Duratai stepped out of the elevator. He was on the lowest point in the resistance headquarters. He had a bust few years. His formal jacket held no awards. His face carried his experience on it as scars and age. But now his plans were so close to coming to their ultimate goal. The lower floor was nearly one hundred meters under the ground. The ceiling and walls were lined with thick lead infused walls. He entered a single massive room that had been constructed into a natural cave then extended as the years marched on. Everywhere there were men and woman tinkering and building devices of victory for the resistance. Today he had been asked to come down and witness the unveiling of Keth's brain child. Naturally the so called God of Minds would not be in attendance. Besides for Duratai, no other resistance members could be made aware of his dealings with the chosen. Yet the unlikely alliance between himself and that man had brought on a new age for his people. Undoubtedly Keth was furthering his own ambitions also. But trying to understand the mind of one so ancient was not Duratai's intention. He only knew that the chosen had delivered to him their own end.
In one of the more recessed and secure parts of the resistance research facility was a triple door system. Each door had to be unlocked with a double key combination. Duratai had insisted on the security during the construction of his grand project. Today however the doors stood open to his great relief. Beyond these doors stood some of his most trusted men and commanders. The excitement and rumours would all be put the test today. Once he reached the back of the room he placed a hand on an object was draped in white cloth. He turned and stared at those in attendance.
"Good day to you all." He said curtly. This was met with a near simultaneous salute from everyone in the room. They then took their seats and the silence was broken only by the work being done elsewhere in the facility. He signalled a guard at the back of the room. The doors slammed shut and immediately the people in the room, who all had their suspicions about the last time Duratai held a meeting like this, became nervous. They however remained as they were, believing that they had served the High Commander loyally. This was indeed why they had been asked to come.
"Today is a day that will mark a turn in the tides." He started. "I present to you all…" He paused for effect, then pulled the cloth off the object, revealing a strange weapon. It's barrel appeared square and split in the centre. The rest looked not unlike an assault rifle except for some cylindrical shapes that stood off the weapon's rear.
"Ladies and gentleman. The God Killer." Duratai stood tall and proud.
Applause roared through the room. He waved his hands to quiet down the troops with little disappointment that they took a while to stop.
"What you see here has taken us years to manufacture. With this weapon we can finally hurt and in fact kill and of the false gods we choose." Gasps from the room.
"We have acquired ammunition that when fired from this weapon will stop the chosen dead, if you'll excuse the pun." Another round of applause.
"We have the tools now. What we need are soldiers. To echo High Commander Tamril's wishes, we need a consolidated raid to acquire more troops. Now while our natural born resistance fighters are without equal, our numbers are short for the plans that lie ahead. I am authorising full scale action to obtain some of the mush eaters for our cause. Each of your bases should be in possession of… Convincing arguments on why they should join our cause. Our plants in each encampment have been feeding information on when and where to strike." He strolled about the room looking at everyone in turn. "In and out is the only way to guarantee success. With any luck the islanders will not involve themselves in the affairs of the bottom dwellers. They perhaps see it as beneath them." This drew snickers from the audience and left a satisfied smile on Duratai's weathered face. The resistance under Duratai had been flying below the islander's radar efficiently so far. This was the most risky part of his greater plan.
After some detailed discussion he dismissed those assembled.
"Commander Juripa." Duratai called. Juripa was the commander that took over Duratai's position as commander of the base that controlled the region near Thay, the island of Kez Visat himself. The Shadow Dweller town was well defended by three rings of walls constructed by the Seer himself. No raid had been attempted on the dwelling since for fear of the chosen acting against the resistance again. Juripa stepped over to his Supreme Commander and saluted.
"Commander. I know you have a delicate position. You are confident that you can accomplish a raid on the town below Thay?"
"Without question Supreme Commander." The man said without hesitation.
"Please be aware that your area was never intended to take part in these raids due to the history there."
"I thank you sir, but I have planned this for years. Everything should go smoothly, baring intervention by the Mother Goddess herself." The men laughed.
"Well I wouldn't worry about that. I am sure she has long since left Cyla in the hands of her toadies."
"I believe so to Supreme Commander."
"Well then commander, I wish you well in particular." The man understanding that he had been dismissed saluted, turned on his heel and marched out beaming with pride. Duratai was not so confident, as he knew from experience that Kez Visat had little sympathy for the resistance. Hard men have defied him and fallen hard. Duratai took out his display and marked another item off his check list. The coming weeks would make or break his plan. He looked over to the weapon and ran his fingers down the length of the barrel.
"Good girl. Soon you will be ready and this world will be free from those who would put themselves above the rest." Duratai saluted the staff in the room and marched out, taking a swig of his 'Kit juice' as the troops called it. There would be no rest for Duratai until every last chosen had fallen along with their islands.