Manifest Fantasy

“Commander unto commander, I offer a choice: cede your Holding Bags, that secure passage may be granted unto you. Refuse, and you shall be declared as spies and enemies of the Nobian Empire, your lives forfeit to swift execution.”

Swift execution? Henry fought the urge to scoff. Pride or not, these Nobians were really pushing it. The Vicearch’s terms were audacious to the point of being a cliché in a second-rate drama – laughable under different circumstances, but with their current disadvantage, dangerously real.

He adjusted his grip on the flashbangs. His inner voice wanted to just toss it and watch the chaos unfold, but he checked that impulse. It must be the adrenaline and cynicism talking. Whatever went down now could dictate the course of all American-Nobian relations moving forward. On top of that, he was already tired from fighting the Sentinel Lindwyrm and Spiranids. For Ambassador Perry’s – and their own – sakes, he had to give negotiation a shot.

“Vicearch,” Henry began, “Grenden Forest is neutral territory. Any aggression here could be seen as a violation of that neutrality and a potential act of war.”

It was hard to see Carvus' face through his helmet, but the tightened grip on his sword told Henry all he needed to know. He continued, “My team is here on official Adventurer’s business. We have no intention of interfering with Nobian affairs. As a leader, surely you understand the importance of fulfilling one’s duties and maintaining the Guild’s integrity.”

“Your ‘duties’?” Carvus scoffed, his voice heavy with scorn. “You claim neutrality, invoking your Guild’s banner as though it were a shield. Yet, here, deep in our territory, your pretense of neutrality carries no weight. You are naught but intruders, cloaking your trespasses in ‘duty’, violating lands that you falsely deem neutral. The Guild’s name will not shield you from the consequences of trespassing on sovereign territory."

Henry took in his surroundings while the Vicearch talked, taking note of enemy positions. They were split into two groups – one currently encircling them and forming the leader’s entourage, and the other spread out across the hallway. The Nobian positions in the hallway seemed to have gaps – large, empty spaces between their men. However, given what they knew of the Nobians, those spaces likely weren’t as empty as they looked.

Sera stepped up beside Henry. Her voice shifted from the gentler tones she used with him to something much sharper. “Don’t try to twist the truth, Vicearch. The Grenden Accords permit Adventurers on official quests. Your presence here – a Nobian military unit – is a direct insult to the sacrifices made to achieve peace. Is the Nobian Empire so eager to plunge us back into the chaos of war?”

Carvus sneered. “You dare cast aspersions of warmongering upon the Empire? We are a simple research unit, investigating ruins within our borders. It is you who have invaded our rightful lands, coveting secrets that are ours by divine right. Your Guild’s ‘integrity’ is nothing more than a façade for your own greed and ambition.”

Carvus’ sword began to shimmer – the same way that Sera’s sword shimmered whenever she enchanted it. “I will not stand idle whilst foreign interlopers and their pet nobles seek to subvert Nobian sovereignty. Those who oppose the Emperor’s decree will be ground beneath our heel as naught but trifling vermin. I will not repeat myself. Yield forthwith, or steel yourself for your demise.”

Divine right? There was no way invoking a treaty would deter the Nobians at this point. That only left one other method of persuasion: force. The only issue was that it wouldn’t matter if the Nobians couldn’t understand – or didn’t want to understand – the advantage modern technology granted them.

If the Vicearch had any doubts about winning, though, he did an extremely good job of hiding it. There was nothing but confidence and determination in the man’s eyes. Negotiation, it seemed, was off the table.

Henry kept his eyes trained on the Nobian Vicearch. With all alternatives exhausted, the path was clear. He kept his gaze forward, giving no impression that he whispered, “Kel, you’re up.”

Kelmithus acknowledged and stepped forward, his staff lowered and his Holding Bag hanging off his arm. “Very well. I do not wish to cause war, so I shall lay down my Volcanic Annihilation.”

The way those words rolled off Kelmithus’ tongue was so casual, so conversational, that it nearly slipped past Henry’s attention. And, looking at the Nobians, he noticed they too seemed to have barely registered the spell’s incantation. In a panicked frenzy, they scrambled to prepare their own defensive magic.

Henry’s HUD displayed the rapidly falling humidity as walls of water sprung up around the Nobians, bracing for a fiery blast. He braced himself as well, but nothing of the sort ever came. There was no lava, no explosion, nor anything else that could be called ‘volcanic’ – and there certainly wasn’t any annihilation.

In a split second, the Nobians came to the same realization. He could see it in their faces: where was the ‘Volcanic Annihilation’? As the Nobians staggered back, their hastily summoned water walls burst into clouds of steam. Through the swirling mist, Henry caught the distorted sounds of pain and confusion. He could see shadows flinching, some clutching at their faces and armor as the steam turned against them, exploiting any vulnerability.

