The woman strolled through the camp looking at the knights and paladins gambling, drinking, sharpening their blades, among other things. She could tell that there was not a single legionnaire in sight.
"I guess even some generals can't stand us." Said the woman as she strolled in through one of the tents.
"Colonel Akela reporting for duty sir. Here are my transfer papers, and I also have your orders here from command."
"Just Akela?" Asked the general.
"That's right sir. I used to be a legionnaire before the Prowler Commandos recruited me." Answered Akela.
"I see…" The general went back to reading his new orders from command.
Even so Akela could tell that he was anything, but thrilled of having a former legionnaire in his presence. She looked around his office, and noticed an ornate smoking pipe made of bone taken from the horn of an animal.
"Nice pipe." She thought.
"This swamp is massive! Are you sure you'll be able to track him?"
"There's a reason why I wear bars too sir." She answered.
"Well then I'll give you Diamond Fist Company Major Morraine should be around here somewhere. Try their tent with a Diamond Fist flag on it if not the mess tent.". Major Morraine should be around here somewhere. Try their tent with a Diamond Fist flag on it if not the mess tent."
"Will do and thank you sir." Said Akela as she saluted the general.
Akela left the tent in search of the Major and his company. She noticed the flag immediately, and made her way towards the tent. She could feel their gazes on her. Her uniform definitely made her stand out amongst the crowd. Akela walked inside the tent and saw several paladins gambling.She noticed the flag immediately, and made her way towards the tent. She could feel their gazes on her. Her uniform definitely made her stand out amongst the crowd. Akela walked inside the tent and saw several paladins gambling.
"Are we going to be deployed?" Asked one of the paladins.
"In a manner of speaking. I'm looking for Major Morraine of Diamond Fist Company." Answered Akela.." Answered Akela.
"That would be me yes."
"I'm Colonel Akela, a Prowler Commando, as of this moment you are all under my command."
All of the paladins immediately stood up and saluted her.
"At ease. Now then let's get the unpleasantries out of the way. Yes. I was a legionnaire, but not anymore. Secondly I was told by my superiors that you're the best unit out here."
"No wall or army can stand between us and victory ma'am." Replied Major Morraine.
"Good. Now I'am hunting a spy that made their way towards this swamp. Our mission is to locate the spy and capture them before they can make contact with the Dolsurians. We depart immediately so gear up."
"Yes ma'am. Alright people hustle up! Torim and Praya get out there and find the rest. Move it!"
"This is some bullshit!" Yelled the paladin as he kicked the dirt.
"I don't like it any more than you Rhen, but we have our orders. Besides it's out of our hands." Said the paladin as he tried to calm his friend.
"Fuck you Erdin! I mean why now? We're paladins! We're Diamond Fist Company for Sovereigns' sake!" for Sovereigns' sake!"
"Is there a problem?" Asked another paladin as he approached them.
"Major!" They both saluted the man in unison.
"At ease." He sighed. "Now what seems to be the problem."
Rhen glanced at Erdin for a brief moment. "I was… Merely discussing my discontent about our new orders… Sir!"
"Rhen!"
"Sir?"
"As of this moment I order you to shut the fuck up, and consider that a standing order until I tell you otherwise. Now how about the two of you fall in line."
"Sir!" Said Erdin as he and Rhen went back to meet the others.
The The company was formed up as Major Morraine took roll call to make sure they were all gathered. Akela looked over a map of the swamp to determine the spy's location, and route. was formed up as Major Morraine took roll call to make sure they were all gathered. Akela looked over a map of the swamp to determine the spy's location, and route.
"Looks like everyone's here ma'am. Where will you have us go?"
"I will take a small team to search the area. I want the rest of the company to block off these routes here, and cut them off."
"Will do. Rules of engagement?"
"I want the spy alive if possible. Above all though you kill the Dolsurians they come into contact with. Not a single bit of information gets through."
"Understood ma'am. Erdin, Rhen, and Weylok you're with us. The rest of you block the roads."
Akela and her group scoured the swamps in search of tracks for their spy. Akela stopped immediately when she noticed some trampled grass. She picked up a small blade of grass, and looked around to find the direction the tracks were headed.
"Is it our spy ma'am?" Asked Morraine.
"Probably. Could also be an animal." Akela then transformed to pick up any strange scents. "I smell… Blood."
Akela moved as carefully as possible looking at everything and anything that seemed out of place when she finally spotted some dry blood on a broken branch. Akela pulled out her knife to carve a piece of it out. She sniffed the dried blood as scent permeated her nostrils, and finally she could focus on her target. She finally got a lead on their scent, and sprinted to their location. The paladins went after her as she closed in on her target. Akela stopped dead in her tracks as she signaled the others to do the same.
"Hostiles?" Whispered Morraine.
"Not quite." She answered.
Akela then pulled out her spyglass to look ahead and spotted a small makeshift camp just a few yards ahead.
"Camp up ahead." She said as she handed her spyglass to Morraine.
"I see it. Erdin and Rhen circle around and cut them off at the other end. Weylok take the left side. We'll go on your word ma'am."
"There'll be none of that. The camp's abandoned." Said Akela as she stood up and walked towards the camp.
The rest of the paladins did the same. As the camp came into view Akela signaled them to stop. The camp was a total mess indicating signs of a struggle. She examined the footprints. She noticed that one footprint was deeper than the other which indicated that the injury was on his leg. She also noticed the way the footprints were planted indicated that they were limping. Akela then saw a second set of prints that belonged to an animal.
"Major are there any four legged animals here that almost drag themselves across the mud, have long tails too, with a nasty bite?"
"Akkrins ma'am. They have a poisonous bite. They weaken their prey before moving in to attack."
"I see that explains why it's such a mess. Alright then let's move out."
