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Grievous Wylde.

The Outsider.

0 · 473 views · located in The Flats

a character in “White Group.”, as played by Bosch

Description

http://www.wallgc.com/images/2013/02/sa ... hentic.jpg



Physical description

Wylde is a man of average height with a muscled frame. He usually dresses quite casually although when in combat he wears a robe and trousers that do not mark him out as a confederate Solider.

Personality.

Loyalty, professionalism and dedication are what define Wylde. He is Loyal to the Confederacy and the Grand General. He will stop at nothing to achieve his goals and places the wishes of the Grand General above all other concerns.

Equipment & Abilities

He carries a long sword and a short sword as well as short barrelled Shotgun. He is a member of the Cabal which means he has received the best training the Confedracy has to offer. While it may not put him on an equal footing with a Guardian of Hope, a White Group Assassin would have their hands full with him.

Historical Background:

Grievous Wylde is a member of The Cabal, a semi secret organisation in the Confedrate Army under direct control of the Grand General. Wylde has been put in charge of a five man squad that has been sent to the Flats in an attempt to break the insurgency and investigate the Murder of Roland Grey.

He is a veteran of many battles for the Confederacy and has survived countless times when death seemed a certainty. This has led to the good natured joke in the Cabal that he is part Tanu.

So begins...

Grievous Wylde.'s Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Colonel Augustus Autumn Character Portrait: Grievous Wylde. Character Portrait: Gretch Character Portrait: Jenner Reese
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#, as written by Bosch
Epilogues.

Alexander entered the Workshop but slowed his walk when he noticed James Costner leaning against a wall blocking his path to Jenner.

“Gonna have to slow your wagon there Hombre.” James said as he held out his hand in a lackadaisical stop gesture. “Miss Reese knows you didn't kill Chop Chop. Now that’s your call but she can’t be having someone running around here that can’t follow orders.”

"Don't wanna talk to you James, I want the boss."

“I don’t want any trouble and neither do you. You know we got enough people down here to kill you about ten times.”

"Of course I know that. I feel what I did was right."

“You make your own choices Lancaster, but I’ll tell you this for nothing. That Gretch is an animal a sick goddamn animal and he’ll turn on you faster than a rabid dog. You know he danced and laughed when...” Costner bit his tongue before continuing. “He’s sick. Just watch who you trust is what I mean.”

"You think I don't know what kind of man he is? I'll kill him the first chance I get, but until the feds are gone he is the only man who can stop them. He's the only one willing to fight the kind of fight we need to fight to beat 'em."

“Bottom line is you’re out. You no longer work for the White Group. Now we don’t want this to turn ugly and whether it does or not is up to you but know that if you decide to cause problems for us we can cause problems for you. Like is Tarkan or that kid’s home.”

"Don't you dare talk about those kids. if you touch the..."

“Nobody here wants to do that. So it’s up to you how this plays out.” James said as he held up his hands in a 'no offence' gesture.

"I have no problem with the White Group you guys have treated me alright. I'll leave."

“Good if it means anything I understand why you’re doing what you’re doing. I don’t want the Feds here neither but in this situation it’s hard to tell whether or not Gretch is the lesser of two evils. You remember New Mesa under his rule? Can’t really tell the difference between that and Confederate rule.”

"I don't care about New Mesa or the Flats, I care about my kids. They're mostly Ochil which means if the Feds win they'll take them up to the flats as slaves. That's a fact, that is what will happen. But, with Gretch he may actually leave them alone and if he doesn't he'll probably kill 'em fast."

“Well just felt I hadda say my piece. Keep your nose clean.”

#


Colonel Augustus Autumn stood over the broken corpse of Roland Grey and tutted gently.

“I assume the passageway used by the assassin and escapees was found?”

“And sealed, sir.”

“Excellent. You are to track down those that escaped and only those that escaped.”

Captain Cole nodded.

“Only those involved Cole. Mister Grey here had too much say in how operations were conducted on the Flats.”

“If you don’t mind me asking sir why was that? A lot of the men say he was... funny.”

“I assume by funny you mean his peculiar sexual appetites.”

Cole looked at the floor and blushed. Autumn rolled his eyes Cole had killed more people than he could count yet talking about sex embarrassed him.

“Mister Grey was a member of the Cabal, that is why he was given such scope in the Confederacy.”

“The Cabal... but they just a kids story.”

“They are that but the tales of derring-do we read as child are somewhat inflated. The Cabal does exist though and they answer only to the Grand General. Grey was sent along with us as a Specialist.”

“What about Joland his brother?”

“The brother was nothing, had none of Roland’s hardness. Which, depending how you look at it, may not have been a bad thing. The body still hasn’t been found?”

“No sir.”

“Well looks like you have a second objective Captain. He cannot have fled far. We should be getting troop reinforcements within the week, Mundus has seen our success and wishes to see it continue. The next target is Farpoint which shouldn’t prove too much of a problem. Of course that leaves the two tough nuts. Hope and Skycove. Once we have taken the major population centres the small towns should not present a problem.”

“Very good sir.”

“Dismissed captain.”

#

Autumn returned to his office and lifted a pen. He quickly wrote a report explaining the death of Roland Grey and attached it to one of the large homing birds they used to transport sensitive messages. It would be back in Mundus before the end of the week.
Although Autumn knew what the response would be he hoped he was wrong.

#

The wind howled through the dunes kicking up a fair bit of dust but the Sniper was sure he could still make the shot. It was dusk and in a few moments it would be so dark they would have call off the ambush but just as things seemed dire a confederate uniform marched into view followed by four more.

“You got a shot?” His spotter asked.

“Yes.”

“Ok they’re moving into position.”

A long moment passed.

“Ok they’re good to go on you.”

Without hesitation the sniper pulled the trigger ending the life of the confederate soldier who had been in his scope. He tried to acquire another target but the ambush team had already emerged from their hiding places and were opening fire. In less than ten seconds the confederate patrol was dead.

The Sniper observed his unit as they searched the bodies collecting whatever weapons and ammo they could. When they were done they ran toward the sniper and spotter.

Once the team had regrouped the leader pulled down his Keffiyeh revealing the face of James Squire.

“Excellent shot. Got him straight through the temple.” Squire said slapping the sniper on the shoulder. The Sniper, an Ochillian, smiled.

“Trick is to use the dunes for windage.” He explained. “Plus these guns are pretty good, not old world but pretty good.”

“Yeah looks like Gretch pulled through we’ll see what other goodies we’re able to get our hands on with the next delivery.”

#

Autumn watched as the troop transport docked at New Mesa from the fortified casino that was the confederate base of operations.

He counted squads of regulars and Specials disembarking as well as a group of engineers.

“Idiots.” Autumn muttered under his breath when he saw the engineers disembarking.

Twenty minutes later he was speaking to the leader of the engineers in his office.

“I understand you have your orders Colonel but I have mine as well and they say I gotta open up train links between here and The Peaks. Post haste. Says right here.”

Autumn looked at the grubby page the Engineer Captain was showing him. “Please stop jabbing your orders under my nose. I’m telling you the situation on the ground is very fluid, we lost a patrol last night to a Terrorist ambush. Your railway will act as a magnet for saboteurs and frankly even with reinforcements I don’t have the man power to protect you or your people.”

“I understand where you’re coming from Colonel but orders is orders.”

“Alright Captain I’m combat, you’re support so I have no jurisdiction over you so do as you please but I urge you to strongly consider the safety of your men first.”

“Noted Colonel.” The Engineering Captain said before leaving.

Once he was gone Autumn sighed. The Captain was young and eager to prove himself as a man. This was difficult in the Engineers as they were support division and therefore rarely saw combat.

#

“He’ll see you now.”

The man nodded and walked down a long hallway the clicking of his heels on the floor like a metronome.

He pushed open a tall door and entered the Grand General’s office.

“Wylde. Reporting for duty.” Said Wylde a man of 5’11 with jet black hair.

The Grand General was sitting behind a very ornate desk on the far side of the room but he stood the great his guest.

“Grievous thank you for coming so quickly. I received a troubling report about one of your comrades.”
Both men began walking towards each other but The High General stopped in front of a table covered in sand. Wylde recognised it as a model map the High Commissioner was found of having made. The room had many such dioramas, each one representing a theatre where the Confederate army was currently deployed.

“Roland Grey was killed on the Flats and it would only seem appropriate for a member of the Cabal to investigate his death.”

“Of course but Grey wasn’t combat, we used him for interrogations. How’d he die?” Wylde’s voice had a mysterious quality to it that was due to his slow speaking speed. A hangover from a childhood stutter he had overcome.

“I know it would seem he was assassinated. Which means I think Colonel Autumn may be slightly over his head. Not to diminish the man’s accomplishments but he’s a big thinker who understands total warfare, this situation requires a more nuanced approach.”

“The Cabal.”

“Yes you are to assemble a team and assist Colonel Autumn so he can focus on further conquest rather than the insurgents.”

“I’ll need four others to conduct my job to a satisfactory standard.”

“As always you have my full support for whatever requirements you have.”

“Very good sir. Work will commence immediately.”

Less than two hours later a squad of Five hand selected Cabal Members were on an Airship and bound for the Flats.

Jobs

White Group Jobs

Going Deeper.

Target- The missing Archaeological team led by Doctor Llewellyn Coleman.

Location- The River Mine.

Information- Doctor Coleman is an academic, a rare thing in the Confederacy. Like all male members of the Confederacy he is officially a member of the Confederate Army although he doesn’t wear a uniform and all reports suggest he abhors violence. His role is that of research and development for the Confederate Army. Often times this role means he reverse engineers Old World Tech.

This means he has clocked up quite a few miles in airships travelling to and from dig sights. One such Dig site is the long abandoned River Mine to the South of the Flats. Apparently the mine was abandoned over twenty years ago by the fledgling River Mining Company. As that was the companies first mine the business failed leaving this mine their only mine hence the name.
No doubt you’ll have heard the numerous ghost stories that are associated with the mine, that the mine has a mind of it’s own or that the shafts seem to twist and shift at will. Of course this is all nonsense.

Doctor Coleman’s interest in the mine was piqued when he learned one of the Shafts by sheer good fortune happened to run into an Old World bunker perhaps not too dissimilar from our Workshop. He brought a small team of researchers down with him and hired some guards. They had been excavating for a about a four days before they failed to emerge from the mine.

I have been directly contacted by Coleman’s daughter who I was friendly with as a child and believes I still live of the Flats working as a barmaid. She reached out asking if I had a few adventurous friends who could look for her father. Little was she to know I work with a team of Assassins.

The job is to enter the River Mine and locate Doctor Coleman, his two research assistants and if possible recover the four Mercenaries that went in with them although they are not a priority. Then guide the whole lot back to the surface.

- Jenner Reese.

Gretch Jobs

A Fisher of Men.