The Vicearch reacted quickly. His silhouette blurred as he dodged back with astonishing speed. As he expected, it would take a lot more than a diversionary spell to take down the Nobian leader. Although the maneuver spared him the brunt of the steam’s heat, there was no way the man had escaped unscathed.

With the steam creating confusion, Henry seized the moment. He made a break for the wall to his left and quickly hurled the flashbangs – one toward where he last saw the Vicearch and another towards the deceptively ‘empty’ spot ahead. The concussive blasts and blinding flashes – muted against the filters of his envirosuit – compounded the chaos, leaving more of the Nobians reeling.

“Block the exit!” The Vicearch barked out orders to his men, his voice quickly fading away as the distance between them grew.

Everyone followed his lead, hugging the wall and using it as a guide as they sprinted forward. Through the gaps in the rising steam, Henry caught glimpses of the Nobian soldiers. Each one of them was disoriented, barely able to conjure protective air bubbles for themselves. Despite the chaos, they managed to maintain their invisibility – sure signs of a professional unit.

More canisters hit the floor, spewing out smoke. These extra grenades obscured the hallway further, mixing with the steam to form a thorough blend of aerial goop. Henry watched a few sporadic blasts of wind move the particulates around. Not that the Nobians could’ve known without a more developed understanding of science, but all their efforts simply introduced turbulence that encouraged the mixture of steam and smoke.

It was hard to see even past 5 feet – perfect for their plan. That said, it was difficult to track the Nobians as they stumbled about in the steam and smoke. With the particulates as turbulent as they were, their thermals were almost useless. The one saving grace, though, was the fact that the Nobians were only invisible – not intangible.

It had been just a few seconds since they deployed their flashbangs. Adding the effects of the scalding steam, that meant they had maybe around ten more seconds before – his train of thought was broken as he caught a distortion to his right, just within his peripheral vision. Turning to bring his weapon to bear, he noticed that the smoke had broken apart, forming a thin outline in the shape of a human. He couldn't see the target itself, but the parting haze gave him all the information he needed.

Reacting instantly, Henry fired. Three rounds struck in rapid succession as the soldier charged with inhuman speed, sparking off his armor. Chest, chest, shoulder. With his momentum unchecked, the figure crashed sideways into the wall beside them, the impact extinguishing the remnants of his cloaking spell in a flutter of distorted light. The fallen Nobian’s sword skidded out of reach as he slumped to the ground, disappearing in the smoke behind them.

Henry and his team kept pushing forward, following the wall as they navigated through the thick haze. He popped another smoke grenade, enhancing the already dense mixture of steam and smoke that filled the hallway. As they returned fire, the brief flashes from their rifles briefly illuminated the dense smoke, inadvertently signaling their position. Picking up on the signs of their presence, arrows sliced through the fog and thudded into the nearby wall. The only visible clues were the fleeting paths of the arrows, hinting at their origin. Reacting to these cues, Henry swiftly aligned his rifle with the last seen trajectory and fired back, hoping to suppress the hidden assailants.

“Contact rear!” Ryan’s voice crackled over the comm, punctuated by gunfire echoing from behind. With all the gunfire, the Nobians were now fully aware of their position.

Kelmithus’ brief acknowledgment came through the comm. Almost immediately, Henry heard the distinct sound of ice crackling and expanding. This was quickly followed by a series of thuds and grunts as their pursuers collapsed on the slick ice.

More of the Nobians’ attacks converged on them – more swordsmen rushing in, more arrows flying, and even some spells thrown in the mix. It felt like they were getting hammered from all sides, barely grazing past deadly wind snipes and fireballs thanks to the smoke’s effects on the enemy’s accuracy and Kelmithus’ efforts. Sera also chipped in, creating localized blasts of wind to briefly open up lines of sight as she guessed where the archers were – somewhere up ahead.

Naturally, it was even more difficult to see them at a distance, but their faint outlines were more than enough. Landing a shot on a nigh-invisible target from the hip was well, nigh-impossible. Hell, that far away, accuracy by volume wouldn’t work, either. But… they didn’t need to be accurate to hit their enemy.

Henry reacted purely on instinct. Grabbing a grenade, he pulled the pin and chucked it toward the faint echoes where the arrows had been coming from, not even sure what he’d hit. The grenade’s arc disappeared in the thick smoke, but its landing was undeniable – a heavy thud followed by an immediate blast. The explosion rose above the sounds of gunfire, violently shaking the air. The subsequent cessation of incoming arrows was a welcome sign that the grenade had paid off.

The smoke started to dissipate slightly, pushed by the force of the blast. What lay ahead was now slightly clearer, though still a mess – a pathway obstructed by scattered debris forced into a makeshift barrier. It looked like it was made of bramble and rock – not the most ideal, but still sturdy enough to block their advance.

