Vagi's Mission: The platform's settlement

 

Grayblade drove them around the rocks to the north side of this next island. Coming around they found a small settlement made from similar alloy metal as the platforms were. Being this close to the platform structure brought them under its shadow. Looking over at the island with the platform Vagi spotted three landing craft for troops. They appeared to be Gantronese vehicles left on the beach. Taking a better look with her racial gift Vagi spotted scratches on the vehicles and tank tracks in the sand. Observing the two island she counted thirty-eight buildings. There were more buildings on those islands they did not see them yet. Getting off their own craft Vagi’s team prepared for an encounter with the enemy.

 

“Stick together and keep your eyes peeled.” Vagi ordered her team. She expected an ambush to spring on them as they approached the settlement. Each building looked empty and abandoned. Some looked like the half cylinder shape seen on military bases and boot camp. Passing the first block of these buildings they found more buildings and a bridge. The way these structures were set up on this island formed the appearance of a city street curve. At the end of the curve sat the bridge, a road made from flat stones, and a machinegun nest. Next to the mg nest sat a barracks looking building. A helmet and crossed rifles were painted above the doorway. Checking all the buildings before crossing the bridge took time. Fifteen buildings were locked up.

One of these buildings appeared like a kiosk or vendor shop with 6 pieces of combat armor. Three heavy machine gun nests sat in defensive positions. The two they saw first with a wall behind them flanked by barriers for retreating and a third found in the back of an alley. A path dividing the buildings lead to a nice clearing between some rocks and the buildings was a nice clear space. At the end of the clearing sat the machine gun nest. Perfect for a choke point and an ambush this space offered a nice last stand. Several artillery pieces were discovered in a few larger buildings that appeared to be an AA tank (Anti-Aircraft) at the end of the bridge. Crossing this bridge, they discovered more artillery pieces, a cannon mounted on a wall and more AA tanks. She estimated 24 artillery pieces, 4 AA tanks, and 15 more buildings around this platform. A weapon rack next to the building outside a larger one held 26 guns. Vagi checked inside the building made into a barracks. Large enough to house 30 troops in the single room the makeshift barracks had a shrine at the end of the room. This shrine consisted an obsidian skull donning a helmet atop a pillar. Vagi blindly approached the shrine not caring about any rules about them. When she was on the police force a group of Goblins got mad at her for going near a shrine of theirs inside a warehouse they converted into a home. Taking a closer look she noticed this helmet was centuries old or at least ancient. She was no expert on ancient artifacts, she could only guess it was older than five hundred years. It resembled the shape of ancient helmet belonging to a warrior champion with décor on it. One the forehead a Gantronese letter or character was written in black.

Vagi’s gaze was now transfixed on this shrine. Something called to her, chanting her into a trance with many voices that she can hear in her ears. Drawn closer she could hear the summoning of voices calling for all warriors to fight on to the death. These voices kept her there until someone pulled her away. Kisha the Oni had grabbed her then tossed a blanket from a cot over the shrine. That some how shut the voices up. Her bodyguard dragged her away to the very base of the platform. Kisha shook her so she would snap out of it more. Returning to her senses she spied another ship that ran aground.

Sitting on the beach the ship was next to a land bridge connecting this one to another. In the background of her viewpoint stood another platform. Shaped like a short table stood this one platform also gave off the appearance of a citadel. Some nice looking settlements encircled it along with patches of jungle among them. In the center of the land bridge sat a tower structure. She looked at Kisha ordering that she release her. The Oni released her.

“We need to scour the rest of this area and this platform before moving on.” Vagi said plunging forward.

“Lieutenant shouldn’t we eat or at least rest first?” Grayblade insisted to her.

“I would like to get a good feel of this area and ascertain anything about this structure.” She pointed out.

