[4 SYSTEM HOURS AFTER EXTRACTION]
"We've arrived"
"Er....excuse me, sir"
"Please don't call me sir, I'm MUCH, MUCH younger than you are"
[Sire I don't believe he understands HOW much younger you are. Perhaps you could tell him you are a couple of days-]
'Zip it Argos' Aedhira chided his Aide.
He looked back to....
[Bearof]
Right, he looked back at Bearof. And he didn't like what he saw.
Sagging shoulders, from exhaustion or the build-up of wounds? He didn't know. His armour, light as it was, a couple of pieces of misshapen metal tied together at the vitals, namely the joints and the chest. Discoloured, dented, scratched, torn almost like cloth from...as far as he could tell, days of unending waves of Fyrraths.
Bags under his sleep-deprived eyes, scraggy hair and that godawful beard.
And the worst part? The refugees, civilians and combatants alike didn't look any better. Considering Bearof was at the very frontlines, at least Aedhira assumed as much, for each and every single confrontation so far, he was in remarkably better shape than expected.
Emphasis on 'expected'.
Aedhira sighed. He didn't feel comfortable. Not when such a man, an OLD man, looked at him with such...pleading(?) eyes.
"Well, get on with it, spit it out"
"Sir....where are we?"
"Ah, well..." he said, looking at the seemingly insurmountable in front of them. And at the very bottom of it, was a hole-errr cave. As if someone had stuck a load of explosives and blown it from the inside, which to some effect, WAS what he did.
"That's, my ride"
Bearof frowned. "The hole?"
Now Aedhira frowned. "No, my ride's IN it"
Bearof frowned harder. "You parked your Carriage in a hole-err cave?"
"What? No, of course not. Why would I park in a hole"
"I don't know sir"
"Wha-wait, don't call me-ughh....." Aedhira let out a sigh of frustration. This isn't getting anywhere. He turned around, to look behind him.
3 of the Cargo-class Carriages, were slowly making their way in his direction. And the two Carrier vessels, as he'd come to call them, were trailing close behind. It wouldn't have taken, him nor his Carriers to take 4 hours to get to this point, but predictably, the refugees were slowing him down.
To say the Carriages were in rough shape wouldn't only be an understatement, it'd also be a VERY bold-faced lie.
They were literally falling apart. Fuel lines ruptured and were repaired through poor welding of more familiar pieces of misshapen metal. The engines responsible for keeping the Carriages on the ground were failing, sputtering almost, forcing the Carriage to shiver like a wet cat. In fact, one of them DID fail. Which, much to chagrin left him PUSHING the 70-ton, metal box for nearly 15 minutes before the engines miraculously sputtered back to life.
Lovely.
Now, they were heading back to the Lienus Rail, since he KNEW he wouldn't be able to make it back to Fort Blanche, not only with all these people in tow but also the speed at which they were covering the ground. It'd take a month, or maybe two.
This MAY or may not have been an idea that brought panic for both the refugees in some part, but mostly Aedhira. At least until Argos reminded him he had a railway.
Within the same cave he'd blasted his way through lay the Lienus Rail, in which he PRAYED to his mother that there was enough space.
[There should be enough space for the 127 remaining people]
'You did a head count? When?' Aedhira said mentally.
[When people had made the illogical decision of stepping out into the open, in a field of Fyrrath carcasses to greet the one that had painstakingly kept them alive.]
Right, there was that.
Immediately after the battle, or rather, the massacre of Fyrraths, nearly ALL the refugees had decided that they needed to meet their saviour, in the flesh.
Personally.
Up close.
A crowd of people in Low-pressure Atmosphere Gear, aka LAG suits had made for an amusing memory of dozens of bubble heads surrounding a much smaller and better-looking bubble head.
Aedhira frowned, looking up at nothing in particular. "I think someone's bad-mouthing me"
[Sire, perhaps it'd be wise not to pick a fight with cosmic powers as of this moment]
That shook him up, especially since the feeling that Hoh, of the Jubilis had brought him back on the Rail was still fresh, if only at the back of his mind.
