The Fall of Naix Mccloud

I was sorta inspired recently by a movie i saw on tv. I have mentioned partly a story of a knida Personal Prologue to GWEN. It was mentioned, that mccloud was former kurzick military, funny thing is He along with a few other notable names were also members in Bad Standing with the white mantle which is why years later when the call for heros to bring down the mantle were the first in line.



Personal Journal Entry

85 Phoenix 1079 AE

Given Our Defeat over the mantle and Now I see the now current Queen properly accending the throne, its time someone knows the truth. There are many gaps in my history mostly becasue I feared if they were ever found out, agents of the organization would fine me. The story of how I became a kurzick Commander in the Battle of ytin-er-es Pass. People wonder how that happened all the time, The truth when we came to LA, me and a few joined the mantle we were yeoman mostly and being yeoman is what we do best. That was until we found out there foul secret and it was so drastic. It was something so aweful we needed to leave the area ..before we were next on the crap list.


Find the True Story Coming Soon to a Forum Near you

Bring it on, baby! I want to hear this crap list of atrocities against the Mantle. You tell Den Mother what happened, baby. I'll keep the coffee cup full and pat your hand at appropriate moments and make sure you know none of it was your fault. My kitchen table and the coffee are waiting.

Still posing some stuff but here is a "teaser poster"

Some of these arent going to be in the picture but

there homages to other things

See if you can figure it out

[Author's Note: I am not the best writer but I know action and Dialogue. Also was internet searching mostly becasue when your writing you need to have a vision in your head. Music Plays a good part in it, so if you want to add to the experence head for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_BFaiTW9Og&feature=related Its a track, that adds to the chapter lol]

Chapter 1- Once upon a time….In Mantle Occupied Kytra …..

It’s a dark and Stormy night, in the land of Kytra. In a seemly abandoned Catacomb, looking inward we see light. An Iron Door opens with two regally dressed sentries appearing behind it. To reveal a cart, coming down the mud soaked road. It stops in front of the base, the cart bearing the insignia of the Mantle’s Inquisitor’s. The Cart grinds to a halt with ear shattering squawk. A mud and blood drenched scout exits the cart “Tell the Inquisitor we have him” The two sentries go to the back of the wagon and drag out a man who has seen hell, a ripped mud soaked brown long coat.

A giant lightning flash revels the prisoner is male, with a broken nose, a heavy five o’clock shadow with straggly hair covering his face.”Move, so at last we have the great hero” the sentry mocked. “Well he said, they said you’re a force of nature, a real bad-ass.” He sneered, “Well Mr. bad-ass block this” as he punches the prisoner in the jaw. The haggard prisoner falls to the ground grabs his jaw and raps “I would like to remind you it took 20 of you to get one of me” he rasps as he spits blood. “So if you want a fair fight get 39 more of your boyfriends and it will be a fair fight.” At this point from a finer furnished room emerges. A tall individual with White Mantle yeoman Officers armor “ENOUGH, sergeant, I need him alive, he can’t talk if he is dead, and given how much trouble you have caused me and our brothers in the mantle over the years. We are going to have a very very”. He sneers and then kicks him in the ribs “long chat.” “Now pick up the Commander and escort him to our humble quarters.” He ordered to the guards. “Yes Inquisitor Lashona, right away sir” they responded.

The guards did as ordered and brought the Commander to a windowless gray room illumated by 4 lanterns. There wasn’t much to the room except two high backed kytran chairs one of which was modified to link chains through. They threw the Commander in the modified chair and chained him up. As they were chaining him up he quipped “What a inn you guys have, let me guess your not only the greeters let me guess your also the maids and if that’s the case ,don’t even bother putting on the maids uniform because fellas it just isn’t you.” He laughed. The Guards punched him again causing more blood to drip from his nose and he laughed as he said, “I know your type muscles, you’re the type to head for the Norgu play The Road House starring Swayze Patrque and get your giggles. He Hit another guy HAHAHAHAHAAHAH” Just as the junior guard was about to slug him again. The Inquisitor walks in and yells “Enough!!!! Leave us and get a message to Bauer’s Units I want them here yesterday, are we clear Sergeant” “Yes Sir” he replied.