Target- Guardian Patrol. Their hands. Confederate Patrol.

Location- The Badlands.

Information- First old Charlie gets FIRED now you! Still White Group's loss is my gain even if it is a fuckwit like you.
Before we begin I don’t want you thinking I forgot that fucking shit at the casino but right now we got bigger problems than you being a mother fucker. Maybe, if you do real good work, I won’t hunt you down feed you your own face before I kill ya.
Perhaps that’s a story for another time.

You wanna work for me you gotta take the shit work, in my tribe that means the dangerous stuff. See here’s the problem I got a lot of guys and gals who’re ready to go out there and fight and die for the Flats. Problem is they’re all Tribals, now while there aint nothing wrong with Tribals they aint none too bright and on raids against the Feds they go down faster than a New Mesa Hooker. That’s why we need some back up, some people who will actually fuck these Fed assholes up and not get deaded in the process.

Now before you start thinking that mean hombre is you I can tell you it aint, you’re small time, a fucking delivery boy, compared to I have in mind. We need the Guardians outta hope. Those fuckers been sitting on their hands way toooooooooooooo long. Need to get them in the fight.

Looks like they got themselves a deal with the Feds where they both just leave each other alone. We gotta end that or more truthfully you gotta end that. So here’s the plan.

Step 1. Find some Guardians out on patrol and kill em.

Step 2. If you’re still alive (no shame in it if you aint them Guardians are some tough fuckers) you gotta cut off their hands, the one with the tattoos. Collect up all them hands. Maybe fuck around with bodies if that’s your thing. I like fire but I guess you already know that. HAHA.

Step Three. You gotta find and kill a confederate Patrol. This shouldn’t be too much bother.

Step four. Sprinkle the Hands on top of the Confederate Corpses and that’s your fucking lot.

See the Guardians will send someone out to see what happened to their boys, this investigating asshole will find a bunch of dead handless Guardians then find a bunch of dead Feds with the Guardian’s dick beaters. No way Singh can keep outta the war after that and boom the ‘federate fucks are fighting on two sides.

I can tell this is going to a beautiful working relationship, now off you fuck.

- Your Frendo Gretch

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Colonel Augustus Autumn Character Portrait: Grievous Wylde. Character Portrait: Ruby Gowen Character Portrait: Jenner Reese
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Target Objective: Dr. Llewellyn Coleman.
Target Location: The Old River Mines

The River Mine Myth

Ruby gripped the side of her left arm, a short jolt of pain pulsated through it, reminding her what was at stake when her luck ran out. Over the last few weeks Ruby had racked up more than a lifetime of death sentences by Confederate ruling and she knew the lucky escapes she'd managed during her missions had to be running out soon. But still, Ruby was persistent and if she was going to die, she reasoned it might as well be in a blaze of glory and entertainment leaving a hole the size of the earth in the Confederate army ranks. Although she wasn't entirely sure Miss Reese was acting objectively seeing as this mission and the last one resulting in Alexander’s dismissal had seemed biased, Ruby didn't question her leader and so now here she stood, outside the solemn entrance to the River mine.

The mine was at the bottom of a large quarry to the south of the Flats, only half a mile from the Diando River - the birthplace of the River Mine company and the founding fathers of this mine for which it was named after. The bottom of the quarry was hardened and like an oven. The blaring heat of the Flats, even at this time of year seemed to growing harsher and harsher as the days went on. Ruby almost pondered if it was ominously reflecting the situation of the Flats itself.

Ruby eyed the entrance for the fourth time in a row. Getting out of the Workshop was what she had been itching to do, but after Miss Reese had removed Ruby's tactical ban until the heat on her lessened slightly, she hadn't anticipated it would be, to be sent down another hole in the ground. Ruby clenched her teeth and took a deep breath. The other factor that she was being assigned to rescue some Confederate scientist also didn't sit too well with her. But the fact of the matter was, Alexander had absconded the White Group and Miss Reese seemed extra flustered lately, and the least Ruby felt she could do for Miss Reese was at least one favour. So Ruby sucked it up and took a deep breath. She knew the stories of this old mine, she knew what she had to do, but in truth, she didn't know what to expect. So Ruby sucked it up and made the first steps into the deep decent of the River mine. The entrance was largish in it's own right, but the light from outside made it seem pitch black from the get go. It was when Ruby was only about twelve feet in that she suddenly went light headed and before could process what was happening, she collapsed.

The Truth About the River Mine and the Disappearance of Colonel Autumn

When Ruby groggily began to come to, she had no idea how long she'd been out for, but it felt like she had been unconscious for quite a while. Ruby rubbed her head gently and quickly checked herself over, realizing she was unarmed. The realisation her guns had been taken alerted Ruby to glance her surroundings and it was then she realised she was in some sort of holding cell. It was formal looking too; three walls were smooth concrete albeit cracked here and there, but nothing significant. The fourth wall of course, consisted of metal bars with a sliding door pulled shut and locked tight. In her cell Ruby had a concrete slab, possibly supposed to be a bed and a toilet with a basin, that after trying, did not work. Ruby felt a twinge of pain radiate up her arm suddenly realising it was grazed on top of the gun wounds. She grabbed her arm releasing she must have been dragged here as suddenly a voice broke her confusion.

"Ah! Y-you're awake! T-t-that's good! I thought Colonel Autumn was going to kill you to be honest... he was blabbering about h-h-how you deserved to die!"

Ruby rubbed her arm as she turned around to look out her cell and across the way into another cell where an averaged height man stood gripping the bars. He had ruffled light brown hair, a few days worth of beard growth and tired looking blue eyes. He looked to be around his late fifties, dressed in some pretty hardy looking clothes, but on the shoulder of his jacket Ruby could see the obnoxious symbol of the Confederacy, a five pointed star circled by several other stars. Ruby knew each small star circling your center star stood for your rank within the confederacy. This man seemed to be fairly high up, and yet he was in a cell like Ruby and talking about Colonel Augustus Autumn.

"Y-you, I've h-h-heard about you... It t-took Colonel Autumn all but t-two seconds to recog-g-gnise you!"

Ruby moved to the bars in her cell, resting her forearms of the support horizontal beam, leaning into the bars as she stared ar the man across what she could now see was a hallway lined with more cells,

"First of all, who the fuck are you? Second of all, where the fuck are we? And third of all, what the fuck is going on? I was in the River Mine near the Diando River and suddenly wake up here after some sort of bullshit..."

The man across the way sort of smiled pathetically, giving Ruby and empathetic smile before explaining everything to her.

"W-well. You can call me L-Lew. I work for - did w-work for the Confederacy, but unfortunately for me, we don't s-see eye to eye on some things... As f-for where we are... Well, technically you are i-in the R-river mine... But y-you're actually in an o-o-old world facility of some kind... It was discovered only a week ago by accident! Some Confedearate researchers accidentally broke a wall of t-the mine shafts in the mine... I-I think it was used as an emergency facility... They u-used it as a means of last resort! Y-you see, I think there was some k-kind of-"

"Cut to the chase Lew!” Ruby interrupted,

"Oh, s-sorry... I get rather carried away d-don't I! Anyway, This old world facility.. It was used to store things... Weapons and m-more to be precise. That's why the Confederacy is here... T-that's why I am here too, researching the old world a-artifacts found here spec-"

"Specifically any weaponry found here is that right?" Ruby interrupted "And you're Doctor Llewellyn Coleman aren't you?"

Dr Coleman nodded, Clearly surprised that Ruby knew who he was. Ruby wasn't wasting anytime either. Shed guessed she'd fallen into some sort of trap by the Confederacy and the immediate name drop of Autumn made her uneasy.

"T-that's right, how did you know?"

"I was sent here to rescue you Dr. Coleman. Your daughter has been worried."

"She's alive? and she's ok?!"

Ruby shot him a look of confusion, trying gauge what this man was all about. Clearly he was Confederate, the markings on his clothes suggested it, although they weren't exactly formal like usual, but then Ruby remembered to expect that. She sized him up again, now she understood what Miss Reese was talking about; Dr Coleman for all intents and purposes was nothing but a Confederate tool.

"Why wouldn't she be? Having her daddy as a high up in the Confederate Army? I'd be positive that would secure anyone within a family like that a lifetime of security.."

Dr Coleman's face dropped from relief to concern and sadness,

"T-that would only be if the family member within in the C-Confederacy was cooperating Miss Doom.."

"What do you mean? You've been researching old world tech for the confederacy for years haven't you?"

"T-true Miss Doom... That was until I learned what I was doing was being u-used f-f-for."

Ruby cocked an eyebrow, this man was something more than Ruby had anticipated and to be honest, she was starting to question exactly what the Confederacy had planned since her parlay of Joland Grey had returned half-cryptic clues, but worrying clues nonetheless.

"Alright, Alright, you need to step back a moment and start making sense Dr. Coleman. I was sent here to get you by your daughter as a favour to someone close to her. I was told you were a researcher into old world technology for the Confederacy... Now normally i'd ignore what you're saying and assume the Confederacy is just running it's usual bullshit oppression, but you know what? You wouldn't be the first person in the last little while to be questioning their beloved country and people... So what the fuck is happening? What is going on down here?"

Dr. Coleman raised his head when Ruby began speaking about his daughter again, a look of relief crossing his face as Ruby seemed to talk about her freely, as though she was under no constraints, then his eyes widened again when she spoke of other Confederate insiders confiding in her their doubts.

"So she is definitely alright? T-thank the heavens.. I-I am a researcher for the Confederacy Miss Doom. I was researching old world weaponry for the Confederacy... Well, a-at first I wasn't...At first I was looking into improving our transport-trans-transportation technology... I w-was led to believe that there was o-old world artifacts here. I came down here when it was confirmed this bunker w-was here and that it had been untouched for c-centuries."

Dr. Coleman brushed a hand through his hair and sighed,

"T-that was just a ruse though it seemed! Y-you know that I was the one who managed to perfect the r-rail system back at the p-peaks!? I was t-told there was a strong possibility of old world vehicle technology down here... That was a lie! There is nothing but weaponry... This place was some sort of military bunker back in the old ages! They brought me down here to help recreate all this old weaponry! You wouldn't believe what was down here! It's c-c-cruel and horrific what they want! When I t-told them how I felt, that I r-r-refused to further their cause for m-murder... Colonel Autumn had me thrown in here... Told me I h-had to help them understand these weapons enough so the Confederacy c-could m-make them on their own or they'd kill my family... They said they had my daughter imprisoned back at the Peaks under suspicion of conspiracy with some group known as the B-b-black Hornets.."

Ruby raised an eyebrow in suspicion; it was still hard to swallow how openly Dr. Coleman was being. But then again, hadn't Joland Grey openly divulge how heinous he found the Confederacy? For a moment Ruby began to wonder just how strong the Confederacy was internally... Sure they had organised power. But it seemed their methods were less than agreeable to at least some people within it's confines. Was there perhaps a wedge which Ruby could manipulate under the right circumstances?