Henry signaled for his team to stop moving and to set up a perimeter. “Owens, the Gustaf!”

Ron had the same thought, already loading a round into the chamber. Ahead, the barrier stood defenseless – though there was no way to tell for sure. Instead of guards, there seemed to be a glow just behind it as more rocks and vegetation attached themselves to the existing structure. If the mages were just behind the barricade, he had to be ready to take them out the moment Ron blew it apart. He couldn’t allow them to rebuild the barrier.

Ron took aim at the center of the barricade, his finger on the trigger. As Ron prepared to fire, Henry positioned himself away from the predictable backblast. Ron squeezed the trigger, and the Carl Gustaf bucked in his hands as the high-explosive round bolted from the tube.

Just as the round was fired, a pained grunt echoed from behind them. Henry recognized that voice – Carvus. Henry spun around, barely catching a glimpse of a faint outline stumbling backward as the man was no doubt caught unawares by the fierce backblast. Though visibility was nil, Henry aimed where he last sensed movement and squeezed off a burst.

Too late. Carvus had already pulled his disappearing act, vanishing into the haze. In an amusing twist however, the often hazardous backblast had somehow turned into an asset, finding an offensive use. He found himself smirking at the thought of Carvus being caught off guard by something that was normally the bane of new recruits. The Nobians might have some unique magic on their side, but they clearly knew little about their weapons.

Henry turned back to the barricade. The explosion had done its work, shattering the rock and turning the brambles into kindling. The concussive blast sent debris flying, skewering a group of previously cloaked Nobians ahead of them with shrapnel. As the dust settled, he saw that the barricade was now nothing more than a pile of rubble. The way forward was clear.

The mages who had been maintaining the barrier were caught in the blast, too. They staggered back, disoriented and riddled with injuries – easy targets. He and Dr. Anderson opened fire, picking off the mages before they could gather their wits and start rebuilding the barricade.

They must’ve been too disoriented to pull up personal shields for themselves because they went down easily. Henry paused at the breach, scanning his left and right as he would when entering a doorway. Then, he leaped through, clearing the right side. Ron followed closely, clearing the left.

“Clear!” Henry announced. He aimed his weapon back at the breach to cover the rest of the team as they made their way through.

Sera and Dr. Anderson continued forward, ensuring the path ahead was clear. As the rest of the team crossed the threshold, Henry tossed a flashbang through the hole, followed by a grenade. Kelmithus reacted instantly, sealing the breach with earth magic.

Seconds later, he heard a muffled pop from the other side, accompanied by a groan of pain. They’d just bought a few more moments. He returned to the front with Ron, allowing Isaac and Ryan to maintain their rear to create a wedge-shaped formation. Looking forward, Henry recognized the cavern that they had entered initially, spotting the Lindwyrm nest in the distance.

Glancing at his HUD, Henry led his team through a corridor as he followed the pre-designated route. The uneven cave floor was a hassle to work through, strewn with jagged rocks and jutting formations. Fuck, he should’ve accounted for terrain instead of simply selecting the route with the least activity. This was the least active path for a reason.

Kelmithus produced a light cloud of steam around them – smart thinking. It wasn’t enough to scald or otherwise significantly hinder their pursuers, but it would be enough to track their movements. That only left the issue of maintaining their advantage, or at least preventing the Nobians from getting the upper hand.

Henry’s heart raced as he scanned the area ahead. Was there anything they could use? A bottleneck, a natural barricade, hell, even a stalagmite for cover would do. It seemed they had the short end of the stick, though. The cavern offered little in the way of defensible positions.

Gunfire once again flared up behind them. The Nobians had caught up to Ryan and Isaac. It was almost impossible to tell how many contacts they’d engaged. “Kel, go with Hayes and Yen!”

As Kelmithus left to support them, the steam ahead parted suddenly. Not even a second later, an arrow materialized out of the void, cutting through the haze and heading straight for him.

Henry reacted on instinct, jerking to the left as the arrow whizzed past, barely missing his neck. As he did so, he returned fire at the same spot where the arrow had come from. A muffled grunt and the clatter of a falling bow confirmed his success, but surely it couldn’t be the end of that.

Two more arrows streaked out of the steam, appearing as they cleared the bows of their concealed shooters. They came in fast, reminiscent of the Wind Snipe arrow that had struck their MRAP back when they encountered those bandits. Everything seemed to slow down – the arrows soaring through the steam, Ron and Dr. Anderson taking aim at the faint silhouettes ahead. As he tried to dodge, Sera lunged forward.

A blur of silver appeared across his vision as she tried to intercept the arrows. One ricocheted off her blade, sparking as it was deflected harmlessly into the cave wall. Shit, it didn’t look like she was going to get the second one. Henry braced himself as the arrow slipped past her guard.

