After the docks were cleaned up both Chop and Bill went to the lodging for a bite before the big night. Both were anxious on the result as both also couldn't completely trust each other. They kept it close to chest though. No sense in showing doubt now. Chop ordered pickled fish in a butter sauce. Bill ordered steak and mash. It was quiet at the table. No one uttered a word, but it a relief too. Similar to the peace before the storm.
The same boy from before ran into the lodging and handed Bill a note and ran out just as he gave it away. Bill didn't read it. He knew what it'd say, he just put it in his pocket and kept eating. Chop saw this and asked "want to tell me about that?"
"no thank you" Bill replied brushing off the curiosity.
This irrated Chop a lot. He kept it to himself though. He had far more pressing issues ahead. The sense of simple life and death was over the horizon and he welcomed it.
After food, both laid a tip to the pretty waitress that served them and left with a filled belly and were prepared to shed and let blood. The lads were rounded up and all were given orders. One group of six were to jump the side fence and cut the power on the given signal. Another five were to take over the front door whilst the rest being ten maybe twelve lads left were to storm the factory and drag four fingers out by his bollucks. Anyone in the way was a casualty.
Chop would lead the charge for four fingers, and Bill would cut the power and cover the back alley with the six lads on power.
Weapons, equipment and discreet armouring were issued and they all jumped into the trucks. It was now the calm before the storm. Some prayed, others phased out of reality briefly whilst the rest quietly spoke amongst themselves or checked they're weapons. There were small arms and melee weapons assorted by size and skill. Within a short bit the sun started setting and the trucks stopped. They'd stopped a little out from the factory and Bill's lads went up the hill crouched as much as possible.
Chop and the rest went up the road and stopped outside the gate. Bill and the lads tossed a blanket over the fence and climbed a over the blanket avoiding the barbed wire. Getting into the power house they hung around as extra hands to not tip off the mechanic that had been there.
Chop got his lads to hang around whilst the first five lads knocked out the front gate, once done all the lads rushed through.
Bill rounded up his six lads, "alright lads we're here for four Fingers and blackjack himself, he's been selling us out to the slum kids"
The lads were surprised by this but Bill continued,"both die tonight, they're not lads so no trial needed. Remember lads army are family"
They all nodded and waited for the signal. The mechanic there was suspicious of them, so they tied him to a power line via copper wiring around his neck. If he did anything sudden they'd overdrive the power with him connected. Back with Chop, he'd cracked heads, beaten down any resistance to the storm. The front gate was now lads territory and the factory door was being bashed in by sledge hammers and roped up wine barrels on a hoist.
Chop got impatient as per usual and took part in the seige as it were with a sledge hammer. In short time the door was broken, but the charge was halted by machine gun fire. Most of the lads got out of the way, the rest fell very quick. This firing was the signal needed so Bill ordered the power lines overcharged hence both the factory power and the mechanic got fried violently. When the power cut out the lads ran from the outside wall to the inside walls going for cover as they progressed. For some it felt just like the trenches all over. Chop made a straight charge to the machine gunner holding a sledge hammer. When he got close enough he threw it at the small wiry man at the trigger. It knocked him off the gun and head first into the ground.
Chop looked over the machine gun quickly and saw it had half a line left and in good condition. He undid the gun mounts and carried it with him. In many instances he fired upon those in the factory til he end up sticking the barrel down the throat of a guy almost his size. The adrenalin rush was keeping him from feeling the bruises and cuts from knives and punches.
Back to Bill, he'd now sent his lads down the back alley that had been minorly flooded. He'd brought some copper wiring and a battery. They found a crate for the battery as to not short it out, attaching the copper wires he tossed the exposed ends into the biggest puddle and ordered one of the lads to cover the battery.
"don't step in the water or your pushing daisies" Bill said quietly.
They pushed on avoiding the water puddles. One of the lads like Bill had a Hatchet shovel, he'd begun hacking at the door near the handle and hinges. Once he heard movement on the other side he signalled they all get to wall next to the door. He was right to do so as gun fire peppered the door. It was then kicked down two guys only to get chopped in the throat by a shovel's serrated end. Two lads took out small pistols, aimed around the corner and fired near blindly due to the flash. It hit but didn't kill. Both men hit fell to the ground screaming in pain. Bill and the lads rushed in and finished the gunmen quickly as they moved up a flight of stairs with the two lads with guns on point.
Now enters Mr blackjack, a man who was never a lad but took the group by the curlies and made them a little more than street thugs with war trauma. He was ambitious, dishonest by conditioning and a gambler just like Four Fingers. Him and four fingers were good friends both had not served due to hiding out on enlisting day. He was angry and terrified on the commotion going on, he'd decided not to find four fingers as he knew he was a survivor. He was going to go out the main office door but as he went for the door three shots hit it startling him.
He went out the back window falling onto his gun which was tucked away in his pocket. He'd hurt his knee on the fall too so he was slowed greatly. His fancy shoes were loud on ground which made it easy to track him.
"CHOP WHERE ARE YOU, YOU OVERSIZED BASTARD!!" he yelled as he put all his effort into evading his pursuers.
It was pointless. He fell over a leaking barrel which gave his pursuers time to catch up. It was Bill that got to him first.