Commando Part 55

Getting out of the village through the grave yard was not easy. This graveyard was made up of towering stones and slabs used as gravestones. It was constructed in the form of a maze. Everyone had to dismount and lead their steeds through it. During the fight two of the reptilian mounts were hit by arrow fire. Behind them shooting and screams could be heard. Just as they were told they found the other path leading to the road. From here they mounted their steeds and took this path to the road. In full gallop Maurice and his seventeen-member party raced down this road. It took them through the jungle and into a less forested area. The road they had to take cut through the region.

            Maurice and his party stopped at the edge of the jungle. This region was a flatland that stretched over a few miles. It ended at the very beginning of a marsh with scattered trees dotting the landscape. This marsh stretched for miles like an ocean. At the very center of this marsh stood a structure sitting on what appeared to be an island rather than the end of the marsh. He could not tell what it looked like or how large it was. Maurice could still tell how far the structure was from their location. However, the road did not cut through the marshland. The road wrapped around the edges of the marshes like a snake. In one section he spotted parts of the road that went around some of the surrounding region.

            Maurice looked at the remaining members of his party. At his side stood the party of soldiers and warriors who chose to go with him. Their scouting mission was coming to an end, and the main mission’s end was just in sight. All they had to do was storm that headquarters and rescue the vestrisians held prisoner by this Caligari Syndicate. He addressed each one. Amonif, Hilastes, Eyanosa, Oraceth, Maphai, Vylinsis, Cagan, Ordoz, Trion, Omareth, Minerva, Toberis, Vincent, Fitz, Tylon, Nudd, and Demitry were all accounted for and present. Maurice included himself as accounted for. This scouting mission did not last very long as he had believed it would. At first, he thought it would take a few weeks to find the headquarters. He gripped the reigns of his cat steed preparing himself to plunge forward. Taking a good look at the marshes and the road he made up his mind. As much as he liked to go on the shorter route Maurice decided to go on the longer one. After what he experienced in the swamps and marshes of other parts Maurice had enough of the monsters of the Unknown Lands.

            He lightly kicked his mount to get it moving. Once he had his steed going on the road he beckoned for the others to follow him. Making his way on this road he led his party forward. This road had a modern appearance compared to the ones they had been on. Well into the night his party moved closer to the south while following the path of this road. Just as he observed it the road wrapped around the marshes on the drier and solid land mass. They did not stop to make camp until it was closer to midnight.

            Against a part of the jungle’s edge they set up camp. In a semicircle they had their tents facing the jungle itself. His party were in a satisfactory mood, yet they had to be wary of Caligari patrols. Right at the crack of dawn they jolted awake to the sound of fighting. Everyone rushed to get a weapon to defend themselves. Being behind enemy lines and hostile territory never resulted in positive outcomes.

            As a group they rushed over to the road in search of the source. Looking left and right they discovered the source further down the road. It was a fight between two groups, a group of native warriors versus a band of Caligari goons. In the middle of the road a band of 130 warriors engage 55 of Mommy Gluton’s goons. The goons were to large in number to be a patrol. They were most likely sent out to deal with them. Not even thinking about Maurice got in contact with their pirate friend. Maphai contacted their headquarters.

            He spoke with his ally, Captain Odeliah Scias while watching this battle. The two sides fought on the road itself regardless of possible travelers. Despite the disadvantage in numbers these goods still had superior firepower on their side. Superior firepower and weapons had its advantages in the field, yet in an ambush it had little to no impact on the outcome. This band of goons was attacked from the jungle and from the flanking marsh.

            Whichever tribe this group belonged to must have planned this ahead of time. In his mind he speculated these tribesmen or Uxane had been watching the patrol movements on this very road. They also bid their time before striking. This ambush caught most of the goons off guard. A few of them took out some of the native attackers while the rest suffered the full blow of the ambush. It had transformed into a skirmish due to the firepower in the hands of the goons. However, the numbers of the natives and the element of surprise brought them a victory. Seven of these goons raced back down the road to escape. Maurice gave Odeliah the full story and where located after detailing what just happened before his own eyes. He put away his radio after she was done to witness the natives strip the goons of valuables. In a victorious attitude they raced back into the jungle shouting, giving out battle cries, and loud boasts.

            Maphai handed her radio to Maurice when she was done speaking to their commanders. On the other side of the communication he spoke to Bryce, and Tenno. He told them what happened and where the Caligari Syndicate headquarters stood near the marsh. Over the radio he urged his superiors to move fast. When he was done he handed the radio back to Maphai. He looked down the road seeing a larger force heading their way. From above he thought he heard the engines of an airship landing. Odeliah must have stuck close to their rear in case they needed a lift sooner. He watched the ship land on the road in the largest clearing it could find. Maurice had his party break camp and race towards Odeliah’s ship. He followed them while keeping an eye on the large cloud and army heading towards them. Several cannons fired a few warning rounds at this group to keep them at bay. It allowed a little bit of time for Maurice’s party to gather up their camp and start for the ship.