It drew closer, piercing through the magical shield Kelmithus had cast on him earlier and puncturing his envirosuit. The enchanted arrowhead buried itself in his right shoulder, but he wasn’t sure if it got through the UHMWPE mesh layer beneath.

“Agh, fuck!” Henry sucked in air. Instinctively, he moved his hand to the shaft protruding from his shoulder, ensuring it was not so loose as to snag on his equipment or hinder his movement. It hurt like hell, but it was almost impossible to tell the full extent of the penetration. He had to leave it in for now, at least until they could find a safe spot.

After confirming the kills on the archers, Ron checked on Henry. His eyes widened as he saw the shaft sticking out of his shoulder – shock, anger, probably also surprise that an arrow somehow managed to break through modern armor. At least, that’s exactly what Henry currently felt, pain notwithstanding. “Shit… Exit wound?”

“Nah, don’t think so.” Henry let his rifle hang from its sling, instead drawing his sidearm with his left hand.

Ron nodded to Dr. Anderson and Sera before approaching Henry. “Lemme take a look,” he said.

Henry slowed his pace slightly, not too much to slow their advance but just enough to allow Ron to get a good look.

Ron checked the hole in the envirosuit’s plating, shining his helmet light on it. “Can’t see shit… Okay, I don’t think it went deeper than the mesh, at least. No blood.” He then carefully probed it, trying to feel for the arrowhead. “Yeah, feels like the mesh caught it. No penetration, thank fuck.”

It was a cold comfort to hear that, but it still felt like getting hit with a sledgehammer. Just how much kinetic energy did that arrow have, even after crashing through the magic shield and envirosuit? “Yeah, thank fuck, alright.”

Ron nodded. “Doc, Sera, take the lead.” He then faced Henry. “We’ll have Yen take a closer look at it later. There’s an alcove up ahead, close to our route.”

Henry looked up at his minimap. Their path branched off into the route they were supposed to follow and a small nook that led into separate pathways. He grunted in acknowledgment and positioned himself to the left of Ron. The pain was still there, throbbing with every movement, but at least the arrow hadn’t done any serious damage. Small mercies, he supposed.

“All contacts neutralized back here,” Ryan updated. “How’s it looking up there?”

Henry responded, straining his voice a bit because of the pain, “Copy. Arrow got me in the shoulder, no penetration. We’re making a short detour to an alcove up ahead, marked it on the minimap.”

Ryan acknowledged, tightening the formation in response to Henry’s injury. While Sera and Dr. Anderson maintained the vanguard, Ron kept Henry in the center. Kelmithus then caught up, approaching Henry with his glowing staff. “Allow me to cast the shield anew. It shan’t withstand another direct blow, but it should offer some succor.”

Henry slowed down for a bit. “Thanks.”

Kelmithus waved his staff, and a new barrier materialized around him. With the shield set, the archmage fell back and took up a position between the rear and the center.

The cave started to narrow ahead – a sign that they were nearing their temporary objective. Dr. Anderson’s subsequent report confirmed their position. “I see the alcove, about twenty meters.”

Henry saw it too: a narrow passageway leading into a hidden nook. It seemed like it was just another section of rock until they approached it and got a better angle – subtle enough to miss if they hadn’t known about the spot from prior reconnaissance and were simply running along the path. Dr. Anderson and Sera pushed in, clearing the shallow recess. It was barely enough to hide them, but it would do.

Ron pulled out a smoke grenade, glancing at Henry for confirmation. He must’ve wanted to toss it the other way, to divert the Nobians. Henry nodded, and Ron tossed the grenade down the path. Thick smoke billowed out of the device, filling the corridor.

At the same time, Kelmithus directed the remaining steam toward the same direction. It left them without their crucial sixth sense, but at least they still had their infrared lasers to fall back on in case anyone tried to push through the narrow chokepoint. Soon after the smoke spread out, Henry saw wisps trailing in the other direction – cloaked Nobians running after the decoy. Good.

Henry watched the parted smoke soon fill back up, hardly daring to breathe. A few seconds later, there were no more disturbances. They were in the clear, for now.

Isaac turned to him as soon as it felt safe to do so, whispering into the comms, “Sit down on this rock. Let me take a look.”

Henry shifted, trying to find a position that didn’t hurt. “Yeah; think the mesh caught it. Doesn’t feel like it went too deep.”

Isaac frowned. “Well, there’s no external bleeding, at least.” He shone a light on the break in the envirosuit, pulling a multitool from his Holding Bag. The metal on the envirosuit groaned slightly as Isaac pried it open. He gritted his teeth, suppressing a grunt as he worked on it. Each movement sent jolts of pain through his shoulder.

