293 The City of Sins (1/2)
Two Days before the Events of the Ball
”This is Outrider Two Six, I have eyes on the ruins over.” The radio buzzed.
Tyrier leaned over closer to the operator in the command truck and listened in to the verbal exchange.
”Two Six, this is Hotel,” The operator smoothly replied. ”What's the situation over there, over.”
”Two Six, I got visual on multiple camps around the ruins. Looks like survivors, over.”
”Hotel, Roger, keep observing, Hotel, out.”
”Survivors?” Tyrier turned to Eagle company's OC, 2nd Lieutenant Rathia and said in a questioning tone.
”Not surprising, I guess?” Rathia replied. ”There are over fifteen to twenty thousand people in that city. Even a God can't eat everyone.”
”This might complicate things for us...” Tyrier said. ”If they salvage any working tech...”
”We cross that bridge when we get there, Sergeant,” Rathia patted Tyrier's shoulder. ”We only have a single platoon and your section with us. Not counting the support staff, we barely have fifty people who can fight.”
”Let's not poke the Stinger nest shall we?” Rathia said. ”We access the situation first before we decide what to do next, alright?”
”Yes, Sir,” Tyrier nodded. ”We should reach the city within an hour.”
”Okay, get your men ready for anything,” Rathia ordered. ”And no one fires unless attacked. Clear?”
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”Yes, Sir!”
The convoy of armored vehicles soon came within sight of the Tent City that sprung up around the ruins of the city. Scores of Men and Orcs armed with crude weapons appeared, jealously guarding their territory and eyeing the newcomers with suspicion and awe.
The convoy came to a halt a good distance away from the tent city and half a dozen motorcycles linked up with the vehicles.
”What now?” Tyrier climbed to the top of the command truck, next to Rathia who was observing their surroundings with high powered binoculars.
”I say there are, maybe five, six thousand survivors?” Rathia mentally counted the tents and people. ”At least half used to be slaves. Can't hide the telltale scars or the different tan from their collars.”
”Interesting,” Tyrier frowned as he watched the armed groups. ”Seems like they came to an agreement with the Oerkins and freed themselves.”
”I see at least four different groups here,” Rathia gestured to one large group on the left of the ruins. ”There's one, red seemed to be their color.”
Tyrier turned his binoculars towards the group Rathia pointed out. He saw dozens of clusters run down tents and crude shelters made out of salvaged material. Hundreds of red cloth strips fluttered in the breeze all over the tents.
The men had strips of red cloth tied to their arms or body and they brandished crude weaponry with strips of red cloth tied to the weapons. Most of the people in that group had red paint dabbed over their faces or exposed skin.
”Hmm, red seemed like their favorite,” Tyrier commented.
”Seems like each group has taken control of one of the four gates of the ruins,” Rathia added. ”The nearest group to us looked like a ragtag band of beggars.”
”On the west side, the Oerkins' camp is there,” Rathia continued to report. ”And the furthest on the southern end, the group look more well off.”
”Looks like the leftovers of the merchants or rich people from the city,” Tyrier eyed the last group. ”They have the smallest number but the guards are well armed and armored compared to the rest.”
”So we have at least four factions here,” Rathia lowered his binos. ”If we enter the city, most likely we will have to deal with either one of the factions here.”
”Looks like that is the case,” Tyrier sighed. ”It's gonna be so troublesome...”
”Well, I guess being desperate had them banding up,” Rathia replied. ”Can't blame them for trying to survive here.”
”Well, looks like we don't have to choose,” Tyrier said. ”We got some guests heading our way!”
”Looks like we kicked the Stingers' nest!” Rathia chuckled. ”Everyone is coming to welcome us!”
The group with the better armed and armored guards sent a carriage with a couple of skinny looking land dragons that struggled to pull the carriage with its occupants towards the Marines.
The other factions seeing them sending out a party, all scrambled to dispatch their own party to welcome and find out who and what visitors had come.
Other than the carriage, the Oerkins rode their wind wolves over while the rest, ran over as swiftly as they could on foot.
The Oerkins being nearer to the Marines arrived first. A tall Oerkin with his body skeletal like, wore the skull of some fearsome creature as a helm strolled up to the Marines. ”Greeting... soft skins... Why you come?”
Tyrier nudged Rathia from the side and gestured with his head at the Oerkin and Rathia's eyes narrowed as he recognized the handgrip of an Oerkin hand cannon sticking out from the hip of the Oerkin.
”Erm... We came to find... our people...” Rathia said. ”We seek safe passage through the city ruins.”
”There is only death here,” The Oerkin whizzed. ”Leave this cursed land now...”
”Wait! Waaait!” A voice cried out from a carriage and the land dragons pulling the carriage came to a halt with wheezing coughs.
A mid aged man, his tailored clothes hang on his lanky frame quickly exited the carriage. ”Wait! I can offer you twice times what he offered to pay!”
Rathia glanced at Tyrier who gave a shrug and asked. ”What did you think I was selling?”
”Food of course!” The man panted as he stood next to the glowering Oerkin. ”I can pay you twice for what he is paying you!”
”I think you misunderstand something,” Rathia put a hand up to stop the man from cutting in. ”We did not sell anything to him.”
”But... but...” The man stammered. ”Than sell me all your food! I can give you a good price!”