Lashona took off his helmet and cape while taunting his prisoner, the same way a cat teases its mouse before dinnertime. The way a card player looks at a very good clean out his opponent’s hands, A look of impending death, a look of your enemy right before your fall. This battle ridden ranger knew this look all too well. But made sure of one thing, this guy wasn’t going to get the satisfaction of the kill; this guy always had a card to play. As he finished glaring down his prisoner, the inquisitor spoke. “Graduate of Ascalon Academy, Yeoman in the Royal Honor Guard, and Sergeant in the former Ascalon Vanguard. Former Spear marshal of the Sunspears. If that wasn’t enough you have continued to shine on since our last meeting.” He remarked,” You were one of the recently recalled members of the Ebon Vanguard, that’s how I managed to track you, you know.” He explained further. “Did you ever think naming your “special force brand of do-gooders” after your famous unit during the battle of Jade Pass or as our allies in Luxon land called it the Battle of ytin-er-es Pass” he sneered, “That’s right the 501st ranger battalion aka Melandru’s Fist. I know all about you McCloud but what I don’t know to this day is how the hell did you manage to find out we were working with the luxons to take over cantha”


The prisoner looked up and flipped his hair back revealing beaten grizzled face of Naix Mccloud. He grinned for a moment and spoke with a ting of sarcasm “Is that all, we could have set a date ordered some Moa Steaks but if you really want the tale, sure why not, it’s not like I have anything else going at the moment.”

Woo! Awesome. Can't wait to hear more!

Chapter 2: The Mantle Strikes Back

“We know why you came to Kytra originally you lead the Ascalon refuges here to Lion’s Arch. To complete the quest started by your Prince Rurik, it’s noble but looked what happened to him. He sacrificed himself for what? A bunch of dirt farmers? That is no grand cause for a prince to die for where is your prince but another corpse for the tone of the greater good.” Lashona sneered.

At this point Mccloud remains silent just glaring at him with a brooding indifferent stare.

Lashona realized he wasn’t getting anywhere and he continued

“My question to you is why didn’t you just fade into obscurity like the rest of the Ascalon slime that oozed in here? Why did you choose the path you chose? Why didn’t you just turn a blind eye to the events that day?” he asked?

He looked at Mccloud with a look of odd irony and he chucked with a villainous chuckle. He cleared his throat, took a sip from his mug. He chose his next words carefully

“You and I are very much alike. Battle is our religion, yet we have both fallen from the pure faith. Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am but a shadowy reflection of you. It would take only a nudge to make you like me. To push you out of the light.”
Mccloud chucked and grinned like a man with nothing to lose.

“Now you’re getting nasty” he rasped

Lashona thought for a moment, opened the door and said something to the guards. It wasn’t clear what he said, he closed the door and came back.

“Now Do you remember the main event that placed you on this path?” he asked

“Choice it was all about choice, but to be fair. It was what had to be done. We were compromised and to be fair she was loose cannon. If we were to escape that day, we needed someone with skills in a firefight not some bubbly ele that could shoot fire. It was a tactical decision and I stand by it. Mccloud declared.

Lashona tried to stare him down and yet Mccloud stayed stone faced. After realizing he wasn’t going to win. He walked over to the door and began to spoke.

“Now that day was hell on a lot of people, I understand you lost someone that day? Who was it?”
Mccloud finally showed reaction and rage overcame him

“YOU KNOW PERFECTLLY DAMM WELL WHO IT WAS!!!” he shouted

Lashona started to laugh in a villainous way a way which was like a punch line of a joke that Mccloud wasn’t in the mood of getting.

“We know you lost Arwen that day or at least you think you lost Arwen.” He said
Mccloud had a sense of bewilderment and rage followed by shock.

“What do you mean THINK I Lost??” he questioned.

“She is alive and well, well for us but not for you. She was found, alive but barely we helped her back to heath and told her a few things.”

“WHAT THINGS” Mccloud roared

“Nothing of Importance like how given the choice of springing her from a mantle prison or springing your band of rebels. You chose your merry band, over family perfectly well knowing the other would be dead.” He stated.

Mccloud started to laugh and had a look of disbelief.

“You’re joking if that’s how you got my sister to become and mantle stooge. Well Lashona you’re more stupid then I thought. I knew you were nothing but a gutless chicken and a greedy opportunist but this even low...for you” he sneered

Lashona took this point to walk to the chair across from Naix and sit down, giving him the cat that ate the canary look the whole time. He cleared his throat and began to spoke.

