Eodem: A Rifle And Sword Adventure 7 Chapter 7: Operation Scoprion Sting Part 2

"Move in Iris and stay calm. Diaz got your back." Kayin said. He was overseeing Iris and Vincent through his flying drone that was looking down on the vicinity of Devico's Mansion.

"You got this Snow White." Vincent added.

The Vampire, with the pocket of all of her remaining Life's Savings nervously walked towards the HQ of the Burning Horse Bandits. Using the hood to conceal her body from the crowds and the sun, she breezed unnoticeably from the crowds of people who were out that day for their daily business. Merchants sold Luxury Goods to buyers dressed who were in n.o.ble's apparel consisting of surcoats, decorated belts, long socks and hats in flamboyant shapes and colors. There were also artisans and the common folks who wore more down to earth clothes like dirtied shirts, trousers and less colorful dresses. As Kayin watched Iris and Vincent separately move closer to the target, the Nigerian couldn't help but feel concerned over the conditions he has to work with. So many innocent civillians are not going to expect such a loud and full-frontal attack at this common place of gathering and he fears the tragic loss of human death for the Gliesians who live in Tyr Rian.

"I hope you will practice restraint with that 270 Delta gun of yours." Kayin said to Crocker.

"Oh, don't worry, this beauty of mine is the best of both the LSAT's Low Recoil and the Punch of an M60. No Stray Bullets coming from me. Just shoot a few shots off and the Civs' will run and duck out of there." Lewis replied in his thick c.o.c.kney Accent.

"You better. Is that Exo-Suit of yours even necessary?" Asked Kayin again.

"My Mark 4 Hercules Armor? I saved lives and punched people with this. It's like already as how the j.a.panese would say 'an extension of your body'." Crocker said.

The Grizzled Brit flexed his muscle at the Nigerian in a proud demonstration of his masculinity. Crocker was a well-built man who works out in an intense regimen of weights and Ab Workouts causing him to be a muscular 200-pound man at his height of 6'2. Compared to Kayin he has a normal body neither too light nor too heavy of 5'10 and 160 pounds.

"I am not talking about your suit Sarge as great and powerful as it is. I just feel sorry for the Burning Horse Bandits. We good Ballistics and Futuristic equipment while our quarry barely has an understanding of Projectile Warfare. We are, by their standards could be comparable to G.o.d-Like Mages being sent to kill five-year olds." Kayin commented.

The Auto-Rifleman couldn't help but agree with Kayin's logical reasonings. After all, these people have Medieval Era levels of Technology. However, he and the other people of the Colony are concerned of the 'Magic' that the people of Benham-3 possess and can wield. He has seen from the records and Kayin's own accounts about the capabilities of Magic in the form of Iris who can conjure Fireb.a.l.l.s, Electricity Bolts, Ice Spikes and even look into other people's minds with just biting really 'pa.s.sionately'.

"Strike Team move closer by twenty meters." Samantha radioed.

"Roger, remember boys and girls. Watch your fire and don't let these f.u.c.kers get any close to you." He replied.

"Wilco!" Said one of the accompanying soldiers.

As the UFE soldiers walked discreetly towards the Mansion at the center of the Market with their weapons and gear cloaked by their jackets to not attract attention from the Primitive Natives, Iris Cadohagan has made it to the from Iron Barded Gates of Devico's Mansion. She hailed the guard on top of the gate's tower drawing his attention.

"Who calls?" Asked the gate guard.

"Iris Cadohagan." The Vampire replied.

"On what kind of business?" the gate guard asked in a stumped tone. He was surprised to see that the Vampire was, out of characteristically, appearing right at the front door of his Boss' home and headquarters.

"I am here to pay off my… protection… money." Iris hesitantly spoke with each word from her sentence being lowered in volume to a near faint whisper. She never imagined herself saying those words of defeat to the Burning Horse Bandits less alone right in front of her most hated annoyance Devico.

"What is that again?" the gate guard asked again. He leaned his ears from his elevated position down to the ground below.

"I… Am…. Paying…For…Protection…" She said again brokenly with a mildly raised voice.

"Speak up you b.i.t.c.h!" cussed the guard.

"I am Paying Protection Money!" Iris angrily roared. Her superhuman lungs pierced through the heightened abode where the Burning Horse thug was.

The gate guard recoiled in shock by the sudden shouting of the Vampire that he nearly lost his footing and his armored hat.

"Okay La.s.s, by the Astral G.o.ds okay. I will let you in. Oi Egbhert! Open the Gate!" the gate guard said.

The Barded Gate slowly opened to Iris. It's creaking noises unpleasantly scratched her sensitive ears as the Portcullis that is seals the entrance slide slowly upwards to allow the Vampire Witch entry. With no turning back now and the hope of both help from the UFE and the prospect of the dismantling of the Burning Horse Organization, she walked inside the Mansion's Property.

The inner courtyard of the building is a blandly stoned floored clearing with dozens of crates and barrels littering the grounds. One of Devico's Modus Operandi's is the 'obtaining' of commodity goods or simply something people will pay hundreds of Ducats to pay for like medicine and weapons. He would often sell these items at exorbitant rates way above the accepted market value. But the people of Tyr Rian couldn't do anything about it as the Burning Horse Bandit's 'Legit Front' monopolizes most of the Trade of Tyr Rian except for a few compet.i.tors like Lutheor Mirien who all are barely afloat from their own entrepreneurial wit alone. Normally this would invite an investigation team of the Princ.i.p.alities Tax Collectors. who would check on his hastily acc.u.mulated wealth and seek any accounting anomalies from his number books that all businesses keep to track their purchases and sales. Devico would counter the investigators through bribery, blackmails to key officials and occasionally if things get desperate, a 'disappearance'. For the leader of the Burning Horse Bandit's Leader, he was on top of the world as he stood up from his office building and headed to the balcony that oversees his mansion's inner courtyard.

"Well, Well, if it isn't the Pale Witch of the Woods herself Iris Cadohagan." Devico smugly declared.

"Enough of your tripe Devico." Iris raised her head and frowned at the Bandit Leader.

"Oh, still not getting over that 'Accident' your house? I am terribly sorry for the 'Tragedy'." Devico sarcastically apologized.

Iris held back her anger as she gnashed her teeth and aimed daggers from her eyes to the Haughty Bandit Leader above her.

"I worked hard at that house. I built it with my own two hands." She said fighting back her tears.

"Oh, come down milady. You wouldn't want to spook my guards with your witch powers. And don't make me laugh on your 'hard work'. I know you are a 'b.l.o.o.d.y' cheater on the whole 'Magic' business of yours with Lutheor Witch." Devico said mentioning Iris kept secret from the people of Tyr Rian.

