Roger heard the Sergeant's request, and though he knew in his heart he'd never turn on his own men, he also recognized he wasn't fully in control of himself. He handed over his rifle, sword, and shield reluctantly. "Sir, since I'm disarmed, do you want me to just head back to the SPA?"
Back in the capitol of Kharul...
Ghi led Mary into the darkened storefront. It looked ghastly with different animal parts and portions laid out in a refrigerated display case. Heads of recently deceased creatures staring up at her with deadened eyes. She shuddered.
"Come, come quickly," Ghi said, "down these steps." He lifted a trap door in the floor, ushering her into a hollow beneath which opened into a cavernous room under the surface. "You said it was Shyna who sent you here?"
"Yes, sir."
"And what is your name?"
"I'm Mary."
Ghi fumbled in a nearby desk, retrieving a ring full of colorful keys. She watched him, still not knowing why she was sent here, or how he was related to Shyna. She did not feel endangered however.
Settling upon a blue key, he pulled it off of the ring, holding it up to the dim light. "Aha, this is the one." Again, he waved her further into the underground hall. "Let's get you into the right positioning zone."
Mary cocked her head at his words. Positioning zone?
Maximilian was sitting in his pavilion when one of his men came with a report.
”Sir, we saw some sort of fire fly into the sky. It seemed to be somewhat close by. Should we investigate?” The man asked.
”Don’t trouble me with distractions captain. I trust you to investigate and bring me any interesting news you may find. Send out a few squads if needed.” Maximilian said, not even looking back. The captain saluted and then headed with the men towards the nearby hill.
”Spread out and look around. That flare came from over here.” They said in Londranii
LunaKimXo[2738137] · #303
"i dont even know whats happening anymore kid" J said to Kelly
"first, told to move south. then chhopping about. now we're here. and i dont even know where here is" he sighed, looking around whilst sat in the jeep
Captain Arthur Campbell was sat around the fire he had put together, his backpack next to him, rifle laying next to him and helmet resting ontop of it as he ate a can from his supplies while looking at the picture of his squad. He proceeded to out the can down and hold the picture with two hands, turning it over and reading the date it was signed: the day before the campaign began. He wondered what the date and year must be where he is, putting the photograph away and continuing to eat his can of food. Once he had finished it, he carefully put it back with the other supplies in his bag instead of discarding it, making it harder for anyone following him to do so. Arthur began to hum a song he heard on the radio with his squad to himself: 'Wrappin' it up' by Benny Goodman, a favourite of Arthur's and his squad, humming the tune to himself while putting out the fire, putting his helmet and backpack back on, slinging his rifle and beginning to walk. Unbeknownst to many, Arthur was quite the music enthusiast, being a massive fan of classical, swing and country, knowing many songs from all three categories, singing them to cheer up his squad when tines were tough.
While walking, Campbell's mind began to wander again, thinking about his squad and family, wondering how they were both doing, worrying he won't be able to see them again. The photograph of his family and the letters from them gave him reassurance they'd be okay, also knowing that his family can protect themselves, knowing how to hunt and provide for each other. The photograph of his squad also gave him reassurance they'd be able to fend for themselves, fighting the Italians despite his absence and doing the right thing: protecting each other and fighting bravely. Arthur began to hum the tune to 'The Shot-Gun Boogie' by Tennessee Ernie Ford, another one of his favourites and particularly a favourite with his squad. He stopped humming when he heard multiple footsteps nearby, unslinging his rifle and readying it to fire. Arthur approached the noise, crouched and out of sight, seeing multiple figures searching where he was. They were armed basic medieval weaponry and armour, making it easy for them to drop dead if Campbell decided to shoot. There was a little hill where a bush resided so Arthur crawled to it and made sure he was all hidden within the bush, slowly and quietly drawing his Webley to keep his rifle hidden. He listened to their conversations but couldn't make out what they were saying, recognising it to be a language he'd never heard before. All he knew was they were looking for him and he didn't know what they would do to him so Arthur made it his mission to stay hidden... but how long could he keep it up for?
*Strange first grabbed Teo, and had him escort Roger, politely, to the town guard headquarters and ask them to secure him in their building, with all the privileges given to a wounded soldier. When it was explained that he had a wound of the mind, they nodded knowingly, and took him to a spacious cell. Food, water, a slate, and chalk were provided to allow him to look after and entertain himself if he needed too.
Strange then set about to tasking his other men. To Tom and a few soldats, he gave the job of assembling Brens, loading magazines, getting them placed in the towers, and instructing yankees in their use. This he expected to take awhile.