“But the sense of duty runs strong in your bloodlines. We knew the only way to convince her is more drastic measures, so we resorted to alternate measures of persuasion.” He gloated

“After your escape and her recovery, it was leaked to her, that Natasha was rescued”. He calmly stated

At this point Mccloud started to laugh like when someone tells you a really stupid move made by another human being.

“That’s was your big plan, good going it just proves I am more of a tactician. If the entire mantle thinks like you, this war will be over in no time. It just proves the only thing in your collective skulls is giant piles of doylak crap” he joked.

Lashona started to chuckle and shake his head.

“You over-confident ass, you never did appreciate my plans but I think of them.”
He paused

“You’re going to like this one the least” he stated

“You see I told her all about what I had saw when I rescued Arwen from the mantle prison and had escaped from your madness with my life”

McCloud shook his head, and laughed more

“Either your boys out there hit me harder than I think, or I am going deaf.” He remarked

“I can’t believe my ears…rescued? Fiction can be fun, but I prefer the Non-Fiction section.”He quipped

McCloud Continued

“You turned us into the mantle, you gutless bastard. I staged a prison break, and Natasha wasn’t rescued. I got my unit and the prisoners clear. When I broke everyone free you confronted me using her as a human shield. I threw a knife and hit you above eye, at that point you slit her throat and ran away.” He remarked

“Oh and by the way, next time Lashona. I won’t miss, you can count on that.”
Lashona Chucked

“Doesn’t matter what happened Mccloud, it matters what can be said who believes it. You of all people should know that, growing up round with Circus folk travelling to Kingdoms from here to Vabbi.”

“I convinced her that you had escaped and whereabouts were unknown. That I had escaped from your band of thieves. Then I revealed Natasha was the Traitor who sold out your brother’s location to the mantle. Arwen was shocked but I had convinced her that Natasha realized fighting the mantle was wrong. All she wanted was peace and all you wanted was war, At that point you said if you obey the mantle, you don’t deserve your life. You had ordered Altiums Jangol to torture her for information and when he was done to kill her for treason and leave her to rot. I had my men in the jail move the body to a clearing. She saw her friend’s corpse in the condition you left it.” He explained

“How I left it??” McCloud asked

Lashona then replied

“Yes a slit throat and maybe a few arrows some torn clothing a few bruises, something to give physical proof to the story” He replied

McCloud was horrified and disgusted

“You sick bastard Lashona, which is why I am going to Kill you last” he replied
Lashona laughed

“I highly doubt it, you’re not going to escape this time” Lashona gloated

Lashona walked over and began sipping his mug again

“She wanted to take revenge right there and then but I convinced her, before she can exact her revenge. For being left behind and the savage murder of her friend her powers must be honed more and I knew who could help.” Lashona explained

Mccloud gave him a scoffing look

“The White Mantle” he scoffed

Lashona smirked

“Yes I convinced her it is what her friend would want, if nothing else. She was killed for believing in the Mantle. I told her to take that pain and anguish, and use it on those like you her brother who will stop at nothing to see the mantle crushed.” He stated

After a pause as if listening for something, he continued

“Funny thing we trained her then after sometime, we used her to train a new brand of mantle recruit, one that could use a person’s mind not only as a tool but a weapon”
McCloud started laughing

“Lashona, you have been reading too many asuran comic books, I am dreaming this right Psychic Warriors, give me a break.”

Lashona villainously laughed

“Well Commander McCloud if this is the dream portion prepare for the nightmare” Lashona Scoffed
He walks over to the door opens it and signals down the hall.

“Yes let me introduce the commander and founder of the White Mantle Sycophant program...”Lashona pauses

At this moment a woman enters the room dressed in regal white mantle uniform similar to Confessor Isaiah only hers was purple not red. She was A striking Brunette with hair done up in a bun with a dragonfly clip she was tall and very beautiful. She comes over and Kisses Lashona

“Hello my darling” the girl says

Naix is dumbfounded


Lashona smirks

“Yes Commander of the forces and my wife but she chose to keep her maiden name. Let me introduce you Naix McCloud, to my wife …Arwen McCloud.”