The Vampire gripped her hands at the hearing of her Dark Secret that Devico toyed with her and wrapped his grimy hands around her like a string to a puppet. If word had gone out of her Vampiric Nature, h.o.a.rds of Inquisitors and Hunters would hunt her down and kill her. She feels so vulnerable being in the mercy of the Bandit Lord. All she could do was stand idly at the middle of that courtyard while Devico watched below menacingly.

"Guards… it has seemed our guest is rather silent right now and I was having so much fun conversing with her. Please… Motivate her." Devico ordered.

Four Men appeared out of the main door of Devico's Mansion carrying crossbows. They ran towards Iris, surrounded her from all sides and aimed their weapons at point blank range. The Vampire Noticed that the Crossbows were equipped with the special 'Blessed' Bolts that can Critically Injure and even kill a Vampire in one shot.

"My Sentry told me you have my long overdue Protection Money. Hand it over." Devico called.

"But it is my Life's Savings…" Iris objected.

"Do I look like I care?" Devico snapped back.

The Vampire Witch sorrowfully reached to her pockets and grabbed her coin purse. She opened the bag and looked sadly at her money. She will be reduced to a lowly beggar when she hands over the last of her Ducats to Devico. She was about to lose hope and hand over the purse when a voice spoke through her ear.

"Hey Snow White, I made it in." Spoke Vincent. "s.h.i.t… you're in a pickle aren't ya? Okay listen to me carefully. I am goin to count to three. A three I will throw a Flash Bang Grenade at your position blinding them. Close your eyes so you won't get blinded. Then once they are down take the down the two tangos at your right. I will deal with your left. Ready?" Vincent quietly explained.

With renewed hope, Iris steeled herself clutching her hands and her money purse. The Crossbowmen armed with the Blessed Bolts, placed their hands on the triggers as Devico continued to call out to the Vampire.

"My money… NOW!" Devico exclaimed impatiently. If he doesn't get his Protection Money that instant he would most likely pry that money from Iris real dead hands.

"One… Two…" Vincent began to Countdown.

"Kill her!" Devico shouted.

"THREE!" Vincent yelled as he threw the Flashbang Grenade at Iris Position.

The Vampire closed her eyes quickly just as the grenade exploded in a blinding light stunning and disorienting the Crossbow Bandits.

With Adrenaline fueling her rage, Iris unleashed her Vampire Claws from her hands and slashed the two bandits on her right with two quick left and right hooks killing them instantly on each hit. Vincent emerged from his hiding place of barrels and opened fire on Iris's left sided hold-uppers with a burst of his UMP-45 taking them down before they could get a shot off.

"Iris! Get to Cover!" He yelled as he grabbed the Vampire and dragged her back. The two were under a hail of Bolt and Arrow Fire as they dove into a barrel of crates.

"Vincent! You saved me. How did you get in?" Iris happily thanked the Ex-thief but was surprised by Vincent's ability of penetrating the Mansion's Security constructed features.

"A good thief never reveals his secrets." Vincent dodged the question. He never liked revealing his tricks of his trade due to his Omerta.

He peeked slowly from the corner of the crate to see where the missle fire was coming from. Catching a glimpse of their attackers he saw one man armed with a Longbow aiming right at his position and his eyes met with his.

"d.a.m.nit!" Vincent yelled as he recoiled back to the safety of his cover clutching his right eye in pain.

"Vincent!" Iris yelled concernedly at the Ex-Thief.

Letting go of his right eye, Vincent opened them and with what seemed like a stroke of sheer luck that the arrow missed him by an inch as he looked over the top and noticed that the arrow narrowly implanted itself a mere inch from where the end of the crate was.

"f.u.c.king s.h.i.t, Samantha we are going loud. Go loud. I need suppression fire over here!" Vincnet yelled at the radio.

"Copy that! Strike Team. Move in and take down the package." Samantha ordered.

The UFE Soldiers and the brave volunteers uncloaked themselves and exposed their gear and weapons in broad daylight. The fantasy world people turned their heads at the strange warriors who revealed themselves in their alien armor. Some were stunned in astonished admiration while others frozen in fear over their intentions. Captain Mendoza stepped over a Table and shot a burst from his a.s.sault Rifle and waved wildly.

"Everyone get down!" He screamed.

With the group's intentions made clear by the civilians. The people of Tyr Rian ducked in cover and began to flee away from them. The resulting commotion caused chaos among the ranks of the Market goers as they scrambled to get away. There was screaming, tripping, accidental b.u.mping and people praying for safety to their patron G.o.ds as the Ground Team made their way through the Markets striding past the screaming civilians. They were followed by the Land Cruiser's armed with the intimidating and the old reliable Browning .50 Caliber Heavy Machine Gun.

"Contact!" Yelled Mendoza. He quickly gunned down a Burning Horse Bandit who had pulled out his sword and tried to charge at him while he took point.

"Lay Covering Fire for Vincent and Iris! Roof! Take them out." Samantha said intensely at her radio.

"I see'em. I got a shooter on the roof of the two-story building front!" Kayin exclaimed as he fired his Grenade Launcher at the roof of Devico's Mansion. The 40 x 46 mm HE Grenade exploded on impact as the ceramic tiles of the roof erupted causing the Archers and Ballistaes to be launched flying from the great and awesome force of the explosion.

"Come on!" Vincent yelled to Iris. He firmly gripped her shoulder and dragged her out of their cover and dashed to the gate tower's door a few feet away from them.

He kicked open the door and swayed his UMP side to side to check for hostiles. "Clear!" He yelled as he sheathed his SMG and looked upwards to the spiral stairs leading to the Opening Mechanisms.

"f.u.c.k, I hate stairs. Alright Iris, stay behind me." He said.

The Vampire Witch Nodded and prepared her claws as the two made their way upwards.

Meanwhile at the city streets below an intense Magic, Arrow and Gun Fight was taking place. After quickly dispatching the guards patrolling the ground, the Ground Strike Team are now besieging the Mansion itself. Volleys of Missiles both Magical and the Physical flew across each other as the fire fight was slowly but surely tipping over the UFE's favor due to their superior weapons and explosive ordinances from Kayin's Grenade Launcher.

"Come at me! I will strike your Heathen Souls!" yelled Father Bishop as he let out a barrage of Shotgun slugs at the building.

"Grenade!" Kayin shouted. He turned around and fired his MGL at a window where several Crossbowmen and Mages were defending in. The great explosion that followed caused a huge hole of splintered wood and charred stone where the section of the Mansion used to be. As soon as the ashes cleared from the explosion, the defenders from the house seemed to stop firing back as all became quiet from the city street level.

"Everything's clear outside. You got 30 seconds to open that gate. Haul a.s.s." Samantha radioed.

