The Red Hand

Chapter 481 – Pest Extermination.

"Gold team, this is Brass Leader reporting in. Captain Runedge, we've got eyes on the main highway into Dol'Kitrun. Looks like several dozen creatures are transiting and out of the Fortress with what look like containers of some kind, over." A voice crackled over the small magical 'radio' that the Commander had hooked to his torso alongside half a dozen other odd items. He and a small team of four other similarly clad men were slowly making their way through a partially collapsed tunnel that, per their records, would lead them into an abandoned section of the Fortress.

"Brass team, keep your distance and update us on enemy movements. I want to know the instant anything seems off about their comings and goings. Gold Team, continue your sweep of the caverns above the Fortress and be prepared to rappel down as scheduled, over." Captain Runedge replied to them over the 'radio' as he and his team flicked down what looked like night vision goggles which went to show just how advanced the Dwarves of Enoris really were.

Brass and Gold Team took two different entry points into the Fortress and both were equipped with experimental explosive devices intended to level the entire base. Each team held enough explosives individually to get the job done, but splitting up into two groups and taking separate entry points reduced the risk that they'd be wiped out entirely and cause the mission to fail. The primary objective was to plant these explosives at what the Dwarves believed was the opening through which the Monsters originated and close it with rubble. During the earliest period of the invasion, the monsters breached from deep under the mountain beneath Dol'Kitrun and flooded out of a giant opening. Dwarven leadership presumed that sealing that opening would stop the flow of reinforcements and allow them to slowly eliminate the Monsters that had already passed through, a strategy they'd done before with relative success.

"Rodger that. We'll be in position when you need us, over." Gold Leader replied.

"Now we just need to hope these passages are as deserted and unguarded as our scouts said." Captain Runedge said in a whisper as he and his team slowly made their way through the dark tunnel. This area was once an emergency escape passage way to allow evacuation of the Fortress in case of siege, but due to shifting tectonic movements, it became unstable and was sealed off via forced cave-ins. The only reason Gold Team could get this far through the dangerous cave was due to specialized magical tools that allowed easy molding and reinforcing of the bedrock, as it would otherwise collapse further if ordinary explosives were used.

"Tremor readings are normal, Captain." One of the men holding what looked like a small 'drill' with a 'radar' attached to it said to the Captain. "But there's another collapsed junction just up ahead so we'd best move slowly."

"How far from the emergency exit are we?" Captain Runedge asked as his men stopped in front of a large cave-in and got to work using Earth magic channeled through the 'drill' to part the rocks and create a path forward.

*WIRRRR*

"It should be just past this collapse." The Dwarf holding the 'drill' said as the rocks began to shift and warp themselves as the device touched them, forming a gap that was wide enough to pass through. "At the current pace, we'll be in position at the scheduled time, Captain."

"If we keep Gold team waiting too long, Galard might just blow the whole thing without us." Another Dwarf on the team chuckled as the five of them slowly squeezed through the passageway, careful not to disturb the wall lest it come down on their heads. Their newly created passage way would hold for some time in its molded position due to reinforcement magic, but these Dwarves knew well that there was always the risk of catastrophe, especially on a mission such as this.

After what felt like hours, the five-man team emerged on the other side of the collapse and found themselves face to face with a large stone door built into the bedrock. It had no handles or visible methods of opening it, owing to the fact that it was never intended to be opened from this side to begin with.

"Command wasn't kidding when they said these runes were tough." The Dwarf holding the 'drill' said as he examined the door with his hand, channeling magic to examine the complex series of magic that held it shut. The weave used by the Dwarves to seal this escape was quite the feat of magical engineering and would take even a seasoned mage days to crack. "These are even more complex than some of the runes protecting the main Gates to the Capital."

"This door was a weak point, and the designers knew it. Those runes were intended to deflect blasts as powerful as Dragon's breath to prevent an invading enemy from getting inside the emergency exit." Captain Runedge said as he walked up alongside the other Dwarf. "And considering the kind of monsters we've been dealing with, even that level of protection might not be enough. Can you get it open?"

"Long enough for us to sweep the lower level and plant the charges." The Dwarf holding the 'drill' chuckled. "It's going to be cutting it real close, Captain."

"It wouldn't be one of our assignments if it weren't a suicide mission." The older Dwarf on the team quipped with a small laugh that the others joined in with.

"Gold Team, we're preparing to breach. Status report? Are you in position for descent? Over." Captain Runedge reached out over his 'radio'

*CRACKLE*

"Gold Team, report in." Captain Runedge received no reply, only hearing static. For thirty agonizing seconds, all he could hear was the crackle of magical interference; he and his men feared the worst until a muffled voice came over the 'radio.'

