"They have some of those man-dogs present, and those spiky helmed ones. I believe they are like Burgurk. I believe I see their commander. I can't make out too much; what do the letters ISS mean?"
Auriel creeps towards the command vehicle, hoping to get inside.
Before getting behind Jonis answers Shakti.
"I see you are uniquely gifted for lending us a hand! I am Jonis Witta, Glitter Girl Pilot, heiress of the NEMAs warrior women. I am at your service and at the service of good, justice and freedom."
She will stay behind, letting them scout ahead.
Auriel takes his time moving as quietly as he can towards the gathering of troops. He gets pretty far, attempting to skirt around as many patrols as he can, but in this case, his luck runs out. As he reaches the halfway point, about half a mile from the main camp, he accidentally steps into a clearing as a patrol rounds the corner. Two CS Dead Boys level their rifles at him. "Hold it right there! Slowly come out with your hand in the air."
"Auriel, the chances of making it all the way to the command vehicle are very small, and their forces are very large. As much as my blood is screaming to rush into battle, let's come up with a plan first."
Turning to Shakti, he says "No, those in the spiked helmets are my race's sworn enemies. Both they and the Dog Boys can sense my mere presence from a distance. I'm afraid I won't be able to get very close to the camp without giving myself away."
"Greetings. I am here to speak to your commander." says Auriel as the soldiers aim their weapons at him. "I'm from Garrett Town, and we're trying to figure out what is going on out here, since you're still within our town's purview and you have a lot of troops here. I'd hate for us to fight each other over what ammounts to a misunderstanding."
The two soldiers exchange glances through their helmets and then turn to look at Auriel. "Or," one of them says, "we shoot you right here and no one ever knows. Surely, Garnet Town would have sent more than one of you as an..umm.. env..ambas.. whatever."
Jonis is waiting some distance away...
"Foolish. If he'd wished to cause a confrontation, he should have struck while the element of surprise was retained. Are you in communication with him? Perhaps you should ask if he wishes us to attack. If not, I could provide a distraction, should he wish cover to withdraw.”
Hearing at least Auriel's side of the conversation , Burgurk says over comms "Auriel, do you want us to provide a diversion for you to escape, or should we attack, or what?"
"My apologies Burgurk for equating you with them. I meant only that I have observed that like you, those with the spiked helms are not so... mentally limited, as most I have encountered in this place."
One of the soldiers shrugs and the other points to Auriel. "He's not carrying any weapons. Let's just take him to see the Captain." At once the other starts towards Auriel with handcuffs and unless he resists, binds him and they start marching toward the camp...
"<<I should be fine, but keep listening regardless.>>" says Auriel quietly over the comms.
He does not resist as the coalition soldiers handcuff him.
"I dislike this. Why is he going with them? We should send a decisive message to drive them away, or find the means by which to force them to do so. Is going to deliver them an ultimatum? It might have been better to strike them unawares. They have the advantage in both numbers and firepower; surprise is presently our only advantage!
As the rest of you discuss what to do, Auriel is taken out of sight ...
The camp is definitely well defended. The two soldiers are part of at least a company size unit, all of which is collecting here in the middle of the forest. The Coalition is definitely up to something here. The guards take you to a junior officer, Lieutenant Sharmin, according to the nameplate. After they salute, he addresses you.
"Well, a D-Bee found wandering around the woods in Coalition territory. Apparently these two thought you might be worth something rather than just burning a hole through your head. So? Where are the others?"
Burgurk says to Shakti "Like you, I yearn for battle, but look at how many soldiers , Psi-Stalkers, and Dog-Boys they have down there. I am not so full of bloodlust that I will take on a fight I cannot hope to win."
Over comms, he says "Jonis, what are your thoughts?".
Shakti whispers to Burgurk, "You'll notice I am still here. If I thought I defeat them six handed, I would have attacked already."
Jonis voice sounds worried.
"Let's see if he can reason with them. If they attack him, then we go to the rescue. I just hope it doesn't come to that."
"As I told your soldiers, I am here representing Garnettown. You are approaching dangerously close to our territory, so I was sent here to determine what you were doing and make sure that you weren't attempting an attack on our town, as we recently allied ourselves with the Tomorrow Legion and I would hate for hostilities to break out over a miscommunication. Were you planning to attack our town, or can I return and let them know you mean us no harm?"