After listening in to Samantha's update, the Two Infiltrators continued to make their way up the stairs panting heavily from the exercise of their legs and lungs. As they were about to reach the end of the flight, the same Gate Guard who talked with Iris earlier ambushed them from the top of the stairs. Using his superior height advantage, he thrusted his spear towards Vincent. Thanks to his Rapid Movement Booster Augmentations he was able to weave sideways to dodge to spear's tip. Vince bended his legs while thrusting his hands to grapple the guard's thigh and arm and carried him over his shoulders before slamming him on the ground with a mighty throw. Dazed by the attack, the Sentry barely had any time to recover his bearings before his chest was slashed open by Iris' claws killing him.

"Nice job." Vincent complimented.

"You too." Iris gave her grat.i.tude back.

The two soon made it to the top of the stairs and opened the door to the Gate Mechanism Room. It was filled with an amalgamation of machinery and steel chains that work in tandem together to make the Heavy-Duty Gate of the Mansion slide up to open and slide down to close. Seeing a winch that has large chains wrapped around it, the two jogged over to it and began to pull the winch up. The Portcullis moved upwards as the UFE soldiers looked on in pleased smiles.

As Crocker looked on he noticed that from the hole that Kayin had earlier launched a grenade to, a large figure arose from the shadows. The figure barely was seeable with the naked eye before it dashed across the room towards the direction of the Gate Mechanism Room. Lewis unleashed a Burst of his LMG at the figure but he missed as the shape moved out of the way and disappeared.

"Guys you got a big fast mover heading to your direction. I can't get a shot off." Crocker radioed in.

He turned around to see that the gate was now a quarter and a half open allowing people to freely walk inside. He rested his LMG by his abdomen as he walked towards the gate and taking a deep sigh of relief that the mission is so far going smoothly as expected by Samantha.

"A wh---" Vincent radioed back before static followed.

"Vince!" Iris yelled. She saw the Ex-Thief being thrown away from the Winch as a giant Ogre grabbed him and threw him across the room. Following him was Iris who the Ogre grabbed and did the exact same thing to the Vampire launching her at the opposite end of the room near the same spot where Vincent landed.

"Eghbhert hates manfilth who touch Gate Wheelie! Eghbhert Hates Intruders like Boss-man Devico!" the Ogre said as he grabbed the Winch Mechanism and worked his strong hands to close the gate as quickly as the machinery can command. The Portcullis began to rapidly slide downwards on top of Crocker.

"Sarge watchout above!" Yelled Samantha who could only watch and hold her breath as Crocker turned his head upwards.

"Oh s.h.i.t!" Crocker exclaimed as he dropped his LMG to the floor and raised his hands upwards and grabbed the Gates' frame. Channeling the power of his Exo-suit from his legs, he shoulder pressed the gate causing a great dust cloud to explode from the point of impact shocking the UFE soldiers who were still behind him.

"Get in! Get in!" He ordered.

Seeing that the Exo-Suit cladded soldier has opened albeit momentarily the gate. The UFE soldiers flooded through the gate whilst Crocker strongly held firm.

"Why…Wheelie… Nogo…all way?" The ogre questioned to himself. The Winch should have went all the way down but unseen force was stopping from fully being pushed down. Angered, the brute pushed harder with all of his strength.

The Portcullis slowly began to lower down. Crocker had to bend his elbows downwards as the gate's stake tips slowly got closer to his face.

"RAAAGGHH!!!!" Crocker roared as he struggled to keep the gate open. The Brit fell on his knees as the gate's weight slowly began to overwhelm him. He can even feel the force of several arrows pierce his armor in vain but were stopped instantly before the arrow tips could touch the more delicate parts of his body.

Meanwhile the onlookers from the Citizenry of Tyr Rian looked curiously at the man who was holding the Portcullis open. They were amazed to see both the man hold the gate open with his bare hands despite Eghbhert the Ogre Gatekeeper pushing it back down, still persevering even after being shot several times by the Burning Horse Thugs, and the sheer fact that he and the group of mysterious soldiers are standing up to the hated Devico and his Bandits. The crowd began to cheer for him behind his back.

"Go! You can do it!" said one peasant.

"Don't let those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds win!" added a rich n.o.bleman.

"Come on love! Show me what you got!" cheered a Street Crumpet lusciously.

Hearing all the cheers behind him echoed deep inside Crocker. Listening to people telling him to persevere gave him the will to redouble his efforts and pushed back up the heavy gate with a mighty roar from his lungs. He lifted himself from his knees and mightily pushed the gate back upwards. The bystanders erupted in cheers as the brave strangely armored man stood back up.

Whilst Eghbhert the Ogre continued to push the Winch down. Vincent managed to recover from his fall and get back up to his feet.
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"d.a.m.nit, some big guy is trying to close the gate!" Vincent Radioed.

"Crocker is barely keeping it open. Take him down." Samantha replied.

Vince aimed his Ump at the Ogre and fired a barrage of Full Auto fire at the beast. All 25 bullets from his clip pierced the Ogre's body but the giant humanoid was still breathing, albeit heavily from his wounds still trying to push the Winch down.

"s.h.i.t he shrugged off a full clip." Vince anxiously radioed.

"Where is he? I think I can get a shot off." Obediah radioed in from his vantage point.

"Laze it!" Samantha urged.

Grabbing his laser designator from his pockets, turned the device on causing the small handheld electronic to burst to life with a brightly lit green laser came out from it.

"Hey Ugly! Eat Fifty Cal b.i.t.c.h!" Vincent delivered a Pre-Mortem One Liner at the Ogre as he aimed the Laser Designator at Eghbhert's head.

Before the Ogre could even react, his face exploded in a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp of brain matter and bone. The giant fell down dead as his limp arms let go of the winch.

"Big Guy is dead. Nice Shot Obed." Vincent radioed

"Thanks for the Spot." Obediah answered back.

Vincent turned around to Iris and helped her back up to her feet. After thanking him for the gentlemanly gesture, the two made their way back to the Winch. Iris non-chalantly slide her fingers at the bloodied hole where the Ogre's head used to be to catch some fresh blood off of the Ogre.

"Waste not what not." Iris said as she licked off the blood from her fingers. "Not bad… for an Ogre." She added.

"Yuck! If you're gonna do that more often, not in front of me okay?" Vincent cringed.

He promptly grabbed the Winch and pulled it back up until the mechanism was now all the way open.

Fully relieved from the heavy-ton weight of the Gate. Crocker turned around to the cheering crowd of Gliesians and curled his biceps.

"He toa ahau!" He yelled triumphantly in his Maori Tongue.

For that old-soldier, he had achieved something he had always wanted to hear but never knew he would live to actually obtain, praise and appreciation from people He could remember all the heartache of the political scene back in the UFE worlds over various controversies from condemnations from vicious journalists to hateful insurgents. In that moment, those horrible war memories melted away as he lived the moment. People were throwing their cheers, loose currency and even a couple of women's undergarments at him.