"Well Dr. Coleman, that's a load of bullshit." Ruby said matter-of-factly.

"I hope you're right Miss Doom!"

The First Meeting of Ruby Doom and Colonel Augustus Autumn

"Ah, our guest is finally awake..."

A few hours had passed since Ruby and Dr. Coleman had introduced themselves and discussed his daughter. The two had quietened down and Ruby had taken to quietly planning her next moves when
suddenly Colonel Autumn came into view and Ruby stepped back as she caught sight of the man. She had never formally seen the sadistic fuck, so this was the first time in her life she was allowed to lay eyes on him. Ruby felt herself staring blankly at Autumn as he stopped outside her cell. She wasn't scared so to speak, Ruby rarely felt the dread of actually being fearful, but the demeanor of this man was cold and calculating and enough to make Ruby wary.

"We're gathering quite the little party down here aren't we Dr. Coleman... I do hope you're showing Miss Doom Confederate hospitality. But I do also hope you're aren't jeopardizing your work efforts either..."

Dr. Coleman seemed to stay put, clenching to the bars of his cell as he glared wildly at Colonel Autumn,

"Y-y-you are a liar! My daughter is s-safe!"

"Of course she is Dr. Coleman. I'm not heartless... Well... Anyway, it's true, I haven't detained your lovely daughter. But you and I both know you weren't going to make the amazing breakthroughs you were making without some encouragement. And look what you've achieved too in the few short days you've been down here too. Two weeks ago you were wandering the flats making no progress and, I might add, resisting progress for the Confederacy.."

"I've told the General time and again Colonel Autumn. War is not the answer in the Confederacy's progress. Knowledge and peace encourages progress..."

Colonel Autumn laughed sarcastically. Ruby gritted her teeth as she watched Autumn taunt Dr. Coleman.

"Now Dr. Coleman, you've managed to secure us the knowledge on recreating a type of handgun, how is your research on reverse engineering us a usable rifle? What ways can we maneuver around old world tech to recreate it?"

Dr. Coleman looked Colonel Autumn in the eyes and turned slowly to move to a desk in the corner of his cell Ruby had barely noticed before. He picked up a small notebook and a torch he'd been using as a light, holding it near the book,

"You can't make me Autumn. You have no hold over me when my daughter is safe!"

Ruby was surprised that Dr. Coleman's stutter vanished when his confidence shone through, but she knew Dr. Coleman was a fool to think his daughter was completely safe.

"Tsk, tsk Dr Coleman. It's true we don't have your daughter under duress right now. But are you really that ignorant to think we haven't been keeping eyes on her... That her current position couldn't be changed within a week if I wanted it to. So Dr. Coleman, those notes on the rifle we've been talking about? Then you can get started on the other munitions we've found. Oh Dr. Coleman, you have no idea about the stuff we've found!"

Dr. Coleman looked sick to the stomach as Colonel Autumn spoke so coldly to him. Ruby was back at the bars in her cell and looking down the hallway trying to gauge her surroundings while Autumn was distracted with Dr. Coleman. Suddenly another voiced filled the air and Colonel Autumn's attention was turned to the young Fed man running towards him.

"Colonel Autumn! Colonel Autumn! Urgent message from a carrier bird! A Mr. Grievous Wylde and a support group will be arriving later today! They've apparently intercepted your message back to the Peaks and are wanting to meet with you here!"

Colonel Autumn seemed shocked by the news but dismissed the young man with a nonchalant wave while a displeased scowl replaced the shock and irritation clearly set in. Ruby couldn't be sure, but it seemed to her that to some degree Colonel Autumn had to submit to whoever was coming.

"Seems you've got more unwanted visitors Autumn!" Ruby chided,

Autumn turned towards the exit of the hallway, coldly speaking behind him as he moved to leave,

"Miss Doom, I assure you, you may think that you've got the upper hand. You may think you're going to get out of this. But the Confederacy has you right now, at a site we have guarded quite heavily. You didn't realise just how deep in shit you were. You didn't realise what was at stake coming down here. It also seems you don't realise what it means to be in your position right now. To use your own words Miss Doom, you are fucked."

Autumn left the hallway and rounded a corner leaving Dr. Coleman and Ruby to their own devices for the moment as Ruby scrambled to make sense of what was happening around her. It was only after she realised she had no idea how to get out of her current situation that she saw Dr. Coleman pacing erratically.

"What's the matter Dr. Coleman?"

"My daughter! S-s-she's doomed unless I keep making these infernal w-w-weapons! And now the arrival of Grievous Wylde!"

"Why does it matter who's here now?" Ruby asked.

"Because, if it's the same man I've heard about Miss D-D-Doom, we had all better be s-scared... we won't be alive much longer when G-G-Grievous Wylde is done with us... The Confederacy is growing darker than I expected it could ever grow..."

"Dr. Coleman, did I hear correctly when you Autumn said you'd only managed to reverse engineer one type of gun for them? How far are you being able to produced a rifle?"

"Yes, Miss Doom. They have the knowledge on how to recreate a type of revolver. As for a rifle, that is more complicated and takes a lot more time... But I am not far from unlocking the secrets of an old world rifle... And I'm afraid i'm going to have to finish the job. My daughter..."

Dr. Coleman trailed off, sitting on the bed in his cell with his hands covering his face. Ruby moved back to her bed, sitting down while trying to figure out her next move and decide what she was going to do with Dr. Coleman once he was out. There was no logical way he was going to be able to blend in. He was far to obvious a character. Ruby, for the first time in her life felt a sense of dread fill the bottom of her stomach; maybe this time she'd gotten in over her head.

The Bombardment of The River Mines

A few hours passed and Ruby stood by the bars of her cell silently watching Dr. Coleman work away, tinkering at an old world rifle and making notes by torch light. The Confederacy had managed to get some sort generator that was left behind from the old world, and while it's repairs meant lighting for this bunker, it was a stretch to say it was comfortable.

Ruby had tried several different ways to shift the bars in her cell, but so far nothing seemed to even give her a glimmer of hope for progress. Every now and again a guard would come by and check on the two of them, but they never said anything. Ruby had managed to probe Dr. Coleman a little further and although he clearly wanted to finish his notes for the sake of his daughter, Dr. Coleman had indulged Ruby when she showed more interest in the bunker this time... Apparently, according to Dr. Coleman's theory, this bunker was some sort of old world underground military base that was used as some form of prison/storage for important personnel. It supposedly currently housed hundreds of old world weaponry, but because of time, a lot of it seemed to be unusable... There had been a lot of documentation too, but again time had taken it's toll and so Dr. Coleman only had what was physically left to go off of.

Initially Dr. Coleman had been told there was great interest for him here in regards to an old world vehicle like no other. When he arrived he'd discovered he was lied to and was expected to reverse engineer the old world weapons the Confederacy had found. Immediately Dr. Coleman had refused any part in creating something that would kill others, and that was when Colonel Autumn had appeared, warning Dr. Coleman of his daughter's imprisonment and danger if he didn't cooperate.

More time passed and Ruby was beginning to grow restless. Guards how now been stationed at the end of this hallway, Dr. Coleman had withdrawn further into his own world now, hastily unlocking the secrets to this rifle. Ruby had exhausted all her efforts in trying to escape. It seemed this underground bunker the old world military had created was meant to be totally impenetrable for the most part. Wherever she was, she was sure it was at the bowels of this place, and she was still nervous as to get out of the actual place and mine itself since she'd fallen unconscious just trying to enter... She reasoned they must have some sort of gas trap enabled towards the mouth of the cave; how else would they have gotten the better of her? How the hell was she supposed to get past that?

Suddenly a deep quake shivered through the base. The shock waves were enough to cause Ruby and Dr. Coleman to their feet, looking towards the ceiling in the dim light that flickered as another shake erupted, causing the makeshift lighting system to falter. Dr. Coleman shot Ruby a quizzical glance, as if to silently ask what was going on and Ruby replied with a silent shake of her head. Suddenly a shouting voice echoed down the hall and although Ruby couldn't make out what was happening it was a moment later a burly looking man was unlocking Dr. Coleman's cell door, and then Ruby's.
Dr. Coleman followed obediently with his notebook clutched tightly, shooting Ruby another look as if to say, comply with them.

The two seemed to rushed around bends and corners and Ruby barely had time to appreciate or understand the place around them. It had a stagnant feel, something she quietly found amusing; it must be perfect for Confederate asshats. Dark-grey, smooth concrete walls, with bare minimum décor. Ruby almost wondered if this was what the Workshop might have looked like before the White Group took hold. It was only a few minutes later Ruby found herself chaperoned with Dr. Coleman into what looked like a mess hall of sorts and told to wait while the burly man collected his superiors.

The man left and as soon as he was sure, Dr. Coleman grabbed Ruby by the arm surprising her totally as he pulled from his person a small leather bound book. He shoved it into Ruby's inner pocket of her jacket, while pulling out another small leatherbound book from somewhere else on him. Ruby watched with a concerned look as he turned around and bent over a rusted table and started to scrawl all over the pages.

“Y-you must take that book to my d-daughter! She'll understand everything in it!”

Ruby pressed her hand to the pocket in her jacket, cottoning on to what he was saying,

“Dr. Coleman, you can take the book to her yourself..”

“D-don't be kind M-miss Doom... I know w-when my time it up. I d-don't expect to live past this... and i-if there's one t-thing I can d-do... It's s-stop more blood shed...”

Ruby watched as Dr. Coleman kept writing,

“I'll g-give them this copy!”

“What'll be in that?”

“A-a-a a lot of poems I used to read Alexia when she was younger...”

Dr. Coleman turned to Ruby and smiled.

“I used to love my people. T-trust them wholeheartedly.”

Ruby felt a sense of dread overcome her. Dr. Coleman really didn't plan on leaving.

“B-but somewhere along the way w-we, well most of u-us have lost our way... A-Alexia hasn't though. In that book I gave you... I-it has my research on the old world rifle Colonel Autumn h-has been making me work on... I've taught A-Alexia everything I know... P-pass that on to her with my sincerest apologies Miss Doom... and she'll know w-what to do...”

Ruby nodded as she listened. Another rumble shook the bunker and part of the ceiling in the mess hall collapsed away allowing dirt to sift into the room, an earthy smell now filled Ruby's nose.

“I-I've never been one for war Miss Doom... P-progress yes.. But at the expense of b-blood – no. I don't know if that makes me a c-coward or a h-hero... I can't on my c-conscious make any more weapons to aid in the destruction of innocent people... N-no matter how far it takes the Confederacy... My daughter is s-stronger than I am... She will make the right choice as to w-what to do with my knowledge... P-pass on the information I have given you Miss Doom and I am confident Alexia w-will make the right decision.. Just promise me, that in me trusting y-you with this information... You won't let Colonel Autumn g-get his hands on it...”