To Lorenzo, he gave command of the relief force, and as such, charged him with charting a familiarizing himself with routes to any point on the walls, all of the gates, and all of the towers, as well as making sure that chargers for the Breda was loaded, as well as that the Fiat 8mm on the SPA.
Finally, Strange himself took on the job of considering options, and getting buckets of water on the walls, as well as making sure that the routes to the town wells were marked and known, in case there was a fire.
When this was done, it was late at night, and he went to the pub to reflect. There, he found Gator and the dwarven bartender commiserating over pints, and helped himself to one of them as he sat down. They had apparently bonded at once, presumably over being basically crazy. *
"Well, are we gonna buy the farm boss?" *Gator asked. Strange shrugged.*
"We could. We've covered most of the bases. We'll have to see how their first attack goes, and make decisions from there. " *Strange mused between swigs. *
*The dwarf pulled his beard, and made an inquiry.* "You sound like there is still something you want, mountain lad. Speak it, maybe we have ideas! Bigger problems than death have been solved at the pub!"
*The dwarf was a boisterous soul, and Strange couldn't help but be cheered up by him. He toasted the dwarf before speaking again. * "Well, we've got a weapon that can chew through any siege equipment they might make here and roll up on us. "
"You mean the fifty, right?" *Gator asked, and strange nodded. *
"Yeah, the problem is that the fifty is heavy, and takes awhile to get places. I'm thinking two...rams or whatever, at the same time could be a problem. " *The other two nodded over their glasses. Strange continued speaking. * "I was thinking bottle bombs at first. " *When this was greeted with perplexed looks, he elaborated. * "You know, petrol bombs, fire bottles, I've heard guys who were on the eastern front call them molotovs. A bottle filled with something that'll burn, you tie a flaming rag around it and throw it. It breaks, flammable stuff goes everywhere, problem goes away."
*The two looked enthused.* "Well lets bloody make some!" *The dwarf exclaimed. What do you need for them? Besides bottles, I suppose, I've got plenty of empty bottles." *He said this last phrase with a certain pride. Strange gave a hard shrug as he finished his glass, and poured another from a keg resting on the counter. *
"Can't find anything to make them out of. Found a few barrels of pine tar, but that's too thick, would only be good for about a third of the mix to make it sticky. Need something like petrol and we can't afford to use any of that. "
*Gator then chimed in. * "You think spirits would work boss?"
"I suppose they would, but I don't think there are any in town." *The dwarf nodded sadly. The three sat in silence for a moment, before gator looked up to sleep, and realized that Strange had fallen dead asleep. Gator whispered to the dwarf they should talk around back, and let Strange sleep, as he had been real busy all day. The barkeep nodded. They crept around the back room of the shop, and talked secretively amongst the barrels and vats. *
"You ever do any distilling feller?" *Gator asked. The dwarf nodded in response. * "Well, why don't we just build a god-dang still then? We can just make some spirits up real quick!" *The dwarf nodded more enthusiastically, and the two got to work.
The first thing that was requisitioned was a pile of copper sheeting, used for the flashing around windows and eves, from the local carpenter. It was the middle of the night and it was for a good cause, so there was no reason to wake him. The next thing was a long wooden trough from one of the local stables, and after that, a large brass kettle from the back of a merchant's wagon. Finally, a length of iron pipe, used to drain the gutter on the roof of one of the towers, was liberated and put into service. The two worked, and drank, with great industry, assembling their creation in a small yard behind the Dwarf's pub. Flashing was crimped into a chamber above the cauldron which funneled into the iron pipe. The pipe was submerged in the water filled trough, raised on a makeshift platform to be the same height as the funnel. This pipe was given a downward spout with some more of the flashing, which angled towards a thin rod of copper which until recently had been used to stir brew vats. The end of this rested in a waiting cedar tub, which had been a wash basin until recently.
A gone off batch of barley mash was to be their first run, and a fire was lit under the cauldron. The lost battalion had official entered into the moonshine business..*
*Strange awoke to an overwhelming smell. He had been very nearly hit by a British 15 pounder HE shell in North Africa, and had blacked out. The smell of the smelling salts that had been used to bring him back to the world of the living was forever etched into his brain. He had a breif, intrusive thought that he'd never felt quite the same after that near miss before the odor dragged him back into his living body. He was still in the the pub, he blinked his eyes and the shapes before him solidified into a drunk looking Gator, and an arguably even drunker looking dwarf. The dwarf was waving a murky, oily, brown bottle under his nose. He slurred out a sentence and Strange became cognizant of what exactly was going on. *
"ISh this...what you werrrr hopin' for?"