Meanwhile back above the Gate Tower, Iris and Vincent rested for a moment with a canteen of water. Iris merrily sipped the metal container as Vince watched her.

"You look pretty drinking water. Sweat falling from the brow. I got to say, d.a.m.n Girl…" Vincent flirted.

"You know how to please a woman… but… I have someone in mind already…" Iris replied.

"Oh, you going dating with someone? Hope the b.a.s.t.a.r.d doesn't freak out over your teeth." Vincent warned.

"Oh, it's someone from the Colony and… I have yet to tell him about it." Iris quietly said. Her voice faltered as she finished her previous sentence.

"Really? Who---" Vincent was about to ask until he was interrupted by the beeping alert of his radio.

"Uhm, Vincent, Iris… we got a Magical Problem here…" Kayin radioed in.

"What is it?" Vincent asked.

"Take a look outside… have Iris look into this… It's… uhm… how do I…" Kayin said. His tone was of confused rambling as he stuttered to communicate his thoughts over to Vince.

Ex-Thief followed by the Vampire Witch, moved towards the window that overlooked the Inner Courtyard to investigate. When they edged themselves over to the window, they saw that all of the UFE soldiers were gathered in front of the Mansion's front door and were trying to breakthrough it but a wall of rocks impeded their progress. Several of the soldiers were trying to use their small arms to chunk off the wall

"Nothing is working! It's Bulletproof!" Said one of the Land Cruiser's Machinegun Operators after he let out a mighty burst from his .50 Caliber gun.

"Stand back! Explosive Charge!" Yelled another UFE soldier. He tossed a C4 at the wall and triggered detonation. After the resulting explosion, the soldiers noticed that their obstacle has begun to show several signs of damage by cracks in the rock's surface

"That Rock Wall Spell is just going to be regenerated." Iris commented.

"You know this magic?" Vincent asked.

"Yes, it's normally used for engineering purposes but clever mages can use it to block off pathways. Trust me, I have done it myself." Iris replied.

"Well that Rock Wall is going to let Devico get away!" Samantha radioed into their conversation.

"Can you find a way to take it down Iris? You're the 'Magic' expert here?" Samantha asked Iris.

"I know that Rock Wall is an Earth Spell so it should be weak to Water and Ice Destruction Magic." Iris answered.

"Well, go down there and see what you can do. I'' see if I can cut off Devico from his left flank, try and buy you guys some time." Vincent said.

"Sound's like a plan. Make sure he doesn't get away." Samantha said.

Turning down his communications. Vincent turned around and kicked open a door to proceed deep into the depths of the belly of the beast not before gesturing a thumbs up, a sign of 'Good Luck' to Iris for the UFE. The Vampire smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt that she has gained the likings of the Ex-Thief do to their coordinated teamwork together.

Flying down the stairs from earlier, Iris made herself back into the Inner Courtyards where the rest of the UFE army are standing idly by over the Rock Wall.

"You can't even breakthrough this door even if the blind and the lame are left to defend it!" the voice of Devico spoke taunting the UFE soldiers from his Office Room on the top floor.

"Nyah! Nyah! You're a bunch of losers!" teased one of his henchmen.

"May G.o.d send you to the deepest pit of h.e.l.l!" Bishop fired back. He waved his shotgun at them and cursing them to high heavens over the despicable sorceries that impeded his and the UFE's 'Crusade' against the Burning Horse.

As the exchange of profanities continued, Iris touched her chin with her finger in deep thought. As she observed the Rock Wall, she noticed that the mages conjuring it have made it unusually strong in structural integrity. It would take a great amount of Magical Energy expenditures from her to make a dent in that. If only she had a Magic Wand or Staff to amplify her power, she can't do much with her bare hands and will alone without dangerously pushing herself to exhaustion that not even her Vampiric Physiology can hope to survive off without adequate care.

"Stand Clear, shooting a HE!" Kayin declared. He wielded his MGL and aimed at the obstructed door and fired his Grenade Launcher. At first, Iris could hear the device give out a moderately audible 'chook' sound from Kayin's weapon before a loud thunderous roar from the 40mm Grenade Round impacted and exploded center ma.s.s on the Rock Wall's surface.

The dust clouds cleared that the infractions at the Rock Wall has now become more visibly larger to the naked eye and showed signs of collapse.

But before the soldiers can celebrate and fire another explosive ordinance at the Rock Wall a loud voice echoed from within the mansion.

"Fire!" the voice spoke.

The Rock Wall quickly broke formation and was now a loose collection of flying rocks that were the size of a man's head. The floating pieces of Earth began to fly forward at the direction of the UFE Soldiers. Men ducked in cover as the courtyard became an obstacle course of debris and broken crates as everyone tried to protect themselves from the enlarged projectiles. Iris dived a pile of barrels as she hid from the oncoming fire. She slightly peeked sideways to see the ongoing chaos. She saw that most of the UFE soldiers have crawled to safety behind similar cover or at the back of the Land Cruisers.

As her eyes scanned the horizon she noticed that there was a familiar black faced soldier who lay on the ground shaking his head with a stunned faced.

"Kayin!" Iris shouted. She dashed out of her cover using her Vampiric reflexes and agility to dodge the flying rocks.

She made her way to the Private First cla.s.s and cradled him to her arms. He was still gripping his Grenade Launcher in his hands. She instinctively looked around for imminent signs of danger and saw a dozen rocks flying towards her. With magic conjuring from her hands, Iris created a Rock Wall of her own that shielded Kayin and her from the debris. She clutched the head of the Nigerian with arms as she hears the thudding sounds of the rocks impact her Rock Wall. Dust clouds of dust percussions from behind her fell down to taint her raven hair. When the noise stopped, Iris peeked over again from her cover to see that the rocks that were previously thrown around like dodgeb.a.l.l.s at the UFE were now returning back to their point of origin which was the Mansion's Entrance Door. The rocks quickly reformed the wall's structure to its original unblemished state.

"G.o.d f.u.c.king d.a.m.n you!" Crocker explained as he saw the Rock Wall repair itself. After all that firepower expended, they were back to square one.

"Man down!" yelled a UFE Combat Lifesaver. He rushed towards Iris and Kayin alongside Father Bishop.

"Kayin my son, what did those heathens did to you?" Bishop asked.

Iris looked at the Engineer's Face and noticed his eyes were closed, his face sweating and his breathing was heavy.

"He has a concussion. I saw him get grazed by a rock before falling down. Thank G.o.d for Kevlar Helmets." The Combat Lifesaver said.

"Will he be okay?" asked Iris concernedly.

"Yes, but he is effectively knocked out of the fight for a while." The Medic said.

"d.a.m.n you wicked sorceries! I will smite thee!" Bishop frowned, he raised his fist and directed it to the Mansion.