“I promise Dr. Coleman.” Ruby said sternly, her eye contact with Dr. Coleman strong and determined.

“I-I'm serious Miss Doom.. The Confederacy has b-big plans... I only k-know a small part of it... But I do know if they get their h-hands on my knowledge and my dear Alexia... T-there's no stopping them...”

Suddenly the door to the mess hall banged open and there in the doorway stood Colonel Autumn, taught and serious as he glared down Ruby and Dr. Coleman.

“Dr. Coleman, it seems we are under attack. By my information, the Black Hornets are here looking for trouble...They're actually tossing dynamite down the quarry to the entrance of the Mine. Have you finished your notes?”

Dr. Coleman looked nervous, but nodded his head solemnly as Colonel Autumn, smiling held his hand out expectantly.

“Good, hand them over.”

Colonel Autumn nodded his head to behind him and two men shuffled in past him and headed towards Ruby and Dr. Coleman. Suddenly Ruby found herself restrained as Dr. Coleman handed the notes over and Autumn smiled. He flicked the through book but didn't take any particular noticed of any one page.

“Ah. Good. You've really helped the confederacy a great deal Dr. Coleman, we will never forget your servitude. I'll make sure to send your daughter your best regards...”

Autumn turned on his heel,

“She must be at your level of expertise nowadays at old world reverse engineering am I right?”

Dr. Coleman whimpered,

“Yes that's right Dr. Coleman. We know all about little Alexia's talents. That's why we will no longer be needing your help with the Confederacy's progress. Suddenly Autumn turned on his heel and withdrew a revolver from his side, shooting Dr. Coleman in the chest, collapsing him to the ground.

Suddenly Ruby had a flash back to the basement of the hotel Roland Grey was running in New Mesa. The piles of bodies. The crumpled heap of a young man dying as Joland Grey whimpered over him. Ruby found her blood boiling and her insides silently screaming as she witnessed first hand the kind of evil Colonel Autumn was comfortable with.

“Time for us to leave Miss Doom.. I believe you and I have some talking to do. You're still of importance to me. Then you have an appointment with a colleague of mine coming a long way to speak with you.”

Ruby felt something within her shift and suddenly the two men restraining her were on the floor as she twisted from their grip, bringing a leg up to connect with the face of the man to her right and then ducking down to kick the feet out of the other man who was standing. They hit the floor fast and before they could process themselves, Ruby had grabbed the gun from the first man and pulled the trigger into the men's chests.

She scrabbled to her feet and was out the door of the mess hall and into the hallway of the bunker just in time to take a pot shot in the direction of Colonel Autumn as he turned a corner. The arrogance of the man was astounding to Ruby as he merely turned around and fired once in her general direction before shooting her a disgusted look and moving forward.

Ruby took chase after Autumn and was rounding the corner within seconds to only duck just in time as a silver sword swung out to try and decapitate her. The sword clinked against the wall and Ruby pushed from her feet bringing her body up swinging her fist as she rose to upper cut Autumn, reeling him back stunned. Autumn took a moment to adjust himself, and Ruby glared coldly as the man realised he wasn't walking away as easily as he thought.

Ruby pulled the gun up to point blank range but just as she went to pull another rumble from above coursed through the bunker and a portion of the ceiling between Ruby and Autumn collapsed, catching Ruby off guard and giving Autumn enough time to escape. Ruby quickly composed herself and saw the haste in Autumn's run. She made her way over the collapsed rubble feeling another shockwave travel through the underground base again. What the fuck were the Black Hornets doing!? They were going to collapse the whole damn bunker! Or was that their plan?

Ruby rounded another corner just in time to see Autumn making a bolt towards a door where two lower Fed's were motioning Autumn to hurry. Ruby shook her head and blew a curl of hair out of her way and double timed her chase for Autumn. It was obvious he was no different to any of the Confederate fucksticks Ruby had dealt with in the past... Running as soon as Ruby had any notion of an upper hand.

Autumn was almost through the door when Ruby realised she wasn't going to catch him if he got through clear. She aimed the stolen hand gun up to eye level and pulled the trigger twice dispatching the two guards ushering Autumn through. When the guards dropped to the floor Ruby almost had to smile at the pace Autumn now seemed to running at. She continued her pursuit and was through the door after him chasing the man once again through the halls. Every now and then Autumn would stop to take potshots back in Ruby's direction, but the ferocity of the fight up top coupled with his exasperated emotions meant Autumn was too flustered to get a proper connecting shot in. Ruby however was reveling in the chase at hand. The loud noises, the shockwaves, the anger coursing through her veins... They were all boiling up to a climax Ruby was ready to confront.

What seemed like hours of chasing Autumn through the bunker suddenly sped up as Ruby realised Autumn had taken her straight out of the bunker and was leading her into the actual River Mine and out to the surface. It was as the bunker opened up to the actual cave that she noticed all around the two as they raced towards the surface were Confederate soldiers running back and forth trying to salvage old world weapons and any men who had fallen.

No one seemed to be taking any notice of Ruby or Autumn at this point, but in reality, as far as she was concerned Ruby could only see herself and Autumn in the cave. She failed to noticed the other men and woman fighting to get to the surface. She failed to see the mine start to give way and she didn't even notice as they reached the mouth of the cave the bodies of Confederate soldiers and other men and woman dressed in black and yellow laying limp in the mouth of the mine too.

As Autumn ran through the mouth and into the open Ruby noticed the man falter in his sprint and collapse to his knees just shy of freedom. As she gained ground on Autumn she suddenly began to feel faint herself – like she had when she first entered the cave... That's when she noticed some sort of contraption just up head of her.. It had been pumping some sort of gas into the mouth of the cave.. That had been how the Confederacy was keeping tabs on who was coming to the cave... Unless someone wearing some sort of protective mask operated it, no one got in our out without passing out.

Ruby made a bee-line for the gas-tank, shooting wildly when she realised she wouldn't make it to it. A shot made contact and the tank exploded, luckily it seemed whatever gas they were using wasn't too flammable as it created a large but mainly localized explosion. Ruby kept up her pace but noticed two more tanks stood in her way she assumed were spilling the incapacitating gas. She shot out towards them, but her sight was weakening and soon she had no bullets.

The Showdown in the Quarry and Reunion of Ruby Doom and James Squire

It seemed Autumn had made it to the outside and he was on his knees breathing heavily, trying to take in fresh air so he could get away. Ruby gritted her teeth and upped her ante one more time, calling on her last reserves of energy as she bolted forward through the noxious gases. She felt everything within her body click into place and it was as though she was a steam-train within a small woman. Without notice she rocketed through the mouth of the cave screaming as she tackled Autumn, rolling the two out into the wide open as another explosion halfway up the quarry caused a small rock slide down to their location.

The dust flew up around, blocking out the light around them, pluming halfway up the depth of the quarry. Ruby managed to maneuver herself on top of Autumn landing a punch to the man's face causing Autumn to collapse back. Ruby brought her fist back up again but stopped short when Autumn bucked underneath her flipping her off to the side. Suddenly Autumn rolled all his weight to his side and brought his right hand backwards into Ruby's stomach winding her. Ruby coughed hard as Autumn stood shakily to his feet,

“I don't know who you think you are... But you are - “

Colonel Autumn was cut off just as he withdrew his sword. Punched to the side of the face. Ruby's head reeled as someone began to fight on her behalf. Autumn fell backwards and suddenly Ruby's savior kicked the man in the gut, causing Autumn to take a few steps backwards. Ruby clambered to her feet, heaving to take in a breath and watched as the man who was saving her seemed to have the upper hand on Autumn. Ruby's savior punched twice to Autumn's face and suddenly had Autumn incapacitated. Standing over him the mystery man called out over the raucous of the dropping dynamite from somewhere above the quarry.

“Well, fuck me damned. Colonel Augustus Autumn. I wasn't expecting to see you here to be honest.. Just your fuckin' baby pricks... What a pleasant surprise!”

Ruby recognized the voice immediately from her last interaction with him.

“James Squire!” she called out.

James turned away from Autumn when he heard his name being called out, and looking upon Ruby's face smiled wryly,

“Well, I told you I'd be seeing you again Ruby Doom.”

Ruby smiled but the moment was short lived when suddenly another explosion rocked the quarry and rocks began to fall around them. Ruby had to maneuver herself out of the way as a largish boulder rolled down passed her, just narrowly missing James and Autumn.

“Fuck! What is going on!?” Ruby called out,

“Just a bit of Black Hornet camaraderie with the Confederacy... We got a hold of some info that said these fucks-” James motioned to the crumpled heap of Autumn “Had some fuck workin' for them makin' old world weapons! Can you believe it! So we thought it was best to get our asses down here and show them just what they can expect when they try to get sneaky!”

Another explosion and more rubble began to roll down the quarry.

“You're gonna bury the mine squire!”

“That's the poi-”

Suddenly out of nowhere James hit the floor cold, rolling towards Ruby. She moved to his aid, but kept her eyes upwards to see who had knocked him around through the dust. That was when he stepped through the debris and Ruby felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

The Introduction of Grievous Wylde

He was cold, calculating and his demeanor was nothing less than heartless... At least that was what Ruby felt looking at him. He wasn't particularly tall, but he was robed in something that made him look more imposing. He looked to Ruby, but seeing her crouched over James he moved to the heap of Autumn that was getting to his knees.

“Get up Autumn.” he said coldly and slowly over the explosions.

Autumn looked up through the dust and Ruby suddenly felt colder than ever before when Autumn said with relief,

“Grievous, you're just in time.”

Ruby got to her feet, dragging James with her while Autumn and Wylde were distracted with their conversation.

“Wake up James, we gotta go!”

James came to as Ruby pulled him into the safety of the dust, but tripped when another loose slide of dirt and rocks came down. James mumbled something and Ruby had to ask three times what his plan for escape was when he pulled out some sort of flare gun.

“Fire it straight up...” James groaned.

Ruby took it and aimed to the sky and fired once watching the flare go through the dust. A few moment passed when suddenly a rope dropped through the dust in front of Ruby. She didn't question it and tied it around the waist of James and tugged once as she held on tight as suddenly the two were lifted through the dust and out of the quarry. Ruby looked to the ground below and saw as Grievous Wylde watched them ascend. The two came out above the dust and Ruby caught sight of the battle that was raging above the dust.

It seemed the Black Hornets had stolen two Confederate airships and painted black silhouettes of a hornet on their outsides. Ruby could see as on each deck at the stern of the airsips men and women were lighting sticks of dynamite and dropping them blindly into the quarry while other's aimed old world rifles at Confederate soldiers on the visible ground and at an enemy Airship.