“Hello Brother, I have been waiting for this day” Arwen replies

Lashona picks up his helmet and goes to walk out

“I am going to leave this family reunion for a bit, let you two get reconnected.” Lashona sneers

He grins for a moment and puts on his helmet as he leaves he says

“Oh and Arwen dear, Get him to talk, I don’t care what it takes”

At this point he closes the door to Mccloud’s Cell walks down the dimly lit corridor only to hear loud screams of pain coming from the cell

Lashona grins as he walks down the hall to his office, opens the door and as he closes it. The candle over the door goes out and that part of the hallway goes black

Chapter 3
“Ranger Rule #12 Nothing is whatever is seems “taken from “A Ranger’s Tale, or There and Back Again” by Obin Jangol and Aldroch McCloud

It was a dark and foggy night in the land of Kytra and The White Mantle was on the hunt. A giant explosion rocked the calm night. The smell of smoke and fire where in the air. In the distance you can see a giant storehouse engulfed in flames. Adding an orange hue to the violet night sky...We pan to a road not far from the source of the explosion. On the road away from the engulfed facility. You see a small band of rangers running from the flames with a band of White Mantle Shock troops in pursuit.


20 Minutes later …
The band of shock troops head down a dark road, even in the light of the full
moon, it is like daylight.

The commander spoke up “I think these Shining Blade Dogs are gone, but they can’t hide forever. The road behind us is full of troopers, if there armor squeaks, we will know. Sgt Take watch. I am going over here to see if my tent is pitc-“

At that point the Commander erupted into chunks spraying a mist of guts, smoke and shrapnel. Blinding the troopers and that point, a group of shadows rappel down from the trees. The brave mantle shock troops turn tail and run
down the road at the death of the commander.

“Dammit!!! I told Zinn that mine had too much powder, the guy is nothing but hamburger” a commando exclaimed

One of the Commandos’s emerged from the smoke as the smoke dissipated and exclaimed “Ok lad’s Goggles Off”

One of the commandos places his bow on the ground. The lanterns from the make shift camp show it’s a giant carved bow with a red blood stripe engrained into it... A Commando with a brown tattered long coat with Black Trim pulls back his hood, kneels down and flips up his goggles and goes to the another long coated ranger, standing next to him.

“What have we got Alt?” he asks

“Well Naix it would seem we got the Commander in the explosion”, Alt replies

Naix looks at the bloodied remains stands up, and looks at Alt and says

“Well it seems Alt, The explosion *pulls down his goggles* made his mantle no longer white” he deadpans

“YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” went one of the commando’s as he fell in pain.

“Dammit they got Keiran …” Naix yelled

“It’s The White Mantle Seekers let’s get out of here” Alt cried

The seekers were coming out of the woodwork surrounding the commandos;
Naix knew what he had to do.

“COME ON YOU BASTARDS, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” he cried

Naix ran into the woods, drawing his bow striking one of the seekers in the head, and the mantle troopers ran after him.

“GET OUT OF HERE, NOW THAT’S AN ORDER” Naix cried as he vanished in a crowd of trooper and tree

Alt realizing what happened yelled “LET’S GET OUT OF HERE” and deployed a
smoke bomb
And as quick as they were seen they vanished into the burning night sky

Hours later when they arrived back at the Shining Blade camp and Alt rushed Keiran into one of the Shining Blade Medical tents. As Alt paced outside the
medical tent, one of the commandos pulled Alt aside and asked him

“I was told that the commander was crazy not suicidal, are you sure we—“ he left his sentence uncompleted

At this point Altimus Jangol picked the commando up by his jacket tabs, punched him and threw him to the ground, and placed his boot on his chest.

“If you were half of the commando, Naix McCloud or even Keiran Thackery are. You would understand what the hell is going on!!! But you’re not. You have no right to talk about either of them especially the Commander. You know what the chain of command is, ensign??” He asked

“No ...sir” the ensign groaned

“It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til ya understand who's in ruttin' command here. Now I don’t want to have this conversation again” Alt growled as he kicked him

The bewildered ensign gets up slowly holding his side and runs for the barracks. Alt walks towards the mess tent takes a metal case out his pocket and sits, he takes a small pouch from his belt. He opens the case and pulls out a sheet of paper and sprinkles some of the bags contents on it. Rolls the paper into a cylinder, when he finishes places the bag on his belt and the metal box back his jacket. He pulled out a crystal device and pressed the button, and the crystal glowed and he put the cylinder in his mouth and used the crystal to light it. He takes a drag from the self made cigarette. All of a sudden a tall pale woman with shoulder length black hair wearing blue Canthan armor under an open medical long coat sits across from him smiling

She replies candidly, “Still using that micro crystal cutter for a lighter, eh? Those things will kill you, why can’t you just head for a tobacco shop and buy a pack like anyone else?”