"Keep quiet! Your going to make it worse for Mudwin." The Medic protested. He pushed the Father's head down to their cover and quieted his angered shouts.

"I have to say, I think I misjudged you a bit Iris. You did save him. But you need to do more to trust me." Bishop complimented.

"Thank you. I never I would say that to a Holy Man before." Iris said. Her eyes then darted to the Grenade Launcher that Kayin was holding on his hand. It was laid aside of him on the ground whilst the Medic was attending him.

"That's a pretty strangely shaped staff you have there. Not anything like your 'Guns'." She said Curiously.

"It's an MGL Grenade Launcher. It fire's High Explosive Grenade Rounds. You saw it right? Pretty impressive right?" Bishop said.

"Yes, so it's a weapon, right? Like your guns." Iris asked.

"Indeed, it just shoots what I said, Grenades rather than smaller bullets. But why are you asking me right now? We are in a fight and we are losing." Bishop blasted.

"Does it still have those 'Ammo' things inside it?" Iris asked.

Bishop crawled towards Kayin's MGL, carefully retrieving it without disturbing the Medic's work with the Engineer. He flipped over the revolver-like ammo storage of the gun and counted the holes over the filled ones.

"It has three rounds left not including the rest from Kayin." Bishop answered.

"Give it to me." Iris said.

"What?" Bishop asked, dumbfounded of what he just heard. Did the Vampire who is also a Primitve Native of the Planet asked him, to give one of the UFE's weapons to her?

"Give it to me! I have a plan." She said.

"What's your plan?" Bishop asked again, still reluctant to relinquish the weapon.

"This plan!" Iris exclaimed. Her hands conjured in blue energy that felt cold to the touch. She reached over the MGL and gripped the weapon with her bare hands.

When the cold steel of the Grenade Launcher met with Iris' hands, the magical energies from her transferred to the gun encasing it in a blue ethereal aura enchanting it with her Magics. Bishop could feel the weapon give out a cool breeze of ice from the device astonishing him. His utter amazement caused him to loosen his grip letting Iris get a hold of it as he tries to comprehend what he just saw happened right in front of his eyes.

After retrieving the MGL and enchanting it with Ice Magic. She aimed the weapon at the Rock Wall and pulled the trigger. The 40mm grenade round shot forward which left a white trail of sparkling ice particles from its point of launch. It made contact with the Rock Wall causing it to explode in a great powerful blizzard. The Ice fully encased the Rocks in frozen ice.

Smiled that her theoretical plan worked she turned to the UFE soldiers.

"What are you waiting for? Shoot it now! It will chip away the ice." She cried.

"Open fire!" Crocker ordered as he aimed his LMG and fired a hail of bullets at the now frozen Rock Wall.

With the combined firepower from the small arms of the UFE soldiers and the three .50 Caliber Brownings, they managed to chip way the ice encased Rock Wall away opening the path forward.

"Move in! Go! Go! Go!" Mendoza yelled.

The UFE soldiers stormed inside the building locked, c.o.c.ked and ready to rock. They began to shoot down all of the Burning Horse Bandits who were trying to fight back after their defenses failed but to no avail.

"How did, How… Iris? What the f.u.c.k did you do and why is that MGL colored blue and sparkly?" Crocker inquired.

"Well, one of things I can do is enchant weapons. I know for a fact that your Guns are weapons so I theorized that, let's say if I enchant this big Thunder Wand with Ice Enchantments, it will shoot out and explode in a mighty Ice Storm of Magic. I guess my theory is indeed correct." Iris said.

She turned around to the door where it was reduced to a large and aesthetically ugly hole in the Mansion's otherwise pristine exterior and that is when not accounting for the eroded earth, ash marks and slowly melting ice from the previous explosion and bullet storm.

"I am not mad… that's actually pretty f.u.c.king amazing!" Crocker smiled. He moved his arms forward in a fist which caught Iris by surprise. She recoiled and stepped back.

"Are you trying to punch me?" Iris asked.

"Oh no! Sorry, it's called a 'Fist b.u.mp'. It's a show of respect to people. Come on, curl your hands and fist my fist now." Crocker explained.

Iris followed the Brit's instructions and returned the fist b.u.mp to him. A surge of happiness emerged from her mood as she felt euphoric over it.

"Like that? Respect?" Iris asked.

"Yeah just like that. Hey where is Diaz?" asked Crocker.

"We split up. He is going to cut off Devico from running away." She answered.

"Alone? f.u.c.k, we need to box that b.a.s.t.a.r.d now! Let's go! Bishop you're with us." Crocker said.

"And can I have more of those 'Grenade' ammo?" Iris added.

The Father nodded and knelt over to the incapacitated Kayin and retrieved his pouch of 40 mm Grenade Rounds. Quickly picking up his shotgun he dashed back to Crocker.

"Lead the way my son. Smite the unbelievers!" He declared.

"Ah-f.u.c.king-men!" Crocker affirmed as he reloaded his LMG with a fresh belt of ammo and c.o.c.king it.

The three break their way through the enforced opening and began to storm the mansion with Crocker leading the way.

Iris would constantly enchant and disenchant the Grenade Launcher to be able to fire a variety of magically enhanced grenades from Poison clouds that cause the defenders to collapse in their own vomit, Electric Shock which paralyzed any charging thugs' dead in their tracks and an 'Ice Bomb' which turns the Burning Hors.e.m.e.n into human popsicles. She did have to take care of not giving the Bandits a taste of their own medicine however because she is indoors and when she suggested a 'Fire Bomb' to Crocker, Lewis replied:

"f.u.c.k no! You wanna burn this lot to the ground… while we were INSIDE it?" the Brit protested after he delivered an Exo-suit enhanced straight punch to a hapless Bandit who managed to get too close to him.

The three continued up the multi-storied mansion. Iris became more familiar in the handling of the MGL. Unlike most medieval weapons from Gliesia such as the mundane swords and daggers to the magical staffs and wands, the MGL was heavier than she was normally used to when in comes to them. The scope that was railed on top of the launcher helped her aim and get used to how the weapon quirks and behavior. Her hands became used to the slight recoil that the launcher does after she triggers the firing mechanism. Additionally, at first when she had run out of ammo, she struggled find a way to reload the device. Thankfully Crocker was there to show her how to open the launcher's ammo storage and showed her how to place the 40mm grenades inside properly.

After fighting their way up Devico's mansion, the three made their way up the stairs into the top floor where Devico's office is. But before that, they need to breach the hallway first.

"Clear!" Crocker said as he kicked open the door and swiftly moved inside. He straffed the room and swayed his LMG in all directions to search for hostiles but all he found were the corpses of Burning Hors.e.m.e.n who died of bullet wounds.

"Took you slow pokes long enough." Diaz's voice echoed.

He emerged from the shadows casually drinking from a bottle of decanted wine.