On the airship Ruby and James had been pulled to, there were more than ten men to the starboard side firing across the sky to the Confederate airship. The scene was something out a story Ruby thought as she watched the small war waged.

Ruby turned to James, he had gotten to his feet and held a hand out to her helping her up. She looked to him with a concerned eye but before she could speak her attention was diverted when suddenly something shot up to the railing of the airship and all of a sudden Grievous Wylde was leaping onto the ships deck effortlessly. The man pulled on the skyhook gun he'd used to get onto the ship, holstered it and turned towards James and Ruby.

“We need to have a little chat.”

Ruby moved fast as Grievous spoke coldly to her, stepping forward and ducking down then kicking off the deck to bring herself up so her elbow connected with Grievous' chest. But the man was faster than she was and stepped back causing Ruby's weight to move forward giving Grievous the chance to bring an elbow up and hit Ruby to the face sending her rolling across the decking. Jame's leaped just after Ruby and he was more successful in landing a punch, but for all it did, Grievous seemed unfazed.

Ruby was back at her feet and suddenly she and James Squire were working together in unison. One would duck, faux hit at Grievous and when he was distracted the other would make a connecting hit. It was working for a while, but Ruby and James were drawing to the end of their energy. Grievous at that point, began to fight back more. He dodged an attempt from Ruby to kick him in the gut and twisted her leg forcing Ruby to the ground. James tried to swing his weight back into a reverse hit, but again Grievous was able to floor James shortly after.

Grievous moved to James while Ruby wheezed to catch her breath, He picked James up by the collar and whispered something to James that caused his eyes to widened. Ruby saw the look of horror on Jame's face but took the opportunity to take a chance at downing Grievous. She ran forward with everything she had and grabbed Grievous on either side of his head and brought her knee up to his connected square to his forehead.

Grievous stumbled back and Ruby smiled in triumph as finally they'd managed to make the seemingly unstoppable man truly falter. Ruby went to help James up quickly but suddenly Grievous was kicking James in the gut and grabing Ruby across the bullet wounds and grazes on her arms. His grip was so tight it forced Ruby to her knees as Grievous hissed at her,

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You wouldn't happen to part of the reason I'm down in this pathetic excuse of a cesspool would you?”

“Go fuck yourself...” Ruby grunted.

“This must be the flatlander hospitality I've heard so much about...”

Grievous pulled a large knife from under his cloak,

“You and I have some things to discuss, so let's make this short shall we...”

Ruby felt the knife press to her lip and watched as Grievous coldly stared into her eyes. The pressure of the knife was growing and Ruby actually began to worry for the first time. But just the knife point began to draw the first drop of blood James had tackled Grievous to the ground, forcing the two across the deck and toppling a man wielding live dynamite.

“OH SHIT!” James shouted!

James and Grievous were both out of harms way before the dynamite exploded, but the explosion was big enough to break the stern of the ship. It was only seconds after the explosion that the airship started to tilt. Ruby found her body sliding towards the rail of the deck as the ship headed towards the ground. She grasped wildly for anything to hang onto but it was seconds later that she found herself being grabbed by James Squire and him shouting something intelligible as he was directed her to jump from the falling Airship and landing, only just, on the second commandeered airship.

The ship began to turn as the last of the dynamite was dropped and Ruby watched in awe as Grievous Wylde swung from the crashing ship to the ground with ease using the skyhook, meeting Colonel Autumn and four other cloaked figures on the ground. Autumn motioned to the Confederate airship that was on his side, and Grievous looked up to it too, Ruby guessed they planned to follow them and turned to James,

“They'll follow us if we don't stop that Fed ship!”

“On it!” James shouted.

He ran across the deck and seemed to operate some sort of catapult on the deck of this airship. He loaded it with dynamite, lit it, and sent it sailing through the air in the rough direction of the enemy ship. The dynamite made contact though and before Ruby knew it, she, James and the last survivors of this attack were flying off in the distance.

Ruby couldn't help but look to the ground below as they left the quarry behind. On the ground below, looking at them, sending a shiver through Ruby was a nonplussed Grievous... It was Autumn in fact who seemed more than angry while he and Grievous and his companions watched them leave, but Ruby was thankful that they had survived.

The 'Wise Words' of Ruby Doom...

Ruby lost track of how much time had passed when the airship was finally docked at Skycove. She watched James sell it for a hefty sum of money and then donate half that money to some orphanage at Skycove. Ruby quietly wondered how far money would go on anything that was remotely good in Skycove, but chose to appreciate the sentiment of the Black Hornet's donation – perhaps was even just a publicity stunt to gain loyalty?

It was shortly after that Ruby had made her own arrangements to get back to the Workshop that she managed to get James alone and speak to him,

“What was all that?” she asked sternly

“What was what? The thing at the River Mine? Black Hornet business...”

“Bullshit.” Ruby said

“It was”

“No way Squire... Black Hornets don't attack like that...”

“What would you know Ruby? The Black Hornets are a resistance group...”

“But you guys haven't killed unless you needed to... and I KNOW not all of those men were civilised!”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I could see they were tribal James.”

“And we needed to kill back there... we were after something and we knew the Fed's had it...”

“You were after Dr. Coleman... and you didn't need to kill.”

James looked at Ruby suspiciously, and honestly she found it odd she was speaking against murder... Especially killing Confederates. Ruby was usually the first for killing a Fed. But she couldn't deny that all the knowledge she'd managed to obtain in regards to the Black Hornets and James Squire... They didn't... and He didn't sound like the type of people who killed just because... that was someone elses influence.

“Yeah, That's right... How did you know?”

“James, you need to separate from Gretch befo-”

“Hey hey hey, that ain't any of your business...”

“None of my business? Bullshit!”

“Hey, you barely know me... barely know the Black Hornets.. You don't get to talk about shit you know nothing about..”

“I saved your ass James Squire! I saved your people too back in New Mesa from that sick fuck Roland... I sent you a trustworthy Fed your way too... When I met you James you told me about your plans to Unite the fucking Flats.. and now you've thrown in your shit with a psychopath like Gretch?

James went quiet,

“You were fighting for something worth fighting for Squire... I know this because I saved you... Because Sarah Hawthorne trusts you enough to die for your cause... But you're contradicting everything you stand for the longer you throw your shit in with Gretch... He won't save you... He won't help you once you've been used get what he wants... James, he is a fuckin' monster! God damn it! He sent you down to the River Mine didn't he?”

“He gave us a tip...” James retorted

“Yeah... I bet he did... Gave you a tip to get Dr. Coleman... Then what were you gonna do after you got Dr. Coleman? Huh? Give him to Gretch I bet?”

James was completely silent now.

“It's up to you how far you take this James Squire. I ain't disputin' the Feds are bad. I know better than anyone what they're capable of. But you also gotta know, It's not all black and white! And uniting the Flats, making a change... It ain't gonna start with random killing, of anyone.”

That was something Ruby had learned from the White Group.

“Joland Grey should be proof of that for you...Whatever he's doin' for you, you gotta know he ain't bad... I wouldn't have sent him to you if that were the case. And I ain't sayin' people aren't gonna die before anything gets better.. But that blood... that blood you spilled already... has that been for the freedom of the flats? Or has that been for Gretch?”

Ruby cocked her head upwards, staring James down. When the conversation went no further, James gritted his teeth and breathed out heavily, solemnly talking to Ruby,

“Stay outta my business Ruby...”

“I'm only gonna tell you this once, cut your ties with Gretch James. I promise you that's not an investment you want to make.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I don't want it to be...”

“Thank you Ruby Doom...” he said sternly

James turned away, walking to the small group of Black Hornet's he'd brought back with him, Ruby watched as they melted into the crowd, noting Joland Grey wave half-heartedly acknowledging her, prompting Ruby to nod back and call out as they melted away,

“I'll be seeing you again James Squire!”

The Return to the Workshop and an Unexpected Visitor

Ruby double timed her trip back to the Workshop. She'd already spent too much time traveling the Flatlands already. She was nervous to be carrying around the notebook of the late Dr. Coleman and she wanted to tell Miss Reese everything she'd seen in last week or so and offer her assistance in getting to Alexia Coleman before Autumn and that Grievous man did.

It was late at night she made it back to the Workshop, but she didn't waste anytime in getting the information to Miss Reese. She woke the woman up and the two spent the entire night discussing what Ruby had seen, trying to figure out what was happening next. Ruby wasn't sure where she wanted to take the conversation... So many things hinged on the opinion of so many people and the reality was, there wasn't much anyone could do but to try and persuade people to listen to them. When Ruby gave Miss Reese Dr. Coleman's notes she hesitated at first, not sure how to proceed with the information... On the one hand, it would be certainly beneficial to have Miss Reese's friend from the Peaks here, helping to decipher her fathers notes, but then again... Were the White Group opening themselves up to something that should be left alone?

That was when Miss Reese stopped Ruby there and took her to a room of the Workshop Ruby had never taken notice of before. She knocked once and soon after a woman around Miss Reese's age answered the door. She was short, blonde with long wavy hair and wearing tight burgundy pants with a white frilled top and some sort of magnifying goggles on her forehead. Miss Reese spoke first before Ruby felt her gut drop when she realised who they were talking to and the news she was about to deliver,

“Alexia... We have a few things to discuss, it really can't wait...”

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: James Costner Character Portrait: Colonel Augustus Autumn Character Portrait: Grievous Wylde. Character Portrait: Ruby Gowen Character Portrait: Gretch Character Portrait: Jenner Reese
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#, as written by Bosch
Epilogues.


Gretch


Gretch lifted the spyglass to his eye and observed to scene of bloody violence occurring a few miles away. He was standing with an entourage of not necessarily his brightest but some of his best and overlooking the scene of carnage Alexander Lancaster had wrought.

“Those Feds dickbeaters are learning the first rule on the Flats.” Gretch said.

“Wass tha Boss?” Kara asked one of the Tribals he’d taken as part of entourage.

“Never but never fuck with the Guardians. Gotta be about twenty of ‘em down there beating seven shades of fuck outta those assholes. Looks like the Grocer of the Wastes didn’t do too fucking rough.”

“Wha ‘bout now? They gonna be real angry.”

“You bet your left tit they’ll be pissed. Now we gotta do one of them meeting things, you know... a uh...”

“Parlay Boss?” One of the Entourage offered.

“A fucking PARLAY!”

“Was tha?” Kara asked.

“What are you fucking slow?” Gretch said as he lowered the glass and looked at Kara who gazed dumbly forward. She was tripping on something that much was certain. “Stupid question. Parlay is where we get all the big dicks together in one room and have chat about kicking these fuckers outta New Mesa and outta the Flats.”