Vagi looked at the faces of her team who had nothing to eat since morning meals. Afternoon was dragging on. She relented to them, allowing them a break to eat quickly. As soon as they sat down she found herself hungry. When they were done they pressed on to the other side of the platform. Making a complete circle they found a third platform several minutes away. Behind this third platform’s island was a larger one. The rest of the platforms or those in view still lay a good deal away.

When they came back to their landing point she spotted their allies and the Basilisk. They were only here to watch over their flanks and to set up bases, and defenses on every island. Considering the size of those settlements here and the platform citadels they needed more. A mercenary-privateer leader approached them with news. This leader was some half-elf from Tante leading a band of 44 privateers as mercenary soldiers. He called himself “Nathan Seawind” and offered to clear out that abandoned ship over there.

She knew what he wanted, his own ship, a prize promised by the Vestrisians to any who served as privateers and mercenaries. It became a tactic used to recruit mercs, and privateers or those sympathizers to fight on their side. Many citizens in neutral states desired to fight in this war against the invaders. So this was one way they could sign up or volunteer. Nathan claimed they managed to break into some locked buildings and made some discoveries.

“Look Nathane we are on a search and retrieve mission. That abandoned ship is yours. If that pleases you. What did you find in that settlement?” She was more frustrated than curious. How they missed anything is beyond her. Vagi recalled checking those structures finding them to be locked or empty.

            “Passengers, and crew members of a, excuse me, Rond Partha ship sunk by the Gantronese. Eight elf warrior reapers hiding, a rider and his steed, seven Rond Partha warrior sailors, a noble and his servant. A creature who talks in third person known as a Tissar. It remind men of an Orc only it had big ears. Due to some arguing it was stabbed. As for the rest of our finds some horse gear, and spears with a Gantronese banner among them. A group of six Paladin Knights held by wolf men we killed, and a vampire who died upon some doors opening. It had control of the whole lot.” He explained to Vagi.

            “Where did the Gantronese vessel that sank them go?” she asked him.

            “They did not say, but the warriors, knights and elves seek to join us.” Nathane told her.

            “Inform Captain Weatherby and Admiral Kezef. Make sure they know who to shoot a gun.” Vagi ordered the leader who saluted her with a wink.

            Leaving the privateers to their duties Vagi took her team to this platform citadel. When they came closer to the structure another figure was at its base. An Ogre like humanoid stood at the base of this platform. Calorn had not seen any Ogres for the past two millennia. This one felt the walls of the base. With pale gray skin this Ogre wore a large tunic with strange patterns. This Ogre had short pointy ears, no hair, heavy chin, thick forehead, huge limbs, the typical Ogre body. However they were blind folded with a thick piece of cloth over their eyes. It was tied to their head with copper wires. This blindfolded Ogre pressed on parts of the wall in search of something. Vagi presumed it was a hidden door.

            Scared her team might shot the Ogre Vagi raised a hand up. No one shot him since she was in charge. Vagi’s rank determined what was a threat during this mission. She admitted her judgement could get them killed. Their mission included getting inside the platforms to find this Nurzak. Keeping this blindfolded Ogre alive was key in getting inside.

            “Magarth must enter, Overseer Cizad Kasib meed Magarth to check. Magarth must enter, Magarth must clean…” the Ogre repeated while pushing on parts of the base.

            Vagi watched this Ogre named Magarth push on a part of the platform’s base that gave way. A small panel in the metal gave way acting like a switch. Before their eyes parts of the wall glowed orange. A portion of the platform’s base shifted. This section of the base automatically pulled out of the base. It revealed to be a rampway that can fold into the wall. One and a half story high this rampway led to the interior of this platform. Thanks to this blind Ogre they now have a way inside. At the top of the rampway a door slip open.

            “Magarth can enter, Magarth can check on Kasib’s subjects, Kasib’s slaves, Kasib’s serfs. All Magarth’s friends welcome, a guest is welcome. Come, come, guests must come.” Magarth kept talking to himself and them. Vagi turned to her team.