"This is Gold Leader, sorry about the delay. We ran into an enemy patrol in the cavern. I shut comms off until they passed. We are in position and ready to descend as scheduled." Gold Leader replied, which relieved some of Captain Runedge's stress.

"We're entering now. Brass Team, any updates before we enter the Fortress? Over." Captain Runedge radioed the third team that was intended to keep watch on everything from a distance.

"Negative, the creatures have shown no signs of changing their current pattern. Supplies are continually being brought into the base, and there is no indication you've been compromised, over." Brass Leader replied.

"Then let's do this." Captain Runedge nodded to the Dwarf with the 'drill', who channeled magical power into the door, which slowly slid upward and revealed a dark and dusty armory filled with rusty weapons that were left behind when this part of the Fortress was sealed off. It was truly an eerie sight, especially since this passage way hadn't been used in a very long time.

"Rune Suppression will last no longer than ten minutes." The Dwarf that opened the door said as they slowly entered, each pulling out what looked like small, silenced steampunk-esque pistols. “Any longer than that, and we're going to have a bit of a problem.”

"The target location is one floor below us. We'll meet Gold Team in the abandoned barracks and plant the charges. Both sets together will collapse the Fortress and bedrock into the tunnel below and seal it. Let's go." Captain Runedge said as his small team quickly but carefully moved out of the armory and made their way down the dusty hallways. This part of the Fortress had been sealed off for decades before the recent monster invasion, and they expected no resistance as they made their way down given that nobody should know of this part of the fortress let alone monsters.

Creeping through the cobweb and slime infested hallways of the fortress was a quiet and eerie experience as the five-man team slowly made their way toward the main staircase and the barracks below. The only thing the men could hear was the beating of their own hearts, a sound that rang in their ears as each tried their best not to make noise lest they alert one of the creatures to their presence.

It only took the team two minutes to descend from the emergency exit to the barracks, though to the men it felt like an eternity due to the palpable tension in the air. Dwarven barracks tended to be on the larger side, especially because Fortresses like Dol'Kitrun which held huge garrisons and could come equipped with a dozen or more sleeping areas for the soldiers. The one they found themselves in was nearly the size of a football field, and massive stone pillars held up the roof above like arms reaching toward the sky.

"Plant the charges on the designated points. Gold Team should be here in less than thirty seconds if they keep to the timetable." Captain Runedge said to his men who spread out to plant the charges and arm them, an action which went without issue. However, Gold Team was nowhere to be seen, and a full minute after their scheduled arrival time, Captain Runedge decided to radio them to find out what the issue was. They were running short on time, and if they didn't leave before the Rune Suppression wore off, they'd be trapped, and using it again was a gamble as it could easily collapse the structural runes that held strengthened that part of the Fortress against the immense weight of the mountain above.

"Gold Team, where are you? We don't have much time. The charges are already armed and counting down." Captain Runedgereached out over the radio, but only heard static. "Dammit. Gold Team, come in."

*CRACKLE*

"They might've run into some of those creatures on the way down." One of the other Dwarves said. "We were split into two teams for this very reason. We need to leave, Captian. The charges are already set."

"I know." Captain Runedge shook his head, lamenting the loss of men he'd known for decades. "Let's get back to the exit while there's-"

*CRACKLE*

"This is Gold Leader, we've reached the barracks and planted our charges already, Captain." Gold Leader's voice crackled through the static, which made the Dwarves feel relief once again.

"That's twice in one day you've given us a scare, Gold Leader." Captain Runedge replied, thankful that they'd survived. "Where are you now? We're heading back the way we came, over."

"Rodger that we're already waiting at the rendezvous point." Gold Leader replied.

"Let's get the hell out of here." Captain Runedge said as his men made their way back the way they came, but as they approached the door to the hallway that would lead them up and out of the Fortress, Gold Team was nowhere to be seen.

"Galard, where are you?" Captain Runedge called out to Gold Team's leader, but received no answer.

"I don't see them anywhere." One of the other Dwarves said as he scanned the area. “No signal on the detector either sir.”

"I have a bad feeling about this." Captain Runedge said as a red flare was shot into the air behind them. "Enemies! Look alive!"

"Enemies? No, it's your good friend Gold Leader." Roxlex said, his voice twisted to mimic the one the Captain had been hearing on the 'radio.' "Didn't I tell you I'd be waiting for you at the rendezvous point?" He smirked as his voice returned to normal.

"Shit, we've been compromised!" Captain Runedge said as his men fired their weapons at Roxlex, who simply stopped their bullets with a magical force field. "Run! We need to get out of here!"