#

Autumn

Autumn was nursing a bruised face and looking at Coleman’s notebook when Wylde strode into his office. He walked up to the desk with a swagger Autumn hadn’t witnessed in many years, normally men bowed their heads when they saw Autumn.

“Most people knock Wylde...” Autumn said with a sigh.

“I’m not most people.” Wlyde responded while talking a look at Coleman’s book. He snorted derisively when he saw it was full of children’s poetry and tossed it back onto the desk.

“Well take a seat then.” Autumn said gesturing at the chair opposite him.

“I’d rather stand, I won’t be long. I’m taking command of the Alpha Company of the Specials you will remain in command of Bravo, Charlie and Delta in addition to the regulars.”

“That’s outrageous!”

“What’s outrageous is the Confederate Army is getting bested by crowd of savages. This is not your decision Autumn it comes from the Grand General himself. You are to continue with your movements but leave the Terrorists to me, my men and the Specials.”

“I strongly disagree with...”

“Are you disobeying a direct order from the Grand General?” Autumn slowly shook his head. “I’m not here to take the Glory, I’m from the Cabal there is no Glory for us. Your political ambitions in Mundus will be unaffected by my actions. If anything I’d take this as a sign of trust, the Grand General has seen fit to give you Cabal support. In a few months we’ll be shaking hands in the middle of Hope.”

Autumn was blushing heavily due to Wylde’s surgical exposure of his motivations. “Very well. I agree.”

Wylde smiled thinly. “I didn’t come to ask for your agreement, I’m simply telling what I’m doing. Operations begin today.”

With that Wylde turned on his heel and left the general to lick his wounds.

#

Jenner Reese.

Jenner flipped through the book Ruby had presented him with as she gave her report and made a mental note of a few page numbers. She raised her eyebrows when Ruby told her about Autumn and Wylde but held her comments until the end. After she had delivered her report Jenner eyed Ruby for a second before making up her mind.

“There’s someone I need you meet.”

Jenner than led Ruby down the cold halls of the Workshop towards a section of the Workshop not often visited. She knocked on a non descript door that was answered by Alexia Coleman.

“Alexia... We have a few things to discuss, it really can't wait...”

It was bad and Jenner regretted bringing Ruby along, of course Alexia’s first instinct was to blame Ruby. That quickly passed and the girl was inconsolable for what Jenner thought was the longest time. She could remember how she’d been when she had learned her own family was dead. It seemed like a life time ago now, it had been for some people.


“Alexia I know you’re sad and it feels like it will never end. I can’t tell you that it will, what I can tell you is you need to let it turn.”

“Turn?” Alexia asked through the tears.

“Yes, turn the sadness into something else. Those monsters worked your father against his will, they made him a slave and you an orphan. Are you going to let that stand?”

“What can I do? I’m just... I’m not strong.”

“No you’re not, but we are. She is.” Jenner said nodding to an awkward looking Ruby. “You’re smart. That means something. You give Ruby the tools and she will use them to hurt those that hurt you. I guarantee it.”

“But revenge is wrong, Father always said we... shouldn’t act out of fury.”

“It’s not fury, this is righteous indignation. This is Justice. The Confederate system only works because it’s based on strength and fear. Good in a war but look what that thinking did to the Peaks, to you father. You can stop it here, turn the storm. Your father would have wanted that.”

Alexia sniffled and finally let go of Jenner. She rubbed her eyes which were red and puffy.

“You’re right. I’ll give you’re tools but it will take some time, I’ll be working from scratch.”

“Not exactly.” Jenner said as she fished Coleman’s notebook out of a pocket.

Alexia welled up when she recognised the handwriting but choked back the tears. She took the book and flicked through it.

“My they must have found quite a haul of Old World artefacts down there. Would it be possible to...”

“Forget it. They’re gone.” Ruby said, her first words in quite some time.

“I was wondering if you could focus on these pages.” Jenner said as she turned to the pages she’d made a mental note of earlier.

Alexia nodded at each one but her eyes grew wide at the last one.

“That might take a little more work.”

“Our resources are yours. Kincaid in the Armoury will help as will Armoured Serpent, a Smithy we’ve worked with in the past.”

Alexia nodded slowly. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Ruby and Jenner left Alexia to pour over her father’s notes and slowly walked back to the office.

Before they parted ways Jenner turned and spoke to Ruby.

“Very good work. If we can get half of those things working we should be alright in the coming war.”

After saying goodnight Jenner returned to the office and collapsed in her chair. She felt terrible, she had exploited someone’s grief over their dead Father to get them to make weapons, the very weapons their father had refused to make. She felt dirty. She opened the bottom drawer of her desk and produced a bottle of Purified Shine. It was the only Item that remained which had belonged to Mister Charles.

She poured the liquid into a dainty glass and corked the bottle. She looked at the glass for a while before taking a long pull and letting out a long sigh.

#

“Father I must insist we move to The Overwatch.” Guardian Avers said while he walked alongside the fail old man know as Father Singh. Avers was the Commander of the Guardians although his uniform was no different from any other.

“I understand but I am needed here.”

“We cannot trust those confederate wolves.”

“They maybe wolves but I have my Watchdogs.” The old man raised a weak hand in the direction of a pair of Guardian’s perched on Hope’s massive Walls.

“We lost 20 men in that last encounter.”

“I hear over 200 enemies were slew in the battle. The men fought well and drove a dagger of fear into the hearts of our enemies.”

“Yes but we couldn’t survive another fight like that.”

“You are being dramatic. That’s not a trait I knew Guardians possessed.”

“I’m sorry Father I just...”

“You just lost comrades. I understand, they were your brothers in arms, of course you feel their loss. What I will not do though is leave Hope and travel to the Overwatch.”

“Your word is my law.” Guardian Avers said quietly.

“What we now need to address is the fact that there was a battle at all.”

A smile fluttered across Avers face for a second before returning to its normal composed state.

“We have been working on responses. At the moment our focus is on disrupting supply lines, targeting their airships and preventing their rail lines from being built.”

“How soon can you start talking action?”

“Today.”

“Very good Avers. I give you my word.”

Avers nodded and began to walk away from the old man and toward the barracks.

“Guardian wait!” Singh shouted to Avers back. He spun on his heel and was quickly back at the old man’s side. “I’m sor... It was wrong of me to trust the Confederates and it was unfortunate that the Guardians bore the brunt. I thought I was protecting...” Words failed the old man.

“Father you are a man of peace, not meant for the filth of this world, just like all who reside in Hope. You have kept the pure, pure. The Guardians and I are damned yet by defending you and this place we may yet know paradise. This is what we do, the Guardians who died did so in service of something greater. They had the best deaths we can hope for.”

The old man reached out and patted Avers on the shoulder who visibly stiffened at the kind touch something the Guardian wasn’t used to. “Thank you Avers. Do what you must.”

The Barracks was a hive of activity as Guardians were cleaning weapons, exercising, sharpening blades and sparring. All activity ceased when Avers entered and each Guardian looked his way.

“He’s let us off the leash.”

The roar was deafening.

#

Skycove.

The Sleeping Dragon Pub was packed and smelt of a very distinctive mix of stale beer and sweat. The Pub was normally quite raucous but on this evening there was an uncommon hush over the place. Two men were standing in the middle of the floor holding the audience rapt.

“We go south and just use the southern Trade routes. We can work outta the Red Coast.” Gull Barbour said in summation of the short speech he had just gave.

The cry of applause went up from the assorted Sky-pirates. When it had died down the other man cleared his throat and gave his rebuttal. “Aye but then where? They’ll keep nipping at yer heels till they run ya out right outta land.” It was Blinky Waters speaking. Again he got a round of applause.

“Are you dense Blinky! I know you only got one eye but even you can see we’re in fucking airships we don’t need land!” A roar of support went up for Gull.

Blinky stood “Food, bed, women, fences all them are on LAND! We can’t be just be floatin’ ‘round up here. We’re sky pirates, PIRATES! Ya stupid Manpleaser!”

Gull stood with fire in his eyes. “What did you say! That was only the one time and I was in prison and it was dark and he sorta looked like a woman. A body gets lonely, Damn it!” He screamed before rushing Blinky. “I’ll take that other fuckin eye!”

This was how most of the Sky Pirates attempts at civilised debate ended up, nothing was achieved and a couple of people died. This time was different though.

A shot rang out and the fighting stopped immediately.

“Who’s shootin’!? Youse all know no shootin’ in the bar! You might hit bottle, waste the booze!” The barkeep shouted from somewhere deep in the scrap.

“If you boys are done having your wee wrestling match we’re gonna have us a talk.”

Every set of eyes in the place turned to Captain Carla Reynolds, a diminutive woman with brunette hair and a large old world revolver on her hip.

“Now Blinky and Gull are both right, but nobody cares. We’re pirates we only care about one thing which is...”

“Women?” Blinky offered

Reynolds shook her head.

“Drink?” Someone from the crowd shouted.

Reynolds shook her head.

“Violence?” Another anonymous voice called.

Reynolds shook her head. “In addition to all those things the only thing we care about is... Booty.”

“But I said women.” Blinky said looking dejected.

“Plunder ya morons!” Reynolds shouted, finally losing her cool. “All of ya sit down. We’re going to talk business.”

The pirates who moments before had been locked in mortal struggle now sat down. Some right beside the person they’d been beating.

“Alright here’s what’s going on. The Confederates are going to push us outta the Flats and down south to the Red Coast. Maybe they follow us and push us into the sea I don’t know nor do I care because the Red Coast may as well be the ocean. There’s only small towns down there and not a lot of targets. The Pirates that are down their already ain’t making a lot of beads.”

There was a murmur of agreement and Captain Reynolds continued.

“So there’s no plunder down on the Coast and then we arrive. We’d be eating each other in a week. Unless we all promise we’ll go different ways, like say half of us go in any other direction but south and into the arms of certain death or slavery. We can trust half of youse to do that right?”

“Naw Reynolds, that sounds terrible.” Gull said sincerely.

“It’s a rhetorical question idiot. That’s technique used in the art of rhetoric, which is to say the art of orating.”

Gull looked confused but nodded and leaned back in his chair in a lame attempt to feign comprehension.

“So we can’t go South and that was the only option. Which means we gotta stand, but I ain’t getting shot at saving the day for all these idiot flatlanders for no financial compensation.”

There wasn’t any applause but Reynolds could tell by their faces they were gripped.

“Now what do we know about Confederate Airships?”

“They’re big?”

“They got soldiers on ‘em?”

“No, stop it we’re not doing that again. They got plunder, weapons, food, beads, clothes, all the same shit you got on your ships except more better. We go to war with these Snowdwellers and we take what’s theirs and makes it ours. Then we fence it. We’ll make a killing.”

“Or get killed.”Blinky said.

“When was not getting killed part of piracy? This right here is a great deal, we stay on the Flats, we get plunder and we get to buzz the Feds at the same time. Its called war profiteering dummy! What’s not to love?”