“You and McCloud are the only people I know who roll your own, must be a ranger thing”

Alt just stared off, taking drags off his sig

“ALTIMUS!! Heloooooo” she waved

“Oh hi Abby” he replied melancholy

She looked shocked and had a look of shock

“Altimus Jangol!! We have known each other for more years I can count and you just call me Abby? It’s almost as insulting as calling me as calling me Abby
Rhianne.” She exclaimed

“Abs not now, something bad just happened, I just need some space” Alt said

At this point Alt flicks his cig, into the dirt and grinds into the ground till it extinguishes, reaches in his right pocket and pulls out a flask opens it and just starts to drink. When Abs pulls the flask out of his hand and then kisses him.

“There that has got to taste better than *sniffs flask* whatever this is” she smiled and said sweetly.

“It does thank you, How’s Kerian?” he smiled

“Resting, got a topical hit in the shoulder with a barbed arrow, a few days rest and he should be fine. Kiera is patching him up now, why? She asks

Abs grins and looks at him flirtatiously

“I know Big Boy, you want to know if I have night off from the medical tent so I can schedule you for a thorough physical exam.”

Alt grins sheepishly “Normally I would take you up on the offer. Quick, fast and in a hurry,*He Kisses her*well maybe not that quick but I can’t

Abs looks shocked like normally Alt doesn’t need this much convincing in this area and wonders
“Normally keeping you off me isn’t a problem, what’s up Alt?”


“I am overdue checking in the Captain in the CIC, I really need to go”

Abs looks worried like there is something wrong

“Alt, hon you’re scaring me, now the Captain can wait what’s going on.”

“I need to go, you will see soon enough”

Alt heads for the Command and Intelligence Center or locally known as the CIC. Over one of the intelligence tables, stood a tall woman in medium leather studded armor wear an eye patch. She looked up over a report and without missing a beat

“What took you so Long to report in Commander?”She asked

“Um there is a problem Captain Langmar” Alt replied

“If the problem is Commander McCloud is drunk again and he is naked in a harem. He and I will have words, now where is he?”

“That’s the problem ma’am and a good question?”Alt replied

“Start Explaining Ensign” Langmar replied

“Um it’s Commander, Lieutenant-Commander Altimus Jangol” he stated

Langmar looked over her report and said

“Not if you continue to dodge me” she said

Alt replied and cleared his throat

“The Mission to destroy the depot itself went off without a hitch; we got in and blew the depot. But it was overstaffed for just a simple supply depot, we were set up mam, we tried dodging our captors by trapping the road with Black Powder Mines but Zimm again used too much powder. It gave away our position, and left the commander of the mantle shock troops in a lot of fleshy paste. The mantle swarmed on us like a devourer on a moa steak. They got Thackery and before you ask he is in Medical and is recovering fine.” He stated
Langmar looked horrified and puzzled at the same time

“Sounds horrible and I am glad you all made it out. If that is the case, then I’ll go see the commander at the range, if it went as bad as you say the training dummies will need restuffing” Langmar laughed

“He isn’t there ma’am, Naix McCloud has been captured we think, we got clear of the depot and the mantle was waiting for us. When we were looking for Intel, in the bloody remains. We are not sure where he is, my last memory of him, is taunting the white mantle as he ran into the forest.”

Langmar thought for a moment

“So McCloud is MIA, not something we can hide and nor would I want to” she stated

Alt knew only one member of the mantle who would want McCloud

“Ma’am, I might know what is going on but however I am going to need to tell something out of our past which has been officially redacted on the official files of a certain neighboring country.”

Langmar rubbed her eyes

“This sounds like it is going to take more than five minutes. Who are you going to need here for the full debrief tomorrow?” she asked

Alt thought for a minute and replied

“Not counting us ...um Kiera, Abs, Zimm, and, Thackery for starters” he replied
Langmar rubbed her eyes, and said “Very well, Get some sleep Commander and that’s an order”

Alt replied “Yes Ma’am”

Langmar stopped in the tent doorway and said “Commander Just one more thing?”