In the meantime, the others reloaded their weapons and maintained a perimeter, with Dr. Anderson deploying his own Black Hornet to check out the alternate route. After a moment, Isaac sighed with relief. “Lucky you. The mesh stopped it. Can’t believe a pussy stick managed to get through the shield and the plating, though…”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m sayi– ngh!” Isaac gripped the arrow shaft and pulled it out with a swift yank.

Henry clenched his jaw, feeling the pressure ease as the arrow came free. “Damn.”

Isaac stowed the arrow in his Holding Bag. “I won’t be able to give a proper diagnosis until we can get the envirosuit, mesh, and uniform off you. My guess is blunt force trauma. Hold still.” He pulled out a portable ultrasound scanner and ran it over his shoulder.

After completing a pass, Isaac nodded. “Good news: no broken bones.” He then fished out a small packet and a bottle of water from the aid kit in his Holding Bag. “Ibuprofen,” he said simply, handing the items to Henry.

Henry obliged, swallowing the pills.

“Kel.” Isaac waved the archmage over. “No broken bones. You’re good for healing magic.”

Henry felt a slight relief as both the painkillers and the healing magic took effect. Within a minute, the pain in his arm was almost gone, feeling more like a soreness after an extreme workout rather than a scooter to the shin. He rolled his shoulder experimentally, testing the range of motion. Not bad.

“Captain, I’ve mapped the alternate route,” Dr. Anderson informed him. “Looks like a shortcut to the surface. We’ll pop out around the side of the spur, a bit away from the entrance.”

Henry glanced at the minimap on his HUD. The route was shorter than their previous path, with the added bonus of – hopefully – no enemy contact. “Lucky us. Good work, Doc.”

Sera’s eyes moved to the top of her helmet as she too studied the new route. “Should the Nobians be absent when we emerge, we should escape on foot lest we lose all to folly. Why tarry here and tempt fate with our Holding Bags at risk?”

“How often do you apply your uh… physical enhancement magic?” Henry asked.

Sera tilted her head. “Why, constantly.” She paused after giving her response, then inclined her chin. “Ah.”

Henry nodded. “Yup. Even if we wanted to, we wouldn’t make it; the Nobians would catch up or intercept in no time. Either way, our MRAPs are too critical to leave behind.”

“Hey,” Ryan patted Sera on the shoulder. “We were gonna take 'em on anyway. Good thing we ain't gotta fight through the whole damn cave to get to our rides.”

Ryan was right, but it only meant that their mission went from extremely challenging to simply very challenging. Henry laid out the plan, “Once we get out, we’ll form a perimeter. I’m gonna pop both flares; call in the QRF and the Apache. If we’re lucky, the fog will be too thick for the Nobians to see the flare going up. If not, well…”

Kelmithus picked up, “We then must brace for the Nobians who shall converge upon our position within the forest.”

“Yeah,” Henry said. “Doc, what’s outside the exit?”

Dr. Anderson shared his drone’s feed. “Boulders, tree trunks, vegetation – good natural cover. There’s a cliff directly above the exit, about 15 feet. If we can climb it, we’ll be able to get into a higher position directly overlooking the main entrance. Unless the Nobians can scale 40 feet of rock, there’s only one other way up there.”

Henry analyzed the scenery. There was an area to the left of the cave with natural formations that formed somewhat of a path to the top. They just needed to lock that down until reinforcements arrived. “Then we’ll do that immediately after I pop the flares. Sera, Kel, you guys able to climb?”

“Oh, joy, another climb. I suppose it would only be a trifle for one such as myself,” Sera smiled, placing her hand on her chest.

Henry looked at Kelmithus.

The archmage only sighed, stretching his back. “I shall manage.”

Henry stowed his sidearm and picked up his rifle. “Alright, let’s get moving.”

The team got into formation, squeezing through the narrow cave passage. The alternate path was tight, especially considering their envirosuits. It forced them uncomfortably into single file, but the path seemed relatively untouched. The air was cool and damp, carrying a faint draft that seeped into the hole in his envirosuit.

The darkness began to lighten as they moved up an incline. The air became fresher and Henry could feel his ears popping. The faintest hint of afternoon light began to filter through the passage, growing brighter as they neared the exit. Wait, afternoon light?

He quickened his pace slightly, eager to reach the surface. The tunnel widened, revealing the mouth of the small cave ahead. He emerged into the open, his visor tinting and adjusting to the change in luminosity. The afternoon sun was clear overhead, bathing the landscape in a warm light. The fog that had plagued them earlier was completely gone, replaced by the open sky.

If the fog was gone, wouldn’t that mean Overwatch would be able to see them? Henry scanned the skies above for the Reaper. There it was, circling over the spur. First the lucky route and now this? He’d have to buy a lotto ticket next time he stepped foot back home.

