bowmen, Uxane, and a single adventurer are headed towards this road from Magesar. From Oramatra a few more bands and a tank crew should be heading for this area as a rendezvous point.

Maurice pressed the matter on these bands of heroes and this tank crew. Segun only knew of two other bands heading this way according to one of their spies who kept in contact every six days. One of the bands consists of exiled soldiers from Kilscar Orvain who are accompanied by several supposed knights. Segun scratched his chin trying to recall how many there were. Maurice urged him now to think too hard on that and numbers never really mattered. He left the Orc to his drinking to take a stroll around the camp keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area using the moonlight as a means to spot oncoming convoys or travelers. He looked out at the area wondering how long these bands of so called heroes would take to get all the way here. He knew the Unknown Lands were vast, full of jungles, forests, marshlands, swamp lands, various tribes, savages, beasts, predators, and other nightmarish things that mostly needed to feast. When he saw there was no one coming down this road Maurice returned to his section of the encampment. He visited Eyanosa who was in a great deal of pain. The Tuxir was under the care of one of Zomere's troops. The two leaders spoke inside his tent with Brittany sauntering off somewhere with several of the foreign warriors. Zomere explained to Maurice that this Caligari Syndicate took hold over numerous settlements and has contacts in every city-state except one.

According to rumors there was one city-state that was hostile towards every person who entered its walls or even the surrounding area. That city-state lay within a hundred miles of Tsubib Pajibe. Zomere held a haunted gaze just telling him about this city. Many horrible tales and stories about this city-state could be heard in every civilized corner of this Unknown Lands. It is said there are flesh eating ghouls, vampires, cannibals and the living dead that dwell in its walls. She was about to continue but stopped herself. Zomere changed the subject to the reason they stopped here. Staying here and waiting for more to come to them was not to her liking. She found some interest as to how they got a pirate involved in this, but recalled their Vestrisian Republic hired such raiders to attack the Gantronese in the middle stages of this conflict. Yet inside these lands they fought a separate war against the gangs, tribes and the syndicate. As the two Vestrisians spoke Segun entered holding his own hand radio. His gaze was fixed upon Lieutenant Viyamor. Maurice took the radio and held it to his face and heard the voice of Colonel Bryce. He stood at attention when heard his voice. The Colonel congratulated him on his success in finding as many Vestrisians as possible. His superior officer sounded proud to have him under his command and promoted him to the rank of Captain.

Maurice was awestruck, rendered speechless for several moments before he found words to speak to his superior. Once he thanked the Colonel he listened to the Colonel's advice. He was to wait here at this spot until those bands reached their area. Once they were assembled moved as quickly as possible towards Oceanrest Var. Their pirate friend and other allies should be able to pick them up. From there they would go to the fort. Bryce advised patience and warned him that nearly six hundred of Caligari's goons would be heading straight for that area. He received word from the mercenaries he befriended. Once they returned to the fort send out word to other Vestrisians who may still be out there. In a low voice the Colonel informed the Commando there was an attack made by the Behemoth Brigade, Ruthless Horde and Gantronese servants from Mulzan. The attack was quelled with help from neighboring allies, but at a great cost. The bands of outlaws who aided them were wiped out completely particularly the Red Hearts. Any survivors joined their ranks as Vestrisian Volunteers. Among this tragedy the Omnir Raiders switched sides through the promise of fortunes made by a politician who ventured over here by plane. Bryce hung up leaving Maurice with the mixed news. Maurice repeated what was said receiving a salute from each one in the tent. He left them in the tent to talk with each if they so chose to. Maurice went in search for Brittany who was a member of the Red Hearts who were now deceased, and no longer existed. It took a few hours to find her since she was not in their tent. After asking around and searching numerous tents he finally found the last remaining Red Heart entertaining herself with knife throwing at the edge of the encampment. Whoever she had been with were finished with their business and she was alone.

Brittany stopped throwing knives giving him a casual greeting. She did not salute or even stand up despite his status as Lieutenant and Leader. Maurice looked at her with dire news on his lips. He wanted to give her the good news first but the bad news came out first. All of her fellow outlaws or most of them were wiped out and the Red Hearts Gang was no more. This hit her like a punched in the stomach. He paused regretting he even said anything about that. He was about to tell her the good news when she tossed a bottle at him out of anguish, and grief. Brittany pulled out her own firearm and sauntered off into the field. Maurice went after her but she turned around and pointed it at him telling him to back off. He did as she had various emotions mixed with a crazed anger in her eyes. Maurice backed away letting her walk further towards a lagoon that was not too far away. She took her time with long slow strides into the marshiest parts of the region. Maurice watched her for sometime before thinking about making the attempt to save her from this craze. She was part of his unit, a companion, and a partner that he did consider as more than a friend. He did not want her to be in this situation right now not while they were in the middle of a mission. Decisions began racing in his head as she just stood there in the marsh holding the pistol in her hand. Maurice had to snap her out of it now and get her stuff together. Right as he was about to act Brittany let out a scream and blew her own brains out.