"Are you drinking in the middle of a mission?" Crocker growled.

"I got bored. Dealt with these f.u.c.ks a few minutes ago. They got like an entire cellar at the door behind me. When this s.h.i.t's over let's celebrate with some of this stuff. I can tell if my old boss taught me anything of Sommelier know-s.h.i.t." He said placing the wine bottle at a nearby table.

"If we get a reason to celebrate. Have you seen Devico?" Crocker asked.

"Yes indeed. He is hold up by his office by the shiny gate at the end of the hall way. Haven't seen anyone come in or leave. Bet he is s.h.i.tting himself right now. I mean, Ice Grenade? Iris that's genius." Vincent laughed.

Iris blushed over that comment from the Ex-Thief over her plan with the MGL. She honestly didn't know if Enchanting would work with the UFE's guns to begin with. It was a wild gamble that paid off well.

"Good on you my son. Shall we end this Crusade once and for all?" Bishop asked.

The regrouped UFE soldiers walked together in unison down the hallway ready for the final confrontation with the feared Bandit Lord of Tyr Rian.

"El-tee, we are reaching the objective. Can you see what's our opposition?" Asked Crocker.

"I hear you Sarge, I count seven tangoes and the target himself. Be advised the target is ducking behind the cover of his desk. Obed is going to provide fire support over." Samantha radioed.

"Told you he is s.h.i.tting himself." Vincent commented.

The four now arrived by the vicinity of the large door. It was intricately designed with various mythical figures from pictures of what looked like unicorns, eagles, dragons and a several nude women.

"In the count of three we wi---AAAAHHHH!!!!!" Crocker was about to tell his orders when he felt a great ejection of electricity zapped him as he touched the door handle. He fell down on the floor gripping his hand injured hand with Bishop catching him to ease his fall.

"What sorcery is this?" Bishop asked in shock.

"The door! It must be under the effects of Soul-Binding." Iris reasoned.

"What the h.e.l.l is that supposed to be?" Crocker asked. Getting back up to his feet with the help of Bishop.

"Soul-Binding was originally used by n.o.bles to protect family heirlooms and valuables. The enchantment works by linking the soul of the owner with the item so only he maybe the only person to hold it. If someone other than the owner was touch the said item, it will deliver a shock that dissuades any thief from trying again." Iris explained.

"So, like some sort of Biometric Scanner? If you're the person by blood, DNA and fingerprints… or in your case… 'Soul'. You can touch it, but anyone else will get electrocuted?" asked Samantha.

"Indeed, most likely the door is linked with Devico himself." Iris replied.

"But that door is the only way in." Vincent said.

"s.h.i.t, we need to get Devico and his Blackmail material or all our work here is for nothing." Crocker protested in frustration.

Soon the three men who accompanied her began to argue. They yelled over what to do now and 'Plan B's' whilst Iris was left alone with the MGL at her hand. Looking at the Ammo Cartridge of the launcher, she can see she now has only one 40 mm round left. She looked again at the large door that guarded Devico's office. It was made of reinforced steel from what looked like dwarven casting. She recalled her old notes about metal and came up with an idea, albeit a very crazy one.

With her mind and mana energies working in tandem together, her hands conjured the red and heated energies of a raging volcano. She then transferred that knowledge of the magic into the launcher enchanting it with fire magic.

"Samantha, tell Obediah to get ready to fire. I am going in." Iris radioed.

"Really? Okay, you better now what you're doing." Samantha answered.

Aiming her launcher at the door, she took a deep breath as she put all her faith at the might of her new weapon the MGL. She squeezed the trigger and the grenade round that fired flew out with a fiery trail as hot as a Dragon's breath. When the grenade impacted the reinforced door, a powerful explosion that melted the hinges of the door and sent it flying across Devico's office. The fire also incinerated two men who were standing beside the door. The last of the Burning Hors.e.m.e.n steeled themselves but the resultant smoke cloud impeded their vision.

With an opening cleared. Iris set aside the Grenade Launcher and raised her claws. She dashed towards the door followed by Crocker, Bishop and Vincent. The Vampire, using her superhuman eyes she spotted a blinded hostile and cut him down with her claws. Her male companions also took their share of the kills with Bishop, Vincent and the Sharpshooting support of Obediah from across the street with his Anti-Material Rifle whilst Crocker took the last two down with his LMG.

"Clear!" Crocker declared.

Vincent walked towards the desk and grabbed Devico by the neck. He was shorter than the Thief by a few inches but weighed more than him. He raised the man as high as he could with his arm, slightly choking the now defenseless Bandit Lord.

"This him?" Vincent asked.

"Yes, it is. Keep him there. I will get rid off of the Blackmail material." Iris said. She walked towards the shelves of books of Devico's office and began to search it for his files.

"Please, I can give you five thousand Ducats if you let me go." Devico pleaded.

"Shut up!" Vincent yelled. He s.a.d.i.s.tically slammed down Devico's head on to the leg of his desk before following a swift front kick slightly fracturing his skull.

"You can't bribe another Criminal friend." He talked back. "Iris, see that dirt material… that's slang for 'Blackmail' mind you." He said.

The Vampire Witch began to scour the library shelves, moving past books as fast as she could. She was helped with Bishop who helped her pull out the books from the upper shelves which she couldn't reach. For each book she grabbed she would quickly flip through it in a brisk pace to see if the content was the gossip and d.a.m.ning evidence that Devico collected about the powerful elites of Tyr Rian that had kept him untouchable throughout the years. As she searched frantically for the book, Devioc turned his eyes towards the Vampire.

"You will never find my book Witch! Ha ha!" the Bandit Lord scoffed.

Vincent was about to give another s.a.d.i.s.tic punch to Devico, the Bandit lord pulled out a knife and tried to swipe the blade to him. His captor managed to quickly dodged the knife's edge by merely a centimeter. The ex-thief grabbed the man's hand, twisted the arm to disarm him to get the knife for himself then push the arm inwards. He slammed the man's knife on the palm of his hand pinning it to the table.

Devico let out a shrill scream that could be heard from outside his mansion.

"d.a.m.n! You scream like a little b.i.t.c.h." Vincent spats. "Where is it?" He asked again.

"In the safe… but you will never crack it by the time the city guards arrive and arrest you all. That the lock is made out of the thickest Scand---" whilst Devico boasted about the security of his Safe, Sargent Crocker walked to the safe that was behind his desk and in one great heave from his Exo-Suit, he ripped the safe's door.

"-danite…" Devico finished his sentence as he looked dumfounded at the breach of his most secured a.s.set.

Crocker reached into the safe and in a few moments, he managed to grab an unt.i.tled grey and red colored book.

"Hey Iris, think this it?" Crocker asked. He tossed the book to the Vampire who began to quickly read through it.