The crowd devolved into a rabble as twenty people tried to make themselves heard at the same time.

Reynolds shouted and the crowd hushed again.

“Look this aint gonna work. I’m gonna find these resistance fools and tell ‘em me and the Crew of the Arcadia are gonna stand with ‘em. If any of you wish to do similarwise come find me. The Arcadia is docked near that Pub that smells real bad like bird shit.”

With that she left.

#

Grievous Wylde.

Wylde had collected his team and given orders to the Alpha Company. From Mundus he had brought Five other Cabal members all like him were specialists at their various roles. Wylde was an expert in individual combat specialising in the Martial Arts, to aid him on his mission two of his protégées were at his side. He also brought along an expert Sharpshooter, Interrogator and Tracker completing the Cabal Team of five.

He entered the small house the Cabal had claimed as their own and the Men all quickly got to their feet and stood to attention.

“At ease. We have the Alpha Team of the Specials, they’re not well trained but better than the regulars.”

The men followed Wylde into a room that had at one time been a family kitchen.

“Autumn is going to take Farpoint, however with recent losses he will be stretched too thin if he decides to push on. He knows this and those problems are his own. He will most likely have to wait for reinforcements. We are to focus on Terrorist activity.”

“So now we play detective.” Rakamil, the Tanu tracker, asked.

“Yes. We play detective. Shouldn’t be too hard though this resistance movement depends on numbers and luck. I encountered a group called the Black Hornets that seemed to made up entirely of drug addicted Flat Landers.”

“Easy prey.” Williams, the Sharpshooter, commented.

“There’s more to it than that. I’m thinking there are multiple groups with either no leadership or a cell structure.”

“So what’s the lead?” Asked Blackthorn, the interrogator.

“We have Names, lots in fact. Top of the list is Joland Grey, then James Squire who was in confederate custody until he was freed. Then there’s Ruby Doom, she’s something of an Enigma, there’s also been isolated reports about a group or individual called the Butcher of the Wastes. Lastly there’s the contractor Autumn used to take New Mesa. A tribal by the Name of Gretch.”

“So where do we start?” Asked Oswald one of Wylde’s Protégés.

“Our own house. Joland Grey must be found and interrogated. Additionally it’s obvious Ruby Doom has some connection to New Mesa, so we start knocking on doors.”

Blackthorn smiled.

Wylde Laid out his plan in simple steps.

#

James Squire.

An explosion of red and then the tiny body fell to the ground. Yet the accusing eyes remained on James. He felt them boring into him, making him feel the guilt.

He jerked awake and found himself sitting at desk in the modest bedroom he had in the Black Hornets Safe house in Farpoint. He hadn’t slept in days since he’d killed the child and it felt like he’d only been out for a few seconds. He looked at the untouched bottle of shine sitting in front of him and reached for it, he was about to pop it open when he felt the bile rise in his throat. He kicked the chair back as he stood and shattered the bottle on the wall opposite.

“LANCASTER!” He roared. As he punched the desk in front of him, any fear he had for Alexander had now long since dissipated and been replaced with fury. From James’ perspective Alexander was responsible for the death of Balder. It had been his stupid plan that led to the killing and more importantly it had put the guilt of killing a child on James. As much as he blamed Alexander he now understood what Ruby Doom had meant when she said.

“It's up to you how far you take this James Squire. I ain't disputin' the Feds are bad. I know better than anyone what they're capable of. But you also gotta know, It's not all black and white! And uniting the Flats, making a change... It ain't gonna start with random killing, of anyone.”

He got it now, his hatred of the ‘Feds had made him oblivious to the shades of grey. It made it impossible for him to see the bigger picture. That was something Gretch had preyed on, something Lancaster had preyed on.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a knock at the door and Joland Grey’s ruddy face appearing in the door Jam.

“Just got a letter from Gretch for you.” Joland said offering a crumpled piece of paper.

“Thanks.” Squire said as he opened the letter and scanned it’s contents.

"Dear Concerned Citizen.

How you doing? I am well.

But enough small talk.

Like you, I too have noticed the bags of shit walking around dressed in Confederate Army Uniforms. Like you this turn of events has disturbed me greatly and I wish to do something about it.

If, like me you, wish to address this most fucked of issues I would like to invite you to a meeting or PARLAY at Sula Rise.

Your fellow concerned citizen, Gretch."


Squire noted the location and decided he would attend.

He then made a decision, lifted his own pen and began writing.

“Ruby,

You were right, I got in over my head and wound up doing something I didn’t want to do. That’s mine to carry. I was blinded by hate or some old black and white morality. I don’t know.

What I do know is you are right and the enemy of my enemy is not my friend. Gretch and his kind stand for something I can’t support. I just want a life of peace and freedom. It seems the only way to get that though is through the sword, I just want to make sure it’s pointed at the right people.

I guess what I’m trying to say is the Black Hornets no longer work with Gretch. We’ll stand on our own if we have to but I think your people and mine could work together. All I ask is you consider the offer.

Sincerely

James Squire."


James pocketed the letter and left the room. His eyes were finally open and he didn’t like what he saw.

#

James Costner.

Costner walked up the small ridge and spotted a decrepit looking outhouse. He drew his pistol, walked up to the rickety door and kicked it open.

The Feral tribal screamed and Costner nearly gagged from the smell. He’d caught the guy in middle of talking a dump.

“Shit!” The tribal yelled as he kicked the door closed.

Costner smirked. “Yes it is.”

A few moments later the Tribal remerged and Costner pointed the gun at the skinny man. Who stopped in his tracks.

“Can’t scare the shit outta me pal, I’m all empty inside.” The feral said he rubbed his belly.

“I’m here to see Gretch.”

“Well he ain’t here.”

“The note said...”

“Note said you come here not Gretch would be here.” The tribal smiled, showing off the few teeth he had in his head. “I gotta bring you to him.”

Costner nodded it made sense, in fact he was surprised Gretch had thought of it at all. All the representatives would have been given different locations to go to and it ensured if the Feds got wind of the Parlay only one group would be affected.

“Where?”

“Tell ya when we get there.” The tribal said as he grabbed his skinny horse and climbed on. Costner did the same with his and they started to head west.

They had been riding for a few hours and Costner noted that the Tribal kept taking snorts from a small leather pouch. Costner guessed it was red sand from the way the Tribal was getting talkative.

“Ya know, I know you. I know you from somewhere.”

“I think I just got one of them faces.”

“Naw, naw I know you. What was it...”

Costner had a feeling he knew where they were going.

Back west.

Back to the caves.

“It was... oh yeah. Hehehehe. Your one of them scary assassins right? Weren’t so scary when Gretch got aholdya.”

Costner raised his gun and shot the Tribal’s horse in the head. The Tribal and horse landed in a heap with a sickening crack.

Costner leapt off his horse and grabbed the Tribal by the shoulders dragging him from under the horse. The tribal’s leg was broken and shards of bone had broken the skin.

“That looks real sore.” Costner said as he placed his foot on the broken leg and applied the slightest pressure. The tribal screamed and his eyes rolled back in his head. Costner took his foot away quickly. “You’re gonna die out here but I don’t want you to feel bad about that because I personally am going to choke the life out of every single one of your friends. Then I’m going to kill Gretch and the world will be a better place for it.”

He stripped a rusted revolver and knife from the tribal while he spoke. “You know me? The only way that’s possible is you were there the last time I met Tribals which was when they killed my friend. That’s why I’m gonna kill all of you but not before I’ve used up all you got.”

He then stood and returned to his horse.

“Not many people pass though this way, you won’t get found. Should be a hot one today as well. I’d hate to not have any shade.” Costner threw the rusted knife at ground beside the moaning tribal. “You can try to crawl but I’d suggest using that.”

Costner then started to trot towards the Caves the only place where the meeting could be taking place.

“You can’t leave me!” The tribal shouted after Costner.

“You won’t be lonely long.” Costner shouted over his shoulder.

#

The Parlay.

Gretch sat at the head of a long mahogany table in a throne like chair. The table was in the middle of a spacious cave. Costner entered and saw that there were already a lot of people in the place. He recognised James Squire, Gretch and a Guardian from the Uniform but the small brunette woman was a mystery.

“Fuckin’ finally. Out of everyone I thought you’d be the one who’d find this place easiest.” Gretch moaned. “Take a seat... No surprises underneath this time.” He said with a wink.

Costner grabbed the chair Gretch had intended him to sit at and instead pulled it over so it was opposite Gretch placing them at opposite ends of the table.

“Great Gangs all here. Before we get started I think we should introduce everyone. Ya’ll know me, Gretch Saviour of the Flats. That there’s Jimmy Squire, representing the Black Hornets, Next we got Avery from the...”

“Avers from The Guardians of Hope.” Avers interrupted.

“That was rude AV very fucking rude I was speaking and you just interrupted like a...”

“Get on with it you sick fuck.” Costner said through gritted teeth.

“Just like Charlie. AV is from Hope. Capt Reynolds represents the Cloudfuckers and our late comer there is from the White Group.” Every set of eyes turned to Costner. “Yeah they’re real and very over-fucking-rated. Where’s the red head? I hear she’s much more fuckable than old Charlie was.”

“We won’t work with you.” Costner said ignoring Gretch’s attempts to get a rise out of him. The truth was Jenner had wanted to come but it was agreed it would be a poor idea. Instead Costner was to go and tell them the decision of the White Group. “However we would be open to working with any other group.”

“Are you actually White Group?” Captain Reynolds asked. “I was expecting some kind of lithe sexy little hard body with a set of blades.”

Avers tutted. “Hope will work with whoever wishes to end this occupation. In times such as these we’re willing to hold our nose.”

“The Black Hornets won’t work with Gretch anymore. We stand with the White Group.” Squire said.

Costner smiled when he saw Gretch’s disfigured face twist into a mask of shock.

“You little cunt. After all I’ve done for you!” He said in disbelief.

“You turned me into something I don’t want to be...”

“Who gives a fuck? Did it fucking work? DID IT FUCKING WORK?!” Gretch shouter suddenly seething.

“That’s not the point.”

Gretch turned his head in disgust. “See that’s the problem nobody wants to get their hands dirty. Jimmy here is sad because he hadda do something that goes against his personal code of fucking ethics! Avers you know what I mean. Sometimes we all gotta do things for the greater fucking good.”

Avers Nodded. “Everything to protect Hope.”

Squire shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He wanted to turn and tell Avers what had really happened to his men but if he did there would be no way the Guardians would work with any of the groups. This would weaken the resistance as a whole. So he kept quiet.

“Fuck it, it’s fine, your people were shite anyway.” Gretch exhaled loudly.

“The White Group accepts.” Costner said. Ruby had received the letter Squire had sent and Costner knew it was a possibility that The Hornets could turn. Jenner and the rest of the White Group had decided this was a good thing as it would give them some much needed manpower.