With the drone circling overhead and the fog gone, they wouldn’t need to risk a flare and draw unnecessary attention. Instead, they could use a light. He quickly motioned to the others, pointing at the drone. “No fog, no flares. I’ll send a message to ‘em, give me a sec.”

Henry pulled out a flashlight from his Holding Bag and turned it on, covering it with his hand in intervals. He signaled to the drone in morse code, keeping the message brief: QRF AND APACHE NEEDED.

Henry repeated the message, watching the drone intently. After a couple tries, the drone tipped its wing. Message received.

Henry let out a breath. “Alright, good. We’ve got reinforcements inbound. ETA should be around 20 to 30 minutes, based on distance.”

He took a moment to survey the surroundings again. The spur’s base was a rocky outcrop, dotted with patches of vegetation and the occasional tree. The cliff face directly above the exit, as Dr. Anderson had pointed out, was a straight shot up. He didn’t have that much experience rock climbing outside of training, but with his equipment, how hard could it be?

Henry reached into his Holding Bag and produced his climbing gear, stepping up directly beside the cliff. He attached the ropes and carabiners, ensuring everything was secure. Then, with a deep breath, he took the lead. “Owens, Sera, Kel, with me. We’ll go up first.”

He attached a climbing anchor to a crack in the rock and clipped his harness to it. Using natural handholds and footholds, he carefully tested each grip before committing his weight. As he made more progress, he placed another anchor higher up and clipped his rope to it, securing their progress. Inch by inch, they made their way up the cliff, with Henry leading and placing anchors while the others followed and clipped into the secured line.

After a challenging climb and almost losing his footing twice, Henry hauled himself over the edge of the cliff. He took a moment to catch his breath and then turned to help the others. One by one, they made it to the top. It took about ten minutes for everyone to get up – about halfway until reinforcements arrived.

They continued along the edge of the cliff, climbing higher. The terrain was rough, but at least they had a clear view of the area below. If not for their pressing circumstances, this would actually have been a great spot to take a picture.

When they approached the cliff directly above the main cave entrance, Henry motioned for the team to halt and crouch down. Below them, the clearing spread out, with their MRAPs parked near the entrance and seemingly untouched.

Henry turned to Ryan. “Hayes, help me set up rappelling anchors.” Facing everyone else, he continued, “Sera, Kel, Owens, secure the perimeter. Doc, Yen, mark enemy positions.”

Ryan gave a quick nod and pulled out the rappelling gear from his Holding Bag. They headed for the sturdiest-looking trees near the cliff’s edge. Henry took the lead, wrapping the rope around the base of a thick oak. A figure-eight follow-through knot, a few half-hitches to secure it, a tug for good measure, and he was done. Quick, simple, reliable.

As Ryan finished setting up his anchor on a nearby tree, Isaac approached Henry with a tablet in hand. Tapping on the tablet, Isaac highlighted the points he had marked during his observations, sharing them with Henry’s minimap. “Got eyes on ten hostiles. Two in the treeline at our two o’clock, one by the boulder at ten, three near the fallen log at eleven, looking over the MRAPs. The rest are inside the cave, directly below us. One of them has neat armor; I think it’s Carvus.”

Henry studied the footage. He could recognize that armor anywhere. Coupled with the fact that someone was casting healing magic on him, yeah, that was Carvus, alright. Who knew how many more were cloaked, hiding around?

Henry took a knee behind an outcropping, resting his rifle on the rock. He peered through the scope, the MRAPs parked below coming into sharp focus. All quiet on the western front, for now.

He glanced at his watch. Zulu-9 should be arriving within eight minutes, assuming they didn’t run into any issues on the road. He turned to the rest of his team, who had taken up positions along the cliff. He addressed their drivers first, “Owens, Yen, you’ll be first to descend.” He then faced the two scholars, “Doc, Kel, you’ll go next. Sera, you’re with me and Hayes. Cover us while we provide overwatch to everyone else. We’ll head down as soon as Doc and Kel are clear.”

After his team acknowledged, it was a waiting game. It didn’t take long for the first crackles of static to appear. “Alph… opy…”

“Zulu-9, this is Alpha Actual. Say again, you’re breaking up.”

The static crackled again, the voice on the other end coming through in fits and starts. “...pha Actual… Zulu-9… oscar mi… ETA five mi…”

The transmission cut off abruptly, swallowed by a burst of white noise. The clarity was better, but still not great. Henry could only make out bits and pieces. ETA five mikes, that was the important part. He keyed the mic again. “Zulu-9, be advised, we have eyes on enemy positions: ten confirmed hostiles in the AO. Sending coords now.”

He tried to upload the data from his HUD, only for a pop-up to appear: upload failed. He scanned the treeline below, his finger resting lightly on the trigger. The waiting was always the hardest part – the adrenaline and tension building up was like getting blue-balled.