As they moved through the swamp following the footprints they could hear the distinct noise of gunfire in the distance.
"Looks like we found the Dolsurians first." Said Morraine as the group stopped.
"Quite the opposite. Those shots are coming in not out, they found you first."
"Shit! Are you sure ma'am?"
"I wouldn't be a Prowler Commando if all I could use was my nose. Let's go our prey went this way."
Morraine looked towards the direction of the gunfire. "Shit!" He cursed under his breath as he followed Akela deeper into the swamp.
"I don't get it why's this guy moving deeper into the swamp? And in the opposite direction too?" Asked Erdin.
"Given his injury it's best for him to avoid patrols, and he sure as shit ain't gonna take any chances with that leg of his. Besides he's not well armed. He probably only has a knife on him." Explained Akela.
"Makes sense."
Rhen walked up behind Erdin. "I don't trust her. Something else is going on."
"I thought the Major ordered you to shut the fuck up." Erdin reminded Rhen.
Akela then stopped dead in her tracks. "If you have a problem with me paladin then say it to my face. After all…" She gazed at him. "I didn't order you to shut the fuck up."
Rhen could feel Major Morraine glaring daggers at him. "No need ma'am. I'll keep it under control."
"See that you do."
The group stopped by the dead akkrin between four and five feet in length. It had some blood on its mouth and a stab wound on its head. Akela dipped her fingers into its skull to determine if maggots had set in to determine how fresh the kill was. To her benefit there were none. She looked at the creature's claws to see if it had torn a piece of fabric in its attempt to eat the spy, and found a small piece still attached. As Akela was about to sniff the piece of cloth she heard something shift in the water.
"Have your weapons at the ready. We've got company." She said as she pulled out her sword.
"Form a circle now!" Ordered Morraine as the paladins formed up around the dead creature.
Akela scanned the murky and swamped waters as she noticed several creatures swimming in their direction. Suddenly six creatures leapt from the water at a distance of almost eight feet.
"Ah shit! We've got vetrils! Everyone scatter!" Ordered Akela as the vetrils let out a toxic gas from their sacs.
Vetrils had two huge eyeballs the size of melons with smooth and moist skin. They produced a deadly gas that they stored in their throats, and released at will. In addition, they could jump incredibly high and far. They ate whatever they could get their short beaks into.
Akela threw her knife at one of the vetril's eyes. The beast shrieked in agony. Akela then rushed towards the creature, and quickly cut it in half. Major Morraine watched as Weylok accidentally inhaled some of the toxic gas, and started puking. At first it was his lunch then he puked blood, and he did not stop. Morraine aimed his automatic crossbow at Weylok, whom looked at him with pleading eyes to make it stop, and pulled the trigger. Erdin and Rhen unloaded their crossbows onto the jumping creatures as they leapt away in fear.
"Motherfuckers! Why the fuck would Khemmel make these fucking things too!? Wasn't enough to have us kill each other!? We have these bastards to deal with!" Cursed Rhen as he looked at Weylok's body.
"Leave it alone Rhen." Said Erdin as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Fuck!"
"Sorry for your loss Major."
Morraine pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not as much as I'm going to be when I write the letter home. He just got a letter that his boy turned three a few days ago too. Shit."
"Then I guess this is as far as you can go. I'll head out on my own. You three can tend to the body." Ordered Akela.
"Thanks ma'am. Take my crossbow just in case."
"Thank you."
Akela then followed the scent towards her prey. She found crawling marks that led to the exposed roots of a huge tree. As she approached the tree she noticed the spy was sweating profusely, and his injury had become sceptic and infected. The spy held his knife up, but could barely muster the strength to do so.
"Wasn't much of a chase." She said as she stood before the spy.
"He… Shit… He said you'd find me eventually, but I didn't believe him."
"Well he and I do go back a long way. Where is he?"
"The Black Hand of Tobursk will… Ugh…" The spy died.
Akela sighed as she searched the spy. She then found a letter. She opened it up.
Dear Wolfmother,
If you're reading this then it means you're getting colder.
Signed, Niketas
P.S. Tell the old team I send my regards. Especially the Captain and the Sergeant seeing as how they've been recently promoted.
"Jackass." She said as she tucked the note inside her pocket.
She cut the sleeves off of the spy and found the legionnaire tattoo.
"So he got to you too huh? Well… Doesn't matter."
Akela placed several nearby fallen branches on top of the former legionnaire's body as well as around it. She then pulled out a match, lit it, and watched the body burn.
"Don't you worry Niketas. I will find you. That I can promise you."
Akela returned to the camp shortly thereafter. She reported to the General to let him know of her immediate departure.
"Permission to come inside General."
"Granted."
"Sir! I have finished my mission, and will resume my activities elsewhere."
"And the spy?"
"Dead sir. He succumbed to his wounds from the swamp's creatures. At least the information didn't get through."
"Some good news at least."
"What about Diamond Fist Company sir? I know they engaged the Dolsurians."
"Just the one casualty. A few injuries, but I'm told they'll live."
"Good to know sir."
"Yes well. Off you go then. I'd rather not keep you any longer than I should otherwise the Prowler Commandos will come looking for me next."
"Well it's a nice home you have out in Kokabiel sir."
The General was stunned by the fact that she knew where his home was.
"How did you…"
"Wasn't that hard really. The pipe on your desk. It's pretty ornate. Judging by the fact that it's still white, and hasn't yellowed from the tobacco I can deduce that it is very expensive, and they sell them in very few places. In addition, the only bones that could handle that are bones from a diamondback which roam around Kokabiel. Am I wrong?"
"You certainly deserve your bars Colonel Akela."
"Thank you sir. I'll take my leave then."
Akela left the tent and made her way towards one of the outgoing wagons.
"Time to go meet Teshin at Legionnaire's Vigil."