Commando Part 45

Brittany's body fell into the muddiest part of the field that lay next to a murky body of water. They would have retrieved her body if the night hadn't been hovering over their heads. Movement could be heard in the darkness forcing them to stay in the perimeter of the encampment. A few of the elves among their ranks spotted those groups lurking and prowling through the forest, and tall grass. Two of them spotted a small band of warriors who seemed oblivious as to where they were. Despite the advantage of seeing the groups coming it was hard to tell if they were goons, gunslingers, or any of the figures they were told would be coming. Except the tank would be more obvious, and the Uxane Natives were always a dead giveaway. However not many of them ventured this far beyond their own borders unless they are on a mission or at war. Maurice pressed one of the elves to tell him what these figures looked like. All they saw were figures wearing long cloaks, dusters, trench coats, and long coats. Each of these figures wore several styles of hats. It was all they could decipher in the dark night since a large rain cloud came over them. Rain poured down from this cloud above their heads. For much of the night, and the next day it rained on their encampment and no doubt the numerous figures as well. Much of their encampment rested on a slightly higher ground by the road, which still did not save them from the down pour. Maurice and his original companions made the attempt to retrieve Brittany’s body. They raced over to where her body landed, and found it was gone. Oraceth crouched down and studied the mud. In the rain, he spotted traces of something dragging her corpse into the murky waters. Whatever had taken her corpse had done so in the night.

            A few days passed with nothing happening with the figures. Maurice, and Segun sent out their cat steed riders. Out of the thirty cat steeds they sent out twelve to hunt and patrol the area. Maurice had to send Oraceth, and Taregan while Eyanosa had to stay behind. Neither food or supplies were running low. They had plenty for them to last a month. Within the hearts of those who went out had the urge to hunt something. For a whole day, they were gone and returned sometime in the night. Maurice required them to report to him and Segun first thing in the morning. His trusted Ranger Oraceth gave him news of a force gathering near trees of the swamps and jungle. He also brought news of another

group heading their way via the swamp. One of Segun's men informed them the long coated, and duster wearing figures ran into some monster of that lake they went around. Maurice shot him a surprised look. He never believed anyone who had been here would be dumb enough to go that way. A second rider reported there was another road that cut through the swamp making the entire company feel stupid. One of the other Uxane who came with Segun reported they had seen the groups they were informed about.

            This came as good and bad news. Both friend and foe were heading towards them. From one direction come the enemy who are gathering in force. Possible friends and allies coming in as a separate group from the southern direction. Maurice required an update on these heroes they heard about. These heroes were heading towards their area and would be here in a day or so. Segun dismissed his men and Maurice dismissed his own. He left Segun to contemplate what they had learned and went straight for Lieutenant Zomere who was addressing her own unit of Vestrisians. She noticed his approach and dismissed them. Maurice halted the soldiers before they even moved from their formation. Each one of them scowled, hissed insults, gritted teeth, sucked on their teeth, bit their lips, and closed their eyes. She gave Maurice the floor, who then informed the soldiers of their discoveries. It was a mixed reaction from all of them. Enemies and supposed allies were coming towards them. He could read their faces and knew there were questions they wanted answered, but those questions would have to wait. As the newly promoted Captain Maurice wanted them ready to face the threat in case it came to them earlier. He observed each one individually, and as a group. Private Bogrus, Sergeant Aluk Merrins, Private Gorbovich, Sergeant Coros, Corporal Emantis, Private Black-Red, Private, Voking, Private Noel Pennson, Corporal Gerin, Sergeant Tarlos, Lieutenant Zomere, Lieutenant Razif, and Private Azan Mogul stood in a line. He could have them form a column or any small formation. Maurice did not do that. Instead he ordered them to set out and gather wood in the south.

            Maurice returned to his own quarters in the encampment. At his tent Maurice tried to get in touch with Maphai again to see where Odeliah was. He spent several minutes trying to get in touch with his mercenary ally. Each time gave him no results. All he heard was static on the other side. He tried one more time to no avail. Maphai must be busy with some thing else. Thinking she must be busy with other things, Maurice gave up on contacting her for now. It felt hopeless to try again, yet he wanted to do it any way in the hopes that he could get through to her. Just hearing the static numerous times kept him from doing it again. He sat on his own raised sleeping cot pondering over the heroes that were supposed to meet them. The gathering enemies also crossed his mind. His imagination ran wild as he calculated how many were going after them. In his mind he calculated there would be at most six hundred or even a thousand of Caligari’s hired gunslingers, and goons going after them.

            For several moments he stared at the hand radio wondering if he would be able to communicate with Maphai. He hoped it would happen before the Caligari forces attacked. Even though it was not clear who these gathering forces were. Maurice had a feeling in his gut that they were the Caligari Syndicate. His train of thought was broken by Lieutenant Razif entering his tent. The Lieutenant saluted to his commanding officer. Maurice saluted back letting him speak. Fortifications were about to be constructed with help from Segun’s group. Two of the groups of heroes were not too far away. These groups were the knights, warriors, bowmen, radioman, and the tank crew. He asked how far away were these groups. Razif was about to answer when they heard gun shots outside the area. Both Vestrisians raced outside to see what was going on. Maurice barked out orders all over the encampment as he raced towards the edge of the encampment to find the source of the shooting.

            At the edge of the encampment he turned his head left and right in search of the source. To the west of their location a band of figures mounted on various steeds raced towards the encampment under fire. Sure, enough these figures were the warriors, knights, bowman and the radio man they heard about. Many gunslingers were in hot pursuit firing shots at them. In the back they could see the tank crew fighting off a band of these goons and gunslingers. Maurice shouted orders for his troops to race over and help these figures. He also heard Segun’s voice roar at his own mercenaries and their allies. A band of twenty soldiers mounted on the jumbo cats raced to the aid of the sixteen figures and the tank crew. Ten more figures raced out of the barrier wielding long rifles and snipers. Maurice watched his own troops and the mercenaries gallop towards the goons and gunslingers. He climbed on to the top of a sturdy shelter to watch their own mounted fighters flank the unsuspecting pursuers. His heart raced while watching the pursuers gun down a few of the figures who had made it this far to reach them. All sixteen of the knights, warriors, and bowmen pressed harder to reach the encampment. On the edges of the encampment ten of their own riflemen and sharpshooters fired from the tops of stands, and makeshift lookouts. Their targets were easy to pick out, because of the dusters, and long coats. Most of the pursuers chasing the sixteen warriors were decimated. It forced the rest to scatter, leaving their targets alone. In the background of this scene the tank fared better due to its armament and the number of figures that circled around it. Watching the pursuers be chased down and killed gave him relief. He counted just eight left who were also gunned down in return.

            The party of sixteen mounted figures turned into a larger party. No more than twenty-five mounted figures reached them encampment, Knights, Uxane warriors, Grussians, Bowmen, Eothans, other strange warriors, and a lone Vestrisian with a large radio on the side of his own mount. Maurice jumped down to greet the new arrivals. He introduced himself as Captain Maurice Viyamor. Whoever was the leader laughed with relief and took Maurice’s hand in a firm grasp.