"Yes, this it!" Iris smiled. "By the G.o.ds, he has Blackmail on virtually everyone. The Captain, the Prince, the Princess, the Chief Tax Collector, the Judges, Lutheor and… here it is, Me." Iris continued. She ripped several pages from the book which has contained all the compromising information about her. After she has grabbed the pages, she conjured her hands to catch on fire, burning the papers to ash.

Devico's face dropped into despair as he was finally defeated. He nodded his head down in shame as the Bandit Lord and his entire organization was obliterated in just one morning.

"Yeah that's right sucks to be you!" Vincent teased.

"We did it!" Crocker raised his fist in celebration.

"Glory be to G.o.d!" Bishop added.

"Yo Sammy girl, got the package and the Blackmail. Mission Success hooyeah!" Vincent radioed in.

At the other side of the street by the Drunken b.a.s.t.a.r.d Inn, Samantha sighed in relief then smiled in great self-accomplishment as her first operation was a success. There were several unexpected deviations during the execution, but all of the men involved managed to breakthrough regardless.

"Congratulations everyone! We did it." She radioed into everyone's communications.

The UFE soldier's and Iris began to cheer and congratulate themselves over the battle-scarred ruins of the mansion. Men chanted 'Porro Terra' in high volumes and the civilian volunteers could be heard hugging each other in relief that they have all survived. There were a few injuries but according to the Combat Medic's reports, the casualties should be able to make a full recovery in no time.

"We did it Lieutenant Rose." Obediah smiled as he let go of the Anti-Material rifle he was holding.

"You're not a bad shot with that gun too. I was worried you might not handle the recoil." Samantha replied.

"Oh, don't worry, I got very steady hands." The redneck laughed.

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted the two.

"Miss Rose? It's me Lutheor. I have someone who wants to talk to you." the voice of Lutheor spoke.

"Who?" Samantha asked, she readied her pistol in hand, ready to fight back. She has feared that the Dwarf might have sold her and her team out despite them taking down the Burning Hors.e.m.e.n.

"Miss Rose? This is the Tyr Rian City Guards. Prince Clovich has summoned you." said another voice the El-tee doesn't recognize.

"And what happens if I don't?" Samantha asked. She aimed her pistol at the door ready to fire if the City Guards decide to barge through.

"We won't arrest you… Yet… if that is what you are asking. The Prince wants… 'an explanation'." The voice of the City Guardsman said.

"You can trust me in this. I explained everything to them." Lutheor vouch.

Samantha absorbed the Dwarf's words. She had always seen the Dwarf as a character of an honest to goodness businessman. If the Dwarf could keep Iris' secret of her Vampirism safe throughout those years as she has explained, then it would not make any sense for Lutheor to sell her and her men out.

"Very well, take me to him." Samantha said, lowering down her pistol.

-------------------------- (A few moments later, back at the Mansion) ---------------------------

The UFE soldiers were in a tense standoff against the Tyr Rian City Guards. They aimed their guns at the them whilst the Gliesian Natives aimed their Archer Bows, Crossbows, Swords and Halberds at them. Their cheering and celebration was cut short when the City Guardsmen rolled into the scene and the men were forced to make their stand inside the battle-ruined mansion entrance. Crocker and Captain Mendoza managed to discipline everyone from firing a shot less they ruin their chances of a diplomatic dialogue that they have fought hard that day to get.

"You are trespa.s.sing at my territory explain yourselves!" yelled a regally dressed blond haired man in ornate armor who rode pa.s.s the City Guards on his giant horse cladded in Tyr Rian Heraldry.

"Who is he?" whispered Crocker to Iris.

"That is Prince Clovich, the ruler of Tyr Rian." Iris answered.

"What do we do?" Crocker asked.

"I don't know? Where is Lutheor?" She replied.

Whilst the Prince and the guards stood in ignorant stoicism from the face of the UFE's guns, movement was spotted from behind the lines of guardsmen. Out pop none other than Lutheor Mirien. He brandished a diplomat's smile as he walked right in the middle point of the divide between the UFE and the guard's battle lines.

"Friends, Friends, don't be so scared right now. We are all friends here." The Dwarf said interceding the two parties.

"Lutheor, are these the 'Friends' of yours?" Prince Clovich asked.

"Indeed, although they are more of a 'Friend of a Friend' milord." Lutheor answered. "They are… uhm… Mercenaries as you can see from their weapons." Lutheor pointed.

"Those are some rather strange weapons that they wield. I have never seen those and that armor of theirs where are they from?" asked the Prince.

"Uhm… yeah… they are from…uhm…" Lutheor tried to answer that question from his liege yet he has forgotten how to answer that question.

"Earth… Prince... We are from Earth." Samantha said after pushing her way through the soldiers. She was followed by Obediah and an escort of two City Guards.

"And who you might be?" asked the Prince.

"I am Lieutenant Samantha Rose. My… Lord. And I am responsible for this." Samantha said.

"You know that there are two things you have just done. First off, you have been causing a loud commotion inside my city and from the reports I have gotten, there was 'magic' involved of some unknown form. Normally freely throwing magic around in a populated city is a punishable offense." Clovich sternly said.

"I understand that completely." Samantha nodded.

"Then the second of course, is that you and your men are trespa.s.sing at a n.o.bleman's property. That too is a crime but I know from this 'n.o.ble' that he is very 'unpopular' with everyone here for very 'unscrupulous' reasons. I a.s.sume Lutheor has sent you to do be, here hasn't he?"

"Yes, he did. Lutheor explained the details to you I presume?"

"Where is Devico?" the Prince asked, leaning downwards to stare at Samantha's azure eyes.

"He is there with my men." She answered.

She turned to her soldiers and gestured them. From the crowd of UFE soldier's emerged Devico who was being held on gunpoint by Vincent.

"That is indeed him. Can you justify, the 'accusations' against him to warrant such a racket in MY city?" raised Clovich.

"Hey, who has the book?" Samantha shouted.

She was answered by the emergence of Iris who raised the big book of Blackmail on her hand who walked in front of the UFE soldiers proudly. She then moved towards Iris and handed her the book. Taking the book from her hands, Samantha pa.s.sed the book to the Prince who took it from her as quickly as he can be able to reach it. The Prince read through book studiously. Samantha wondered about the meanings behind the unknown characters of whatever alphabet the Gliesian's used as she stood there. As she observed the Prince's face, she noticed the tiny hints on him that he was reading the contents of the pages with utter shock by the look of his widened eyes. Before Samantha could a.n.a.lyze him further, the Prince closed the book and handed it over to his back.

"Take Devico to jail and have this destroyed." He ordered.

One of the more ornately armored guards walked to him by his side and grabbed the book while another similarly dressed guard took Devico to custody. Hopefully that will be the end of the Blackmailing plague and reign of terror by the Burning Horse Bandits that has stagnated the people of the princ.i.p.ality for decades as Samantha hoped it would be the case.