A new notification appeared: upload successful. Thank goodness. At the same time, the static finally started to clear. “...olid copy, Alpha Actual. Approaching the… sitrep, over.”

“Zulu-9, this is Alpha Actual. Data upload successful. Check your HUDs. We have ten confirmed hostiles in the AO, over.”

“Copy that, Alpha Actual. We got ‘em. Approaching your position. ETA one mike, over.”

Just as Henry received the message from Zulu-9, a familiar voice popped up. “Alpha Actual, this is Thunder 1-2. We’re inbound to your location, four mikes. What’s your sitrep? Over.”

Henry switched to Thunder 1-2’s frequency, relaying the same information he relayed to Zulu-9. “... Our team is positioned on a cliff directly above the main cave entrance. Be advised, no 9 line available. We’ll mark targets with red smoke or laser. Stand by for further instructions. Over.”

“Copy that, Alpha Actual. No 9 line, standing by for your mark. Make us useful. Over.”

As soon as he was done communicating with the Apache, the sound of engines started fading in. They grew closer until Henry could spot the UGVs rolling along the main road, approaching the clearing at a steady speed. “Alpha Actual, this is Zulu-9. We are on station and have visual on your marks. Ready to start the party. Over.”

Henry responded quickly. “Copy that, Zulu-9. Engage at your discretion. Over.”

Once they were in range, the UGVs used their mounted grenade launchers to toss canisters of CR gas into the enemy positions. White plumes sprouted up, spreading through the treeline, around the boulder and fallen log, and within the cave entrance.

The CR gas did its job fast. Nobians staggered into view, coughing as their cloaks stuttered in and out of existence. No surprise they couldn’t focus on their magic while their lungs were burning from the inside out.

The moment the Nobians became visible, they were torn apart by Zulu-9. It was a bloodbath. If they didn’t get hit from 6.8mm and 7.62mm from Zulu-9’s infantry, they were obliterated by the UGV’s 30mm. The larger rounds tore through trees and enemy cover, sending splinters and shrapnel flying.

Canisters of red smoke flew out from Zulu-9’s ranks, landing among exposed Nobian positions within the forest. Thunder 1-2 made its dramatic entrance, banking overhead and adding its firepower to the mix. It was kind of overkill, blowing apart swordsmen with 30mm and missiles, but the shock and awe were necessary. Hopefully, this would dissuade the Nobians from fucking with them any time soon – as long as it didn’t start a war.

As the first volleys from their reinforcements shook the ground, Henry called out to his team. “Move out! Go! Go!”

Isaac and Ron grabbed the ropes and began rappelling down. They descended quickly, each jump covering almost a story. Isaac hit the ground first, immediately unhooking his harness as he sprinted to his MRAP. Ron followed closely, encountering no hostiles during his dash.

Henry scanned the clearing below and the surrounding forest. Any movement he spotted was either culled immediately by a barrage of hot lead or directed away from the MRAPs.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anderson and Kelmithus followed suit. Henry watched them descend quickly, the ropes shaking with each explosion. It seemed that the Nobians had finally noticed the MRAPs, catching the starting engines and movement as Ron and Isaac repositioned the vehicles to provide the rappelling spot some cover.

He spotted flashes of fire and lightning as the Nobians struck one of their UGVs. Good try, but it was too bad they didn't know that the UGV armor was rated for rocket-propelled grenades – way more potent than whatever they were tickling the UGV with. The embers licked harmlessly at its chassis, dealing nothing but emotional damage. Looks like the Nobians were completely distracted by the fireworks, at least for now.

His only concern was the infantry: the men in Zulu-9 had the same high-quality armor he wore, but he knew more than anyone else just how ineffective it was against potent magic. A wind snipe broke through a magic shield from a Tier 8 archmage and envirosuit plating. A layer of mesh and a ceramic plate could probably hold the line, but what if one of them got hit in the leg or shoulder like him? The men fighting down there didn’t have a magic shield or an envirosuit to help stop a Wind Snipe. Henry dismissed the thought. If he wanted to worry for his brothers in Zulu-9, he had to focus on the extraction.

As the two scholars cleared the lower third of their descent, Henry called out to Sera. “Sera, go!”

A soft glow enveloped her as she ran her glove along the rope, running at full speed toward the cliff edge. With an acrobatic twist, she oriented herself along the cliff face and straight up ran down the sheer drop. She slowed down as she neared the ground, using the friction of her gloves and envirosuit against the rope alongside wind magic to soften her drop. She landed gracefully, cleaving a Nobian swordsman that Dr. Anderson had shot.

Henry took a deep breath and gripped the rope, signaling to Ryan on his right. They launched over the edge, rappelling down the cliff face in tandem. The sensation of free fall followed by the jolt of his rope kept his adrenaline spiking. Just how the hell did Sera manage to make running down a vertical wall look so easy?