"Fair enough" He was ignorant, not foolish.
He turned back to Bearof.
"That" he pointed at the cave, "is where we're going. Then, we'll get you a lot somewhere...well, I won't say homey, but at least a bit more comfortable."
Bearof looked at him with a grateful smile. "Thank you, sir, for your generosity"
"It's not generosity, just the right thing to do. I'm sure you would too" That seemed to shake Bearof a bit, but he tried not to show it. But then again, not much got past Argos.
Bearof nodded, his expression a mix of gratitude and weariness. "Aye, I would. And I appreciate it, regardless." He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the final leg of their journey. "We best get moving then."
Aedhira watched as Bearof rallied the refugees, his voice firm but kind. The man's endurance was impressive, a testament to his determination and the strength of his spirit. Despite his ragged appearance and exhaustion, Bearof's leadership was unshakeable.
The convoy moved slowly, the battered carriages groaning with every inch they advanced. The sight was disheartening, but Aedhira refused to let despair take hold. He stayed vigilant, his senses tuned to any signs of danger. The memory of the Fyrrath assault was fresh, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
As they approached the cave, Aedhira took a moment to survey the entrance. The blast had created a jagged opening, just wide enough to accommodate the carriages. Inside, the Lienus Rail awaited—a subterranean transit system designed for swift travel across vast distances. It was their ticket to safety.
"Alright, everyone," Aedhira called out, his voice carrying over the noise of the convoy. "We're almost there. Just a bit further."
The refugees responded with a renewed sense of determination, their steps a bit steadier as they pushed onward. Aedhira fell into step beside Bearof, his eyes scanning the surrounding terrain. The storm that had loomed on the horizon earlier was now a distant memory, replaced by a clear sky and the promise of a new day.
As they reached the cave entrance, Aedhira took a deep breath, the cool air a stark contrast to the heat of battle. He guided the first carriage into the cave, the rest following closely behind. The inside of the cave was dimly lit, the walls rough and unpolished, but it was a welcome refuge.
They walked through more holes in walls, slowly approaching the platform in the distance. Soon enough, they'd reached a point, an empty open place in the cavern with enough space for the refugees to leave the Carriages.
As for the Carriers, Aedhira had them unload all the passengers in them, and make the journey back to the Fort on their own. The two troopers had followed him, helping out here and there with the refugees, especially with the more....fragile ones, namely the elderly and the multitude of kids. The other trooper had volunteered to man the Carrier and lead both vessels back to Fort Blanche.
'Argos, lights'
[Accessing mainframe---granted. Booting up Luminous Projectors]
'Fancy word for lights' Aedhira noted.
The cave lit up with a soft, artificial glow, illuminating the rugged interior and revealing the Lienus Rail in all its utilitarian glory. Aedhira's makeshift convoy of battered carriages and weary refugees stood in stark contrast to the sleek, efficient design of the subterranean transport system. The best part about the Lienus Rail? Compared to the Carriages that had been used so far, which had been about 5 meters at best (14 feet), the Rail was large in comparison.
Huge, was perhaps a better word. Nearly 3 times in height, and more in size, it was glorious. At least to Aedhira. The refugees on the other hand...had been quiet.
"What in the ACTUAL FU-"
"Varric, mind yourself" Bearof scolded him sternly.
The young blonde woman beside him, Le'ahna, if Aedhira recalled correctly-
[Affirmative]
nudged Varric in the ribs, which incited a wince and then a painful groan. But the reaction...was probably understandable.
Aedhira chuckled at the startled reactions of the refugees. "Yes, it's quite a sight, isn't it?" he said, gesturing to the massive Lienus Rail system. "Welcome to your temporary home and transportation."
The refugees gazed at the impressive structure, their expressions shifting from shock to awe. The sleek lines and advanced technology of the rail system were a stark contrast to the rugged, makeshift gear they had grown accustomed to.