Lieutenant Sharmin dismiss the other two soldiers with a wave of his hand. They salute and return to their posts. After they are out of earshot, he speaks. "We are a couple of miles from what is considered Garnet Town, so it is actually outside of your purview. What we do here, in contested territory is none of your concern, as Garnet Town is not our target. Today." Then, as he is sure no one is watching, he takes a glove partially off and Auriel can see a distinctive tattoo, the staked heart. Replacing the glove, he continues.
He then waves his hand catching two troopers' attention. "You two, take this thing and get it out of my sight. Make sure to remind him he is not welcome here." The two CS Dead Boys salute and grab Auriel's shoulders to escort him out of the camp...
"I am an undead slayer of house Acherean. You should know that threatening me will not help you."
Auriel makes no attempt to resist as he is lead back out of the camp.
From your high perch, the rest of you watch as Auriel is led back out of the camp by two soldiers, each taking turns hitting him with the butts of their rifles to press him along. It is apparent that they are not pleased with having to let him go.
Waving at the coalition soldiers as they return to camp as nicely as he can, Auriel returns to the group and shares what he learned. "Interestingly enough, a member of my people is among the Coalition troops there. I do not know what his intent is, but this is curiouser and curiouser. We should return and inform the mayor of the coalition's intent."
"Do we know their intent? There were parts spoken in a language I do not know, but what I heard mentioned nothing of what they are too g here."
"That was my native language." says Auriel.
"I didn't know the Coalition accepted Atlanteans on their mist."
"Granted, I assumed you could understand the language seeing as you were of of the people speaking it. Did you learn what they are doing here?"
"Something covert, and likely not related to the Coalition at all."
"Is this the coalition you are talking about, or your kinsman? I am starting to wonder if you are truly misunderstanding me, or are trying to play me the fool. Do you or do you not know what the Coalition is doing here?"
Jonis puts a hand on Shakti's shoulder.
"Auriel is a valued ally. He is not trying to fool you. You are among friends now. He will explain as well as he understands the situation we face."
"I do not know what they are doing here, but as I mentioned it appears that one of my people have infiltrated the Coalition forces and is directing them towards a different mission. It is odd, though, that he threatened me." muses Auriel.
Over the radio, Jonis asks:
"Do we shadow them to know what they are doing?"
"They seem to be entrenched in an encampment, I doubt they as a whole will be going anywhere soon. And trying to follow individuals on scouting missions would tend to be risky - witness how easily Auriel was spotted."
They have done a pretty good job of clearing a space around their camp that makes it hard to sneak around in. If I could use magic, I would likely have just created a disguise to make me look like a Coalition soldier."[/b]
As if to emphasize Burgurk's point, two Skycycles followed by two SAMAS fly overhead. They seem to be on a mission to the East of you.
"What if we were to capture and interrogate some scouts? An officer would be better, but we might discern something of the Coalitions aims from their assignments."
"And they would probably see that as a direct attack on them, and retaliate against us AND the town. At least, that's what I would do."
"Only if they report back that it was us. If they merely disappeared, the others would investigate, but nothing need be found. This is a dangerous land."
"Alternatively, they need not believe it was us. If they believed a natural beast of these lands had taken their men, then any investigation would likely be cursory at best. If I were to take one while in the form of such a creature, even a witness would not think to blame you or your shiny-rock town."
"I don't think attacking them is wise. I have sworn to protect the people of Garnettown until relieved, and that is what I intend to do."
"As you wish. I am the foreigner here, I shall follow your lead."
"Shall we return to the village then?"
"Yes, I feel that we should warn Garnettown."
The return to Garnet Town is relatively simple, though the pair of aurochs you spot warring with each other over mating rights of a doe is something you don't see in nature much with the world as changed as it is. Taking time to appreciate the scene, Shakti goes into a story.
The return to Garnet Town is relatively simple, though the pair of aurochs you spot warring with each other over mating rights of a doe is something you don't see in nature much with the world as changed as it is. Taking time to appreciate the scene, Shakti goes into a story.
Heading back to Garnet Town, you notice that the few town guards you have seem on edge when they allow you back into town. "Heard somethin' real disturbin' was comin' for us. Has folks all worked up. You know somethin' about it?"
"It should be fine, but there are some things that we'll need to share with your mayor." says Auriel reassuringly.
Once the group is past the guards, Auriel will say to the group "For now, please do not mention that my people are involved in the coalition. I'd hate for them it to cast doubt on what we're doing here."