"So, Ser Rose. Where do you come from? I am honestly curious about you and your people." the Prince turned his eyes back to her. His voice was less stern than earlier as he began to open courteously to her.

"We come from a land far away milord." Samantha said.

"Where is that land then?"

"We come from a nation called 'the United Federation of Earth'."

"'Earth'? Never heard of a place before by that name." He said baffled by the answered.

"Well Earth isn't here per se. We landed our colony at…"

"What did you just say?" Prince Clovich interrupted.

"Not here in Gliesia per se." Samantha answered.

"No after that."

"We landed our colony at… uhm Iris… Verden Forest Valley, right?" Samantha asked.

"Yes, my Prince. They live in Verden Forest Valley." Iris said.

Samantha was left frozen in shock when Iris used the word 'lived'.

"Live in the Forest Valley? How come I never got any permissions from you?" the Prince snapped. His teeth grinned in anger as if he has spotted an intruder in his realm.

"Look we had no idea that there are…" Samantha tried to explain but was stopped when she heard the sharp note of a drawn blade from its scabbard.

"Trespa.s.sers! All of you!" Clovich roared brandishing his sword.

Samantha felt the strong masculine hands grip her shoulders behind her as she was seized by the Guards. She saw Obediah getting seized with her and the UFE soldier's aiming their weapons at them preparing to fire as the situation has gone completely south.

"Please! I have a family and kid!" Obediah begged.

"Whoa stop everyone let's not be too hasty right now!" Lutheor tried to defuse the situation but a sword aimed at him silenced him from speaking further.

"Do you have any last words before I send all of you to prison?" He pressed.

"Iris fix this!" Samantha focused on the Vampire.

Iris was now at fault for the negative scenario at hand. Sword's aimed at her and the UFE gun's behind her, she is good as dead if she doesn't find away to soothe out the now heated tension between the two parties. She quickly began to consider her next words for something, until she figured out something that could leverage the prince to let her new friends go in peace.

"My liege, before you decide to take any more action from this point and onwards may I tell you something I know through a whisper?" Iris said.

"You know something witch? What is it?" Clovich asked intriguingly.

"It's about my friends that you must hear between me and you only. I can just whisper it to you right now." Iris replied.

"Very well, I will entertain you. But after that I will throw you all to jail." Clovich nodded.

Iris could hear from her enhanced hearing the c.o.c.king of guns from behind her as she knows that when their 'black powdered staffs' make the 'clicking' noise. They are about to fire their metal projectiles and gun everyone down.

"Everyone, I got this." Iris turned around and held her hand and gestured an awkwardly conceived thumbs up.

She turned back to see that Prince Clovich has now stepped down from his horse and was now waiting on here with his arms by hips, patience slowly growing thin. Iris leaned over and cupped her hands to Clovich's ear to prevent anyone from eavesdropping. She place her mouth closed to him and whispered:

"I read Devico's book and I know you spy on the Empire for the Elves." Iris said.

The Princes face grew pale in fear as his dark secret that Devico used to wrap him under his finger. Espionage for a foreign power was a punishable by death according to Imperial Laws.

"But… I understand why you do it. It's for your sister. You care for her. Want to see her happy." Iris continued.

"She is my only family left. What are you implying?" the Prince asked in a hushed voice.

"I have seen these people perform what are miraculous that not even the best mages from the Conclave or from the Elves can hope to achieve. Look at them with their alien weapons and armor. They can easily cut you and your men down in minutes. But, I have seen them with flying boats, clothes that can make a n.o.bleman green with envy, and the food as far as the eyes can see." Iris described.

"Surely you are just jesting me right now." Prince Clovich answered. His left was slowly inching to his sword.

"I am not milord. For I know a woman who is one of the Earth People who can heal people regardless of disease, her name is Hana and you can take Princess Aria to her. So, let me ask you, no actually make that let me propose to you a compromise. You let my friends, me and Lutheor go for now and when at your most convenient time, I can take you to where the Earth People live in your land. If you are not impressed by what they can offer to you as friends. You can jail or kill me, Lutheor and them as much as you want. Go ahead, call all your soldiers, call the Emperor, the Inquisition. But I plead you, as a citizen and as an a.s.sociate of the respected merchant Lutheor Mirien of Mirien Trading Company to please, give my friends the Earth People a chance to be your friends." Iris advised.

The Prince a.n.a.lyzed her words meticulously. For one long and harrowingly tense minute, the Prince just stood there in front of Iris whilst the tension between his guards and the UFE was frozen.

"Very well, I will let them go and give them a chance to impress me. Guards, let them go at least for now." the blueblood signaled his men to stand down.

The guards followed their leader without question, they lowered their weapons and let go both Obediah and Samantha. The Prince then turned to Iris and Samantha with a hard-nosed aura that unsettled the El-tee.

"My earliest convenience is three days from now. I expect you Lutheor and Iris to take me to where the Earth People live. I will bring several of my n.o.bles along with my sister Princess Aria with about one thousand guards as my security. I expect to be entertained by you, 'the Earth People' as Iris described in a way fitting of a man of my status. Fail to impress me or make any hostile moves against me and I will send in the full might of Tyr Rian and the Empire down upon you. Do I make myself clear?" the Prince said.

"Yes milord." Iris bent.

"Indeed." Samantha followed suit and bend down.

"Then it is settled then. Men! Return to the castle!" Prince Clovich commanded.

He climbed back up to his horse and turned around leaving the UFE alone in the ruined mansion relieved that the situation was defused from what could have been a very bullet rainy ma.s.sacre.

"My G.o.d! Praise thee we are alive!" Bishop declared.

"I don't know what you said to him but I love you now!" Vincent cried in joy.

"f.u.c.king great f.u.c.king job, you f.u.c.kin cheeky little b.u.g.g.e.r!" Crocker profanely congratulated the Vampire patting Iris on her back. "El-tee, you got to tell the news to command now." He added gesturing his hands to form the hand signal of the phone.

"Ouch guys… I just got cleared to walk by the medic. I should be good to go for three days… hey…what the? Why the f.u.c.king is Iris holding my grenade launcher?"

"Oh, you should have seen it. I'll explain it on the way home. Come on, let's exfil the h.e.l.l out of here." Crocker said to the recovered engineer.

With their numbers gathered, the entire UFE strike force boarded their vehicles and rolled out of the city quietly as the civilian bystanders watched them curiously at the strange heroes who took down the Princ.i.p.ality's most hated residents and freed them from their oppression. Whispers of who they are began to echo onto who exactly these 'Earth People' are who are strong enough to hold a closing gate, fast as the wind when they stormed the mansion and ultimately cunning enough to take down Devico and the Burning Horse Bandits.