"I'm afraid we can't let you leave this place alive." Sabia said as she stabbed her blade through one of the Dwarves' backs which caught them completely off guard.

"More of them?!?" Captain Runedge spun around just in time to see Sabia withdraw her blade from the Dwarves' back and move out of the way to allow Merkyul to decapitate another one of his men.

*THUNK* *THUNK*

"At least let me have a bit of fun. You know how bored I've been lately." Elna laughed from her perched position on the side of a pillar as she used two Air Bullets to put holes in the two other Dwarves' heads, killing them instantly in a gruesome display of power.

"You bastards." Captain Runedge growled as he looked between his assailants. "Who are you? Are you the ones controlling these creatures?!?"

"We have no reason to answer the questions of dead men." Sabia said as she stepped out of the way of Hitamaguchi, who sliced the Captain in two with her blade, channeling her Smite to vaporize him into a pile of ash.

"And that takes care of that." Merkyul said as he activated his radio. "The intruders have been dealt with."

"And the bombs?" Alice replied through the radio using her Erika voice.

"Banished into my inventory for disposal later." Roxlex answered as he walked over. “Everything went exactly as planned.”

"Good work then. The Ninja's intel about a covert operation was spot on. I'll have to thank Nima later for the tip." Alice replied.

"What do you want us to do about that third team?" Merkyul asked, ready to wipe them out of ordered.

"Leave them. They'll report back that the operation was a failure, which should make things easier for Mama." Alice figured that it would come in handy for Akagi's negotiations if the Dwarves knew their best elite team was destroyed with ease. "Now come back up here, we've got preparations to make for the next push. That Bunny is getting annoying and I've got some ideas about how to bring her down."

_____________________________________________________________________________

"Lord Labrys... Lord Labrys..." Tanya tried again to call out to the Demon Axe via telepathy, but once again received no response. He'd vanished after his clash with Halifax, and while Tanya was aware that Evindal had engaged him, she was not aware that Reflia had taken him as the Goddess' presence severed her connection with her Master before that information could pass through. "Please... Lord Labrys..."

"Lady Tanya, please, you need to get some rest." One of her servants tried to get her to eat something and sleep, but she ignored him. After losing contact with Labrys, Tanya had spent day and night trying to reach him. The other members of the Vikes' Cult in their underground base were beginning to get uneasy, fearing that the loss of Labrys was the end of their organization. Valuru's disappearance not long before Labrys' was also of concern since he and Tanya were the de-facto co-heads of the Cult. With him MIA, Tanya despondent, and the only direct connection to Vikes gone, the Cult was adrift without leadership, something that could easily spell its doom.

"Go away, I don't need any-" Tanya was about to yell at the servant, but a sudden telepathic message stopped her in her tracks.

{Tanya, can you hear me?) (Valuru)

"Valuru?!?" Tanya yelped, shocked to hear his voice. "Where in the Hells have you been?!? You disappeared on me, and now everything's gone wrong!"

{I ran into some issues getting out of Thin Ledhar. The Demon Lord's servants did not make escaping easy, and I had to go dark to avoid detection. I'm approaching the entrance now. Meet me there, and you can get me up to speed on what I've missed. I also have some information that might prove useful.} (Valuru)

"Damn that idiot, always making a mess of things. I'm going to chew him out when he gets down here." Tanya grumbled as she stormed out of her lab and down a set of stairs toward the entrance to their hidden base. The Vikes' Cult had tucked itself in a very hard-to-reach part of the Misty Mountains and used one of its peaks as a hidden entrance. This made it hard to reach while also causing some logistical problems, but also ensured that finding it would be almost impossible when combined with glamour wards to keep unwanted visitors away.

As Tanya made her way toward the large metal door that marked the entrance, she could hear Valuru talking with one of the guards through the door. They had a series of passwords that one would need to provide to ensure that those coming in were actually members of the Cult and not spies.

"Let him in." Tanya told the guard to bypass the normal requirements, and he obliged and opened the door, which led to a dark corridor that was hard to see down due to the minimal lighting.

*HISS* *WIRR* *THUNK*

The door slowly opened as a series of gears twisted and turned to unlock it as a bit of steam hissed from the various values before slowing opening and revealing Valuru.

"You, idiot! Do you have any idea what's happened while you were away!" Tanya yelled at Valuru, who did strangely not react to her provocation. "Lord Labrys has gone missing and if something happened to him because of you I'll.." She paused her tirade as her body tensed and the ears on her head instinctively flattened down in fear.

"No, no, no. Please, continue." Akagi smirked as she stepped out of the shadows, the Demon's voice distorting and causing everyone nearby to freeze in terror. "Don't mind me."