*Strange nodded as he looked at the bottle.*
"I think so, but what did you use to make it?"
*Gator gave an unnaturally broad smile. * "We built us a still, boss."
*Strange gave kind of a slow nod. * "Ethanol then.That explains the condition of you gentlemen. "
"Had to make shure it was a quality product...nothin' cheap in my place!" *The dwarf exclaimed. Strange smiled. It was an impressive show of initiative, if perhaps not the most disciplined operation in military history. *
(Hey all, IRL has hit me hard and I’ve been more busy than usual lately. I’m gonna try and make a really long all encompassing post this evening. That way everyone can carry on. I like this RP and don’t want it to die lol)
LunaKimXo[2738137] · #308 · edited
"alright sir... whats happening... where d'ya want our squad at?" Jameson asks. no responce.
the small team waited by the jeep and looked. aimlessly. it was a small town. well. it looked small but was pretty easily defencible. a few ridgelines to the south. a fall back position? or sniper spot for the team.
either way. they were waiting. didnt know what for. but they were waiting for something. just needed orders.
The morning of battle approached, and with it, the men of Pa-Mai. They armed themselves and marched out in formation, surrounding the town. However, before the order to attack was given, General Keng sent an envoy forward. He carried a white flag and held a scroll case. He waited to be let in through the gate. He exclaimed he was there to negotiate.
Pyter watched as the gates were opened and the envoy came inside. The Governor met the man, took the scroll, and with a quick bow the man was gone. Pyter walked over to the governor.
”What does it say?” Pyter asked.
”They ask we leave the town. They offer for our people to leave with as many of our possessions as we can carry. No weapons shall be carried… and no retaliation against us as we go. Quite generous terms indeed.” The governor commented, stroking his stubble.
”I agree….though that leads me to ask why they’d let us go like this.” Pyter inquired.
”Well, if they wish to conquer the country they have many more cities and settlements between here and the capital. Best to strain the countries supplies by caring for refugees.” The governor commented.
“I believe the citizens and I will be taking this offer. Perhaps we can make a better defense as we flee south, at some better city.” The governor commented.
Ghi guided Mary to a small, underground room. It was minimally furnished, but there was a large screen on the wall that appeared to be a security system. Images of different locations in the butcher shop and surrounding it were rotating by. No people were in the scenes, Mary surmised, due to the time of night.
"Is that your security system?" she inquired.
Ghi nodded. He handed Mary the colored key. "This will give you access to and from this room, and the shop, should you need it. There is a series of underground tunnels that connect the Palace to points within the capitol. These keys are assigned to the 'keepers' of the city."
"Keepers?" Mary asked.
"Yes, the keepers. The ancient order. The secret ones that serve the Royals. I am one of them, and I am entrusting you with this key. I can track where you go with it, but it will also grant you secure access and right of passage to spaces inaccessible from the surface."
Mary was confused, feeling anxious, and still wondering about Roger and the battalion.
"Are we at war?" she pressed.
"This is more than a war. This is the unfolding of destiny."
*Strange stood on the gate as he watched the negotiator trot off back to his lines. That was a bit of a pickle. If they were being legitimate, then it was a good opportunity for the battalion. It wasn't really their fight after all. But if it was a trap, they gave up their defensive advantage, and could be slaughtered in the open. He huffed into his mustache. After a moment of contemplation, he commented down to wood and the governor. *
"Best be sure of that choice, Sir. They have us surrounded. If they intended to let you go freely after surrender, why do they feel the need to hem us in? Seems...suspect to me. "
*Lorenzo stood with some the other Soldats in the town square. He was feeling a little jumpy, but nothing like these kids were. He took a pull off his canteen as he looked them over. Kids. Just kids, 17, 18 or 19 years old. The army had been drafting like crazy ever since allied boots had touched down in Sicily. They were narrow chested skinny armed boys, but the government saw fit to give them rifles and throw them into the fray. He'd been in the army since 1935, deployed first to the invasion of Ethiopia, absolute mess that had been. He'd heard about a year ago that some of the fellows stuck down there had been fighting a guerrilla war against the British forces that had over run it early in the war. He was glad he'd gotten out and been sent to Libya when he had been.
Lorenzo must have looked like he was spacing out, as one of the young soldats tugged on his arm. *
"You alright Lorenzo?" *He asked. The boy looked terrified, truth be told. Lorenzo gave a nod and took another drink. *
"Doing fine, but I guess I've been trapped by a superior force more times than you boys have. How're you doing? Holding it together?"
