A friendly smile flashed from Price to Arubak as the industrialist held his hand out to Arubak for a moment, before quickly retracting it and pressing his index finger to his lips. "Ah, there was actually one other thing that came to my mind that... Well, I find its relevant to my own interests as we work together more. That little skirmish that happened in front of the city... What exactly happened there? What sparked it off?" Price's face became a little more serious as his tone shifted to one of concern.
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Past:
The Sorillian troops stranded on The Rock had been quick to set up barricades and defenses around the crash site. A camp was set up as well, mainly coming out of and around the crashed ship, trying to ensure it had as much cover as possible from any enemy combatants. Captain Ash was still trying to devise a more proactive plan, sitting in the middle of the desert hoping the ship would arrive soon simply wasn't good enough. They needed provisions, fortifications, maybe even a spot to signal the ship from.
While the soldiers finished setting up some of the last metal barricades, Ash had quickly been cleaning gun oil off his firearms with a rag. They hadn't been in terrible shape, but a cleaning seemed in order with all the sand about, and it also gave him a greater sense of reassurance. Then the voice came out from across the sands, with no clear origin, but possibly from all around them. The men were uneasy, nervous by what the strange voice said. It knew their names, so whoever or whatever this voice was coming from, it was in an uncomfortably strong position right now.
Ash tossed the rag to the side, picked up his bolt action rifle, and fed the chamber with a familiar, mechanical clicking sound. He strode to the edge of the camp, Percy and several others standing close by as the peered out into the sands. "Gentlemen, I expect you to do everything in your power to make sure our boys make it back safe and alive. Got it?"
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Present:
Ash looked over to where the sickly peasant had been defecating some foul, ill looking substance before (as if they had internal gangrene or something) only to see them rushing away from the wall. "Bugger me..." He sighed as he grabbed his own rifle. "Looks like show of force is the plan after all, and we're not getting more than a second to plan it. Horik, please get your friend and the worm to prop up the gun facing the camp, but not till we give the signal. Otis, if you know how the thing works, I suggest you sit on top in the gunner position. Syra and Seru, I'd like you to help ensure I'm not shot, and act as a second voice in what will hopefully become a negotiation."
After he finished making up his plan on the spot, Ash hoped on the back of the horse he'd acquired and sat the butt of his rifle on his hip, looking like some strange mix between a soldier and a cowboy. "Let's pray those children matter more to them than their thralls." He said morosely as he made his way to the crest of the dune.
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Several Days Ago:
The night was cool, but the wind very soft, making for a more gentle, relaxing evening. The stars were out and the moon cast its bright light across the desert sands, illuminating it all in a faintly white hue. Maximilian had been traveling for a short while on The Rock now, a few days since he had arrived. Schittle had proven to be of some small use, it had helped him better understand which powers were vying for the canon, and also more likely where it would be headed.
As it turned out, the townsfolk had been right about it going in the direction of a place called the "Holy Land", some pit of degeneracy and indecency. Unfortunately, it was well gone by the time he had gotten there. But, the journey had not been in vain...
Maximilian was able to gleam a few bits of information from some of the locals, largely due to financial persuasion. He wasn't sure currently where the canon was, but he had some leads now, some very profitable ones for that matter.
The Phoenix Lord looked over a map and compass before turning to the stars overhead. "Seems we're nearly there, and still heading the right direction." He smiled under his helmet while he placed the navigational pieces into a saddle bag on his flying ant. Maximilian then walked out in front of the ant to a little patch of sand that had been disturbed. He pulled something out of it and went back to the ant and saddle bags. "I suppose this little bread crumb trail is just further proof of that." He placed a heavy, shiny, metallic object into one of the bags.
The artillery shell he had been holding had been placed securely, and safely, into a bag with some of the other missing shells he had collected since his time in the Holy Land. He'd see to it soon that they were placed somewhere more secure, but for now they would be safe with him whilst he traveled along to the Horenor. The shells, the place, and a couple of names to look into.