Bearof stepped forward, his eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and skepticism. "This is...incredible. But are you sure it'll hold all of us?"
Aedhira nodded confidently. "Yes, it will. The Lienus Rail is designed for mass transportation over long distances. We'll be able to get you all to safety much faster and more comfortably than the carriages could ever manage."
He turned to the gathered refugees, raising his voice to ensure everyone could hear. "Everyone, we're going to load onto the rail cars. Please follow the instructions of the troopers and stay together. We'll be departing shortly."
The refugees began to organize themselves, forming lines as they approached the rail cars. The troopers assisted where needed, guiding the elderly and the young, and ensuring everyone was accounted for. Aedhira watched the process, a sense of satisfaction and relief washing over him. They were finally making real progress.
As the last of the refugees boarded, Aedhira made his way to the front of the rail system. He stepped into the control cabin, where a sleek, advanced console awaited him. The interior was surprisingly well-preserved, with touchscreens and holographic displays ready to be activated.
"Alright, Argos, let's get this thing moving," Aedhira said, placing his hand on the console.
[Accessing Lienus Rail mainframe...access granted. Initializing systems...]
The rail hummed to life, the soft glow of the control panels illuminating the cabin. Aedhira felt a surge of excitement as the rail's power systems engaged, the hum growing into a low, resonant thrum that reverberated through the entire structure.
He opened a channel to the passenger compartments. "Attention everyone, this is Aedhira. We are about to depart. Please remain seated and secure yourselves. The journey will be smooth, but it's always better to be safe."
The rail began to move, gliding forward with a smoothness that belied its massive size. The cave walls blurred past as they accelerated, the soft glow of the interior lights creating an almost serene atmosphere. The refugees settled into their seats, their initial trepidation giving way to a cautious sense of hope.
As they picked up speed, Aedhira allowed himself a moment to breathe. The tension of the past hours began to dissipate, replaced by a calm determination. They were not out of danger yet, but they were on the right path.
He glanced at the display, noting the route and estimated time of arrival. "Argos, how's our course?"
[Course is optimal, Sire. Estimated time to Fort Blanche: 45 minutes.]
Aedhira nodded. "Good. Keep monitoring the systems and alert me to any changes."
[Affirmative, Sire.]
He took a deep breath, leaning back in the pilot's seat. The weight of responsibility still pressed heavily on his shoulders, but for now, they were moving forward. The refugees were safe, and they were making progress.
As the rail sped through the subterranean tunnel, Aedhira allowed his mind to wander. He thought of the battles fought, the lives saved, and the challenges yet to come.
"Say, Argos, what now?" he spoke out loud, now that he was alone.
[Well...What did you intend to do?]
"I....I don't know...Before I came rushing for these people, the goal was to get the Fort back to functional capacity. Restore power, bring back the fabricators, the printers, amenities and such.
But now that I know...that I've seen what's looming out there, heck, just behind that horizon...."
[You don't know whether to face it or run]
"Yeah..."
[Perhaps the decision that is pending, is pending for a reason. It is not one to be taken lightly. You have bought yourself some time. In this scenario...the best thing would be to-]
"Sit back and observe?"
[Affirmative. Thankfully your access to the Archives is paying its fair dividends now. What document did you pick out that piece of wisdom?]
"Detective Bronan, the 45th escapade"
[....]
"Yeah"
[Well, it seems your book left out one important piece of advice]
"What would that be?"
[Rest. You've got time to breathe...so...breathe]
Aedhira took in deep breath, letting it 'fill' him and then letting it out.
"I suppose you're right, I'll get some rest. You take care of things topside?"
[Affirmative Sire]
"Very well. Wake me in.... 45 minutes"
[Affirmative]
Aedhira laid back on the pilot's seat, letting himself slacken, letting the tension flow out of him. In just 3 minutes, he was fast asleep.