*The boy nodded that he was fine, but his eyes were clearly not. * "Yeah, great. No smokes and the word around is that barbarians are going to chop us up with axes and swords, so doing fine, just excellent. "
*Lorenzo gave a small laugh at this. * "You think the swords and axes are bad? I'd rather take on axes than American artillery. At least you can see these fellows coming. "
"Well, yes I suppose that's true. But there are thousands of them, and we are trapped in here! " *The young soldat said. Lorenzo shrugged.*
"Surrounded? Sure, but what good will it do them? They advance, we mow them down. They try to reposition, we mow them down, the sneak up to the walls, we grenade them. This'll be fine. They've got numbers sure, but we've got a plan, and a plan is worth a great deal." *Lorenzo agreed with about a third of what he was saying, but he had learned something important from his time in the service. It was infinitely better than to follow a half baked plan with major flaws, than to run off without one. *
Roger anxiously awaited the attack. Helpless, locked in a small room at the guard's house because everyone thought he was possessed. Maybe he was. He had no idea what was going on since he had seen Mary, and that Queen. His eyes lost focus as he stared at the wall, as his mind drifted to the nurse he had grown fond of, wondering if she was all right, or if it was just a dream.
It couldn't have been a dream, I'm here, aren't I? And I'm healed. I know things that I couldn't possibly know. How is that? Am I losing my mind?
"No. Your mind is expanded," came a foreign voice in his head.
Roger stiffened, frozen in his chair. Knowing he heard a voice that wasn't his own. Listening for it to continue. But only silence.
I'm losing my effing mind.
"You are not. You are in your highest state of mind. The optimum functioning of a human being. You will lead your people home."
Roger felt a strong shiver through his body, and all tension suddenly released. His eyes rolled back into his skull and he slid from his chair, slumping to the ground.
LunaKimXo[2738137] · #314 · edited
Rocco was walking through the camp. trying to find something to be occupied... he hated the anticipation thats when he walked past one of the soldiers. just as he passed, the soldier slid out of the chair, the noise made him look back but when he realized...
"Can you hear me?" he kneeled infront of the soldier. his pulse was elivated. there was something up with him. he couldn't tell what.
"MEDIC!"
~~~~~~~~~
there was only one other operation that kelly had been on other than this current situation on the island.
Taking over an old village for use as an FOB in africa. the crew was a complete scout team - stealth... a quiet night raid.
"i have a look of the land... make a move on the village... go" Rock put a supressor on his gun. making sure that the team would've been covered if something happened.
there was also a sixth member of the band. Johnny. he died by an explosion.
"clear out that house!" Jameson whispered "Varrio... keep by me"
"Team moving over." Kelly, alex and Johnny moved over to the house.
"I got the door" Johnny moved closer to the door. the other two, a few metres away.
"WAIT!" Alex tried to stop J but it was too late. the door blew up.
"Damnit..." Rocco redied his sniper. Jameson and Varrio checked on kelly and alex. they were fine.
Kelly got up. She was breathing heavily. her sight slightly blurred. but she could tell Johnny was on the floor infront of her. "Johnny?!"
The alarm kicked in. She went over to him. there were burn marks on his face and right arm. he was gone.
"We need to get out of here... NOW!" the four ran back. rocco taking out most of the italian forces whilst the team fell back.
and that was it... they were pulled from africa. and sent on a plane back to the UK for re-assignment... thats when the plane was shot down and the team arrived at the island.
Queen Savarah made her way, in disguise, through the underground tunnels, to Ghi's butchery. She needed to see that Mary was safe, and also needed to deliver, in person, the next steps in the plan to defend Kharul to her most trusted keeper.
They may have one this first battle, but they are far from winning the war, she thought. Her guards trailed closely behind as the Queen, shrouded in veils, turned left, then right, then right again. Eventually entering the cell block of colored rooms. She passed the red, the green, the purple... then the blue. She paused, and waved her hands before her, chanting some strange incantation. Once she finished, she removed her veils and Shyna was the face beneath them. But only in appearance and voice. It was a glamour spell, to get Mary to spill.
(I'm officially going to call this one off. It was a ton of fun and I loved world-building with you all but it was, narratively, a very tough story to handle. I want to respect character agency while also having characters have consequences for their actions. And since I couldn't really kill/maim/injure other characters besides my own it severely limits storytelling in some ways. Make no mistake, I had a blast. But I just kind of ran out of ideas and steam.)