He tightened his fingers around the rope as he spectated the battle mid-descent. It was complete chaos – a bona fide battle and a rare sight to see amidst the relative peace back home. Zulu-9 and Thunder 1-2 had completely razed the surrounding vegetation, putting down the few witnesses who had survived the battle against the Sentinel Lindwyrm. If tree spirits were real on this planet, he really hoped they wouldn’t try to seek revenge.

He glanced down, taking stock of his team. The Nobians seemed to now be fully aware of the MRAPs’ presence, judging from the fact that smoke- and gas-covered outlines were damn near swarming them. Thank God the UGVs and tear gas were able to keep them at bay though, basically forming a wall of death between the cave entrance and his team. Seeing torsos getting deleted and blood spraying everywhere wasn’t a pretty sight, but it was a welcome one, especially considering the alternative.

The ground rushed up to meet them faster than Henry expected. As he neared the bottom, he bent his knees slightly, ready to absorb the impact. With a thud, he hit the ground, a shockwave going up his legs. He snapped his harness off, abandoning the rope as he sprinted for the MRAPs. He covered their right with his M7, looking in the direction of the cave’s mouth, allowing Ryan to cover their left.

Henry’s heart pounded in his chest as he tried to keep the clouds of gas away from the hole in his envirosuit. He covered it with his left hand, firing his M7 from the hip into the suffocating swordsmen who tried to push through the gas. They fell almost instantly, and Henry could almost see the glimpses of cloaking magic behind the gas. It didn’t take long for the other Nobians to realize just what the gas was, and how outmatched they were. They fell back, seemingly giving up on the MRAPs and initiating a retreat.

As he neared the MRAPs, he saw his team already inside, laying down what fire they could from within. Henry yanked open the side door to the command MRAP and hopped in, slamming it shut behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, confirming that Ryan had made it into his MRAP.

“Go! Go!” Henry yelled, getting ready to man the CROWS. “Zulu-9, Alpha Actual. We’re moving! Check fire!”

Ron didn’t need the order to act; he had already punched the accelerator upon hearing the door slam shut. Henry felt his back press against his seat as the vehicle surged forward. They blazed past the wall of gas, the vehicle’s armored bulk plowing through the dissipating plumes.

Henry swiveled the turret, scanning the haze for disruptions in the smoke. With all the bullets flying and explosions going off, it was hard to tell what was a cloaked Nobian and what was just a blast’s pressure wave. But he could target the poor souls who lost their focus. He spotted a group of Nobian mages struggling to get some fireballs in the air through a cloud of gas. Yeah, not happening. Henry squeezed the trigger. The turret thumped as it sent a hail of lead downrange. The rounds tore through the mages, their bodies jerking and contorting as they were riddled with holes.

As they sped away from the cave entrance, Henry scanned the battlefield for any sign of Carvus. The Vicearch’s distinct armor was nowhere to be seen amidst the carnage. Henry grimaced. Carvus was a slippery bastard. He’d probably used his cloaking magic to slip away in the chaos. Well, at least they’d given him a bloody nose and a taste of what American firepower could do.

The MRAP jostled and bounced as Ron navigated the rough terrain, making a beeline for the road that would take them back home. Behind them, Zulu-9’s UGVs fell into formation. It seemed like the fighting stopped – and rather quickly, too. The Nobians must’ve recognized their disadvantage and retreated. He could only imagine their shock; what they must have thought. There was no point in fighting metal carriages that can’t be pierced, and certainly no point in chasing after them once they’ve started to fall back.

As they hit the road, the ride smoothed out, allowing Henry to take a breath. He slumped back in his seat, the adrenaline slowly ebbing from his system. “Fuck,” he muttered, not even bothering to take off the envirosuit.

Sera, sitting beside him, let out a weary chuckle as she took off her helmet. Yeah, now that was a sight worth seeing. She placed it beside her, fixing her hair. “‘Fuck’, indeed. I must say, your people certainly do have quite the talent in departures most grand.”

Henry cracked a smile at that. To be fair, he basically cracked a smile at anything Sera said. “Yeah, well, we aim to please.”

He reached into his Holding Bag, rummaging through the various items they’d collected during their mission – items that they prevented from falling into Nobian hands. He pulled out the Locator, the device’s transparent screen glinting in the setting sun. This is what they struggled for. And hopefully, it was worth it.

“Can’t wait to finally get back home,” he muttered, turning the Locator over in his hands.

He glanced out the window, watching the Grenden Forest whip by in a blur of green, brown, and gold. It was crazy to think that they’d only been here for about a month. Nothing had played out as Henry had first expected, but damn if he wasn’t excited to see where their first clue would lead them.