“Fan-fucking-tastic. So Avers what about Hope?”

Avers glanced at Costner and then at Gretch. “We fight for Hope and care nothing for your alliances. We will work with Gretch and his rebels so long as they are the best choice. At the moment they have the weapons and people. We will not garrison your people and will only trade supplies and intelligence. We will also lead your people in combat.”

“Yeah your boys don’t really know what the fuck’s going out outside those big walls to much do ya? But you sure know how to leave a lot a confederate uniforms on the floor.”

“So Captain Reynolds where’s the Sky Pirate Armada landing on this?” Squire asked.

“No offense to either of your boys but here’s the story.” She turned to Gretch. “You are a fucking psychotic who under normal circumstances I’d shoot on sight.” She then turned to Costner. “You work for a bunch of murderers for hire. Look I’ve done a lot of bad things for plunder but I ain’t never killed nobody I don’t know for beads as the only reason.” She then looked at Avers. “Sexually repressed cult of emotionally dead killers.” She then looked at Squire. “I don’t even know who the fuck you are. The Black birds or something? You was a nothing who got lucky a few times. That luck is gonna run out for you.” She leaned back in her chair. “Then there’s us, the pirates who, if we were all inclined to be logical here, have the power. We got the Ships with the guns on ‘em, no show without us.”

“True points all of ‘em but none of that matters. All you gotta do is choose a fucking side and stop waxing lyrical.” Gretch moaned. He felt his position of power slipping. He’d have to find away to gain complete control of the Pirate Armada.

“Well we don’t really care ‘bout the spat between the psychos and the Assassins. So we’ll offer our services to whoever needs ‘em.”

“What you can’t... You need to fucking choose!” Gretch cried.

“I am. You can use our ships to quickly transport troops while these sneaky sons of guns can do the same. No point backing one horse.” Reynolds said with a shrug.

“So Hope will fight alongside Gretch’s resistance and we’ll fight with the White Group. While the Sky Pirates will act as transport.” Squire said.

“Yeah, only Transport, ain’t no way we’re going up against their Leviathan with that Gatling gun. We’d be cut to shreds.”

“Well that concludes our Parlay. I hope it was as good for you fuckers as it was for me.” Gretch said with a smile.

“For now, Gretch. After all this is over we still got business.” Costner said as he stood and walked for the door.

“I’m quaking in my fucking boots, last time we played that game you near pissed yourself!”

Costner left the cave with Gretch’s laughter still echoing off the walls.

#

Joland Grey

Joland was sitting in the Black Hornet’s safe house cleaning his revolver, an act he found slightly more fiddly now he was down a finger. He dropped the cylinder and sighed. He lost his brother and his place in the Confederate Army but at least he could have pride in who he was now. With the Hornets there was none of the guilt that came with being a Confederate.

Someone cleared their throat behind him and he turned to see the face of Grievous Wylde staring back. He was flanked by Oswald and Harvey, his protégés.

Joland leapt to his feet and immediately fell over the stool he’d been sitting on. Oswald snorted and walked over to the man.

“Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!” Joland screamed.

Oswald viciously kicked the fallen man in the face and sneered in his ear. “You’re a fucking traitor, I should gut you right here.”

“That’s when Joland realised how much trouble he was in. If they wanted him dead he’d be dead already that meant they wanted to take him in.

“Please no I can’t, I don’t want to... Just let me go?”

“You betrayed the Confederacy and your own brother for... this.” Wylde said with distain as he looked around the shabby room. “There are questions that must be answered.”

#

In New Mesa Blackthorn had broken Joland in record time. Joland spilled everything about the Black Hornet operation in Farpoint. Now Blackthorn kept going just for the sport of it. Wylde strode into Autumn’s war room and dropped a dossier on top of a map of Farpoint Autumn was studying with his command staff.

“What’s that?” Autumn said looking at the slightly blood stained dossier.

“Names and locations of Black Hornet safe houses in Farpoint. That’s where we found Joland Grey. Said a woman called Ruby Doom killed Roland Grey and sent Joland packing to Skycove. There he met a Group called The Black Hornets led by a man called Squire. Turned out the Pirates weren’t too fond of harbouring terrorists so they sent them packing before too long. They ended up in Farpoint.”

“Squire, I know that name. He escaped execution a few weeks ago and that obviously I know Doom. Good work, Wylde very good work.”

“I know.” Wylde said as he marched back out of the office.

He returned to Blackthorn’s ‘office’ and ended the interrogation. Joland was swinging by his arms which were tied to a beam that ran the length of the ceiling.

“He’s had enough Blackthorn. It’s time for the trail.”

Blackthorn looked sad but placed the bloody saw he had been wielding on the table.

“Joland Grey you have been charged with Treason. How do you plead?” Wylde asked.

Joland blubbed something indecipherable. Wylde leaned a little closer and raised a hand to his ear in a mock attempt to hear the man better.

“Guilty. A wise choice, by the powers afforded to me by the Grand General I sentence you to be hung by the neck until you are dead.”

Joland cried but through the blood and broken teeth it came out like a gurgle.

Twenty minutes later Joland Grey had been publically executed and Grievous Wyle was on the hunt for Ruby Doom.

#

Squire.

He had arranged to meet with the White Group later in the week and had returned to Farpoint. The small town that was nestled below the Airships of the rich. There was no will to fight there, the only thing that interested most of the population was money and power. The Confederates represented both. At least now Skycove was open to them again and he’d take the first opportunity to move the Black Hornets there. Gretch was going to Garrison some of his troops there as well which would make for an interesting dynamic. While Squire didn’t want to work for Gretch he could work with him towards a common goal. He knew the distinction was tenuous but to Squire it was there.

He tied up his horse and entered the safehouse he shared with Joland and few other members of the resistance. As soon as he set foot inside he knew something was wrong. The place had been ransacked and the three resistance fighters who had been with Joland lay dead only one had his sword drawn. Joland was missing. Could he have been a confederate spy?
Squire did a quick sweep of the area and found Joland’s revolver in bits. It was in the middle of being cleaned. That meant Joland had been taken by surprise.


“Fuck.” Squire whispered as he ran out of the house and back to his horse. He went directly to one of the other Safehouses and battered on the door until it swung open.

A young woman answered the door and her eyes went wide when she realised who it was.

“James... I do...”

“We have been found out. Everyone needs to get out now and to Skycove. You need to complete the chain ok?”

The girl nodded and shut the door in his face. He didn’t mind, it was what she was supposed to. Complete the chain meant she would need to pass on the message to the next safehouse who would pass it on the next and so on. The rest of the resistance fighters would need to sanitise their safe houses and bring what they could to Skycove.

Squire went directly to his horse and rode out of Farpoint.

#

Autumn

The Confederate Army took Farpoint with one casualty and ten Terrorists dead. It was a good operation and it seemed like most of Farpoint was happy to see the Confederates. It was something of a relief to Autumn who needed something to go right. Now he was in charge of two locations New Mesa and Farpoint although he knew Farpoint wouldn’t cause as much trouble as New Mesa. In fact some of the local populace had offered to join the Confederate Army.

A downside had been they had only taken ten members of the Black Hornets and none of them alive. It seemed like their dedication was growing as the occupation wore on.

He was still supremely confident that he could take the Flats, he was due another deployment of troops and that meant he could better defend his conquests. All he had to do was keep the momentum up.
#

Gretch.

The Confederate Captain moaned and a thick hand slapped him awake. His eyes filled with terror as a large scarred face came into focus.

“You know who I am?”

“Y-y-y-yess.”

“You know what I do?”

“Y-y-y-y-yess.”

“I’m gonna do it to you if you don’t tell when this Airship fulla your fucking Fed buddies comes in understand.”

“Due next week, it’s called the Rising Sun just please don’t...”

Gretch slit the man’s throat before lifting a piece of paper and scrawling Alexander’s orders.

#

Jenner Reese.

“So they weren’t at the meeting?” Jenner asked.

“Nope, I know Gretch is a sadistic fucker and I guess we can add racist as well.” Costner responded.

They were standing in her office discussing the Parlay.

“Well then I guess we have some friends to make.”

#




Gretch Jobs.

Return to Sender.

Target- Confederate Troop Transport Rising Sun.


Location- In about a week it should be around the Northern Flats


Information- Good Fucking work getting the religious nut jobs or our side. Maybe you’re not a complete fuck up after all. That’s why I’m giving you this one. The Feds have got another load of troops coming in on an Airship called the Rising Sun. Problem is when those fucks get here they spread out like ants and we can’t kill ‘em all. Better to find the ant hill and burn ‘em out.

Point is I need you take out the Airship before it lands. Should fuck up Autumn’s plans and take some of the wind outta the Confederate Sails. Now he’s got Farpoint he’s a little stretched.

This is gonna be a Gang bang though. Hope, the pirates and me are in on it. You are going as my representative the Guardians are sending some prick called Brother Jacob and the Pirate Ship is called the Spry Pigeon that’s captained by a cloudfucker called Gull Barbour.

Job is simple use the Spry Pigeon to get close then get onboard. Apparently this Gull fella is so shit hot at piloting he can get close enough to drop youse off without being seen. Then you and the Brother will sneak on and take out the Soldiers. I’d suggested doing it quietlike. Use blades if you gotta drop someone and blow the fucker up. You can use smoke bombs or something to signal Gull for the pick-up. No way you’re jumping off unless you wanna end up a fucking mystery stain in the middle of the desert.

Gretch.

White Group Jobs

Hot Shot

Target- Williams, The Cabal Sniper.


Location- The Badlands.


Information- Gretch is a moron. This is clear now. He had his little Parlay and left out one of the major forces on the Flats. I speak of course of the Ochil. The Confederates have not made the same mistake. The Ochil have been trying to get together their war council but efforts are being thwarted as the clan leaders are being assassinated by a Confederate Sniper called Williams. We believe he is one of Grievous Wylde’s Cabal team and all we could get was a second name, Puck was lucky to get that much. Williams is lethal with his rifle and is a master of concealment. You could walk right past him and not know. He’s cabal so expect him to be a deadly quarry.

The Ochil have sent out war parties but Williams has dropped them with ease. When I learned about this situation I offered the White Group services free of charge. Hopefully this will lead to a more stable working partnership with the Ochil Clans. Assuming this Sniper doesn’t kill the leadership before then.

The Sky pirates can provide transport if you wish but I recommend using something lower key. The Hornets have offered you a squad of two members to assist, but let’s be honest their main use will be as bullet magnets, use them to identify the shooters location. The Ochil will also supply a tracker.

The sniper seems to be operating in the Badlands in a small mountain rocky mountain range called Sula Rise.

Kill Williams and secure Ochil support for the White Group.

Jenner Reese.