Commando Part 46

No more than a platoon’s worth of warriors, knights and Uxane entered the encampment with a radio man among them. At least twenty-three led by a cloaked knight wearing a badge with his own house sigil on. This leader gripped Maurice’s hand with a firm grasp. His hand felt like he had experienced the harshness of the unknown lands, and endured its dangers. Maurice had been in these Unknown Lands for years, yet he wondered if this knight had been here longer. Welcoming this knight and his own companions, Maurice introduced himself as Captain Maurice Viyamor. This knight who acted as leader was known as Sir Owun Downpelt, an exiled knight from Vunnace. He was originally from one of the islands of Iznar Kingdoms. Maurice recalled hearing about the Iznar Kingdoms. Those islands were allies to his nation alongside other nations such as Hradria, which has a hard pronunciation, and Ermentwa an elf kingdom. Those three stats allied themselves with the Gantronese to maintain their independence from the Nazdar. Maurice recalled these nations had flying ships that allowed them to slip past the blockades at night. That was years ago this was most likely the year 1847, and coming on to 1848. All three of those allies of theirs were now under the bootheel of the Nazdar Invaders. Thinking about that area also reminded him of the southern neighbors to these kingdoms, Vios and Luvahan. Each one of those allies are under Nazdar and Gantronese Control. The same could be said about most of their allies at this point in the war.

            Sir Owun’s own party came up to meet Maurice and his own allies, who seemed pleased to see some help had arrived. Maurice was introduced to twenty-four unfamiliar faces, and names. He hardly got half of the names down in his own head. All he was able to get out of the introductions were several names. There was also news of uprisings in certain parts of the world. He heard the names of a few locations, and a few occupations. Maurice quickly reviewed the names he had just heard while the platoon of newcomers met the rest of the encampment. All he got were Morgan, Liam, Sandos, Evrik, and Mervok. The radio man came up to him once he dismounted from his own mount. He stood at five feet seven or eight inches tall. His stature was skinny, but appeared to be able to survive the Unknown Lands. None of his credentials, uniform pieces, or boots were even on him. Only his cap with the Vestrisian insignia on it, the blue flag sewn onto a cloak, and his dog tags showed he was a Vestrisian. The radio man wore a Gantronese jumpsuit that had been torn up, and had parts replaced. This Vestrisian Radioman had three bags on him, one that carried the radio, another that appeared to be a large satchel, and another that was a travelling pack. Maurice introduced himself as Captain Viyamor. Realizing he was a Captain the Radioman saluted to Maurice, addressing himself as Private Bill Harris. Maurice saluted back then dismissed the Private. As the Private made his way past the commando a cat popped its head out of the bag. Harris stood before the newly promoted Captain with a nervous grin on his face.

            Maurice ordered for him to follow his captain to his own tent. Private Harris did as he was ordered and followed Maurice over to his tent. There Maurice briefed him on what was going on before allowing Harris to give his report. Private Harris had been in contact with multiple factions including Maphai’s and the Vestrisians in the Sarcagos who were on their way to an abandoned Gantronese fort. Maurice was about to question him on what happened to him when Lieutenant Razif came to the entrance of Viyamor’s tent. He came to report a few more members of the heroes were being carried in. Their new tank chased off a good portion of the goons, and gunslingers. It was now making its slow trudge towards the encampment. Maurice had Razif find a sleeping spot for Private Harris. The two Vestrisians left him in his tent with the empty cot that was once Brittany’s. He sat on the bed contemplating on when the enemy would attack their position. In his head he calculated how many troops they had now. At the start of this mission he started with a team of ten to eleven hand picked soldiers, warriors, and hired guns. He made friends with a group of five mercenaries part of a larger army. Found scores of dog tags, came across more Vestrisians, and forged an alliance with a pirate crew. They had a fort in their possession. Now they had over one hundred soldiers, warriors, adventurers, knights, and mercenaries, who were now being watched by a larger force. He stood up thinking about all of this at once. There was some thing about this Caligari Syndicate that said it needed to be destroyed.

            His eyes rested on the floor of his tent wondering how Eyanosa was faring with his wound. The Tuxir’s condition was starting to improve after a few days of resting. Maurice got up to search for the companions who joined him on this journey. Along that journey they lost multiple members of the original party. He found them at their own fire, which was close to his own tent. Amonif, Hilastes, Taregan, Oraceth, and Eyanosa in crutches made from an old rifle sat around a fire. His approach caught their attention drawing it away from the fire. Each one of them had a weary look on their faces, and in their eyes, he saw sorrow for the loss of Brittany of the Red Hearts. Maurice was their leader, and now he stood as their Captain. The Ranger, Tuxir, and Uwaux did not mind joining them as volunteer member of Viyamor’s unit. Brittany’s death must have taken a toll on them. He came up to them with some news about these heroes followed by the bad news. Their ranks swelled to over a hundred, and they had a tank with them. However, their enemies were most likely six hundred or more.

            Shouting and shooting emerged from the edges of the encampment. Many voices warned of the encampment coming under attack. Maurice and most of his companions sprang into action. They grabbed their weapons before rushing to the borders of their encampment. Maurice had his group spread out, the Vestrisians take position with him. He instructed the radioman to stick with Eyanosa who was place inside his tent with the radio man. At the edge of the encampment he found the mercenaries, warriors, Uxane, Knights and soldiers firing on a larger group of gunslingers, and goons. Hundreds of these goons and gunslingers advanced on all sides of the encampment. Almost every defender fought vigorously to push back the advance. Their attackers slowly made their way to the encampment through the grass, and around as much body of water as possible In a futile attempt to attack the encampment this army of the Caligari Syndicate, exposed themselves in the open. Maurice could tell there were at most five hundred coming after them. In the mud, thin patches of land, and terrain these goons, and gunslingers dropped like flies. This wet, muddy terrain gave the encampment defenders an advantage. On the road Maurice spotted a force of two hundred goons racing towards them, using the road. With a tank at hand the goons faced a hail of machinegun fire. Long, and short bursts from the machine gun, and the turrets shattered the large force forcing them back. Despite the advantage the defenders had their attackers still took out multiple defenders. Maurice did not count the dead just yet as another wave seemed to have emerged from the trees to push what remained of the first one to attack.

            For the rest of the day the defenders fought to hold back this other wave that crawled and returned fire. This forced the tank to roll along the road and open fire on the attackers’ flanks. With a tank at their disposal the defenders forced the second wave to retreat. At dawn they discovered their numbers were starting to decrease, nearly all the heroes were dead, most of the bowmen shot up, half the knights fallen, three Vestrisians wounded, and ten or more mercenaries killed. Maurice decided to mount his own jumbo cat and went out to check the aftermath of their attack. He was joined by Taregan, Oraceth, and Segun. The quartet scanned the perimeter to see how many enemies they had taken out during their battle. Each one made their body counts and returned to the encampment at full gallop. The total number of dead included 131 gunslingers, 192 hired hands, and 200 goons lay dead all around the surrounding area. Three leaders met at the center with the remnants of their combined forces. Harris had his radio and had the two Lieutenants riding him over contacting the headquarters and their new pirate ally. Harris made several attempts and got a signal with the headquarters. Through the headquarters they were connected to the pirate who answered. Maurice was given the phone piece. Odeliah sounded pleased to hear Maurice’s voice again. Both Captains spoke about their adventures before getting down to the reason Maurice called.

            Odeliah was still in Oceanrest Var gathering supplies for her airship, which she was about to launch at any hour. Maurice told her of their situation and where they currently were. She told him to stay put, and hold on for another day.