Just then the others returned and began to report. Gad, Carter, and Malachi walked in with grim faces.
Gad started “Sir it looks like Asrana walked into a shit show. That’s likely why we didn’t hear from her. She arrived to find her veterans had all be rotated out for other bases and she had a whole cohort of green troops. She had to start with basic training for almost everyone here.”
Carter picked up the report, “Stores are low sir, looks like this base had been slowly drained of its stockpiles and did not get the last shipment. They have rations for about 2 days when they should have at least a month’s supply here. Gear is in bad shape as well. If the reports are accurate, the anti-air is the only thing supplied. The other ammo supplies are an absolute minimum to not trigger alerts to anyone not familiar with this base's minimum standards. If it were anywhere else these levels might pass as minimal, but for this base, and its loca
Several hours later, the lead car with Jackson and Gad slowed and everyone could start to hear gunfire. They gunned the vehicles and come to a large clearing with an old stone house and several outbuildings including a stone windmill. Andrew could see that a good number of troops were pinned in the house, and a few more were returning fire from the windmill. One of their vehicles was flipped on the far approach.“ok team, local comm to comm should work here even if they are jamming anything as distance.” Said Malachi, checking his radio equipment“let’s clear a path in,” said Andrew.Thankfully, this side of the enemy flank was thin and as they advanced, they were able to punch through the enemy line after only a few rounds with the mounted machineguns. However, as they approached the house, they saw their pinned unit of troops waving them off. They didn’t understand until they arrived and what they thought had been a weak poi
When everyone was set, it was decided to leave Jackson behind to provide cover and stay in charge of the field base. His sniper would keep all but the dumbest from advancing, and the other five gunners would take care of ones who did advance. The remaining 20 battle-ready men took up positions. 6 would be needed to start treating the wounded and loading the wounded into transports for when the team returned. The others fanned out to cover each direction. Four would drive the vehicles for the gods of war as they advanced.In a burst of speed, the four vehicles launched forward and drive through a week spot in the lines to the northwest. There was enough of a trail to suggest this was a path to something, but what was unclear. Arrows bounced around them and a few stray shots come from the two snipers, but that just gave their position away to Jackson who quickly took out one of them. Men on foot were not much of a match for armored vehicles so most kept their distance. Wh
Back in Tiranë, it was getting late and approaching midnight.“Any news?” Asked Lord Reva.Kage frowned and looked at the report in his hand. “My lord, all of our eyes in Durres report that the goddess departed on her motorbike shortly after breakfast. She should have been here mid-afternoon. There have been no other sightings of her, and most were no longer focused on her once she left. No one has spotted her entering Tiranë.”“Dam. She was even apologetic when I talked to her this morning. Said she was going to head back right away. I should have sent that squad of guardsmen regardless. Could something have happened to her on the road?”“Sir while I guess it is possible, let us not underestimate her. She is a goddess of war for a reason. Also, it is worth mentioning that my spies say that Andrew guy was seen heading to the airport in Durres shortly after Anika left. Seems he was in a rush.” Said
Deep in the mountains north of Verril, Andrew and the gods of war silently approached the cave entrance from the far left. Malachi and Asrana flanked left to clear up and behind the cave, planning to come in and flank the far side, with Andrew and Anika flanking right clearing everything in front of the cave. Carter and Nash went right up the middle to assault the three entrance guards.Anika and Andrew found the bulk of the guards who were right at the edge of the trees. At first, they didn’t realize anyone was there until Anika snapped the neck of one and had a long knife sinking through the throat of another. Andrew took out another with a knife under the chin into the brain before two others spotted them.The guards raised crossbows and fired. Bolts zipped at Anika who still had her knife embedded and trapped in her latest kill. Andrew flicked his wrist and a small knife tinged off the bolt, changing its trajectory a mere inch to Anika’s left. The secon
Anika rushed outside to find Andrew and the team in a pitched battle. Another 20 soldiers had appeared being led by a huge hulking commander.“ok team, we need to get back to Jackson and the others. Hopefully, Gad and Zev were able to clear a path for us because we will be doing this on foot.”Malachi, carter, and Asrana each eyed one another and then the enemy in front of them.Anika was pissed and said, “you don’t expect to leave that woman in there do you?”“Were you able to break the chains?” asked Andrew.“Well no. but we cant just leave her.” Pleaded Anika.Andrew gestured to the advancing army unit “I don’t want to but unless we can defeat all of these we are going to be hard-pressed to make it out alive ourselves.”Anika glanced around and tossed the book to Asrana. “Read fast, see if you can find a way to break those chains, the rest of us will buy
When the three transports pulled up to the gate in the wall, it did not immediately open. Jackson jumped on the comms “What the hell guys, let us in!” The reply came “you will have to code in, Colonel Manaski said no one in or out without authorization.” “Manaski? I thought we left with lieutenant colonel Gerald in charge,” muttered Zev. Asrana winced. “When I left it was General Henric…. He was my 1-star general and a great commander.” Jackson turned back to the comm, “fine what code in do you want? We have wounded and hostiles on our tail.” The watch sergeant replied by yelling down, “This is Watch Sergeant Shults, please code in with rank and designation. Andrew grabbed the comm, “Gold Dragon, Mike, Alpha 01, open the god’s dammed gate before I…” ‘Andrew!!’ Raya chided quickly, cutting him off mid-sentence. ‘decorum, please!’ her tone was half playful, half-serious. He was here officially after all.
“Asrana, Nash, go see the healer. The rest of you can go as well if you have injuries. Jackson, gad, Zev if you are good, remain here ”“What! You can't just send people around my….” The colonel trailed off as he listed to the names being called out. He knew those names…. Every officer, and likely every serving man in the whole kingdom would know those names… “base…. Asrana? THEE Asrana?” the colonel choked out, turning pale in realization of who stood before him.‘Of course, that thick skull of his would recognize Asrana but none of the rest of you. This reaction should be priceless,’ said Raya.Asrana, who was about to walk out, glared at Colonel Manaski. “Yes, THEE Asrana. As in your superior officer! Look around you, numbskull! Take a good hard look at the faces around you!” and with that, she walked out to find a healer. None of the guardsmen were dumb enough to
Back in Durres, upon landing, Andrew said goodbye to Anika and called Miss Croft to arrange a car.“I can have Roisin come get you. She managed to get a car while you were away.” Miss Croft said.A few minutes later Roisin and the driver Donnel pulled up in a brand new car.When Roisin got out to greet Andrew, she noticed Alexa behind him, hiding in the shadows. Andrew greeted her kindly and quickly got into the car. Roisin turned to Alexa and asked “You are with Andrew? Are you coming along?”Alexa looked around nervously. She had never been away from the temple in Dragarth, at least until she was kidnapped, and those days would haunt her for a long time to come. Now she was in an entirely unknown place with unknown people.“Umm yes, with Andrew..” she said awkwardly, her Dragard language skills clearly not native.“Well come on, we will take care of you.” Said Roisin gesturing to the car. Wha