“Yes Ma’am” Alt replied

“Next time you smash the shit out of a smart mouth ensign, pick a more private place to kick the little turds ass. Dismissed Commander”

Alt left for his quarters and wondered “Tomorrow isn’t going to be a good day and I bet the next isn’t going to be good either, I hope to hell your alive old buddy so I can kick your ass myself”

Chapter 4
“Who Dares Wins”-Motto of the 501st Ranger Battalion

It was a grey rain soaked day in the camp of the Shining Blade, in the section of the camp sectioned off for the Ebon Vanguard units and the Caves where the Asura keep their labs. This section of the camp is reserved for “foreigners” as Bartholos calls it.

Despite his cries of freedom for all, trampling the Mantle, Bartholos in reality is very xenophobic. He thinks anyone not born a Kytran regardless of their cause and who they support a spy.

So when the Vanguard and later the Asura needed space in the camp they were put on the southern end mostly according to Bartholos “not interfere with Mantle operations”. Where the Vanguard’s CIC was located, it was near a bottom of a hill, so when it rained it make the ground outside a bit muddied.


It was a day that suited the mood, in the camp, shortly after a loose lipped ensign went to medical complaining of broken rib. He claimed this injury happened because his XO went “Bat-shit crazy” on him after he asked a simple question about the previous hours old opp that just went south. In his mind the operation failed because his equally drunken and unstable CO charged in on a group of mantle commando’s. Eventually that ensign was sent to the brig, had his commission revoked, and taken off Special operations. They transferred him to the army and he was reduced in rank to Sergeant. He now currently a transport engineer whose chief responsibility is making sure the Vanguard’s pack of Dolyaks are housed, fed and cleaned.

Despite the hour Langmar called all her operation and support officers in for confidential debrief to quell and deny any rumors about last night’s operation.

After a three hour debrief all officers were dismissed.

When we catch up with our hero, Altimus Jangol despite everything else is enjoying (or at least trying to) one of his favorite pastimes. By this point the rain had stopped, Alt was leaned up against the supply shed with a cig in one hand. Eventually Abs comes up to him and puts her head on his shoulder and her arms around him. Alt just stands motionless for a time, eventually puts his cig out and puts his arms around Abby.

“It’s been a long 24 hours, hasn’t it Babe” as she stares up at him lovingly.

“No…This is not even close to one of my longest days, believe me” he joked. “However having the love of a good woman, doesn’t hurt in these (he kisses her) situations”

She stared at him lovingly and replied “That could have been you know??”

Alt shook his head and exhaled “It could have been but it wasn’t I was tending to wounded. We were cornered with Mantle and Peacekeeper Commando’s filling up at all sides. If Naix didn’t sacrifice himself we all would have been captured…and screwed.”

Abby looked at him with total disbelief and shock. She managed to gurgle “impossible” but it wasn’t audible and he continued

“Abs you have to remember, technically we are just training recruits with no input or participation in operations. Sure the ebon falcons are active as well but they are put on diversion ops, so the real “black ops” are put on our plate. So if
we get pinched, we are up the creek. “

Abs shook her head with disbelief and said “Every time you head on one of these operations, I fear you’re not going to come back to me. I fear I won’t get a chance to say good-bye but despite everything we have been through, we persevere. You know I wouldn’t trade any of this for “simple life” there is never a dull moment with you two around. So what are you going to do?? If it was you and Naix was here I know what he would do.”

She evilly smirked

Alt looked in her devilish grin and replied “I do too but I don’t think even Zimm can make that much explosive in the time needed”

“How is Kiera taking the news?” he asked

“Not well, she has been drinking that Asuran beverage Coifee; I now see why Asurans are so jumpy that stuff is pure energy.”

“You’re coming to our Meeting about said issues later, right?”Alt asked

Abs smiled sweetly and said “Well black ops aren’t usually my cup of tea but helping you two over the years must count for something?? Yes I will be there Alt since we have no patients in Medical.” She stated

*she leans up and kisses him* One thing before you go?” She asked

“What” Alt Replied?

“Go check on Kiera, Ok? She is strong but really has no idea what you two jokers do, some idea but she hasn’t been around as long as …well I have. “She asked

“No problem” he said

As they both embrace, abs heads off to the mess tent for some food and Alt heads for medical to talk to one of the Vanguards other medical officers Major Kiera Nelani.

(Author’s Note-When the 501st was created during the last guild war it was a commando unit aboard a Krytan merchant marine vessel. When command of the squad was given to Naix Mccloud he was a Lieutenant Colonel so he changed his rank out of squad respect and history.
Thus the Naval Ranks for McCloud and Jangol and others serving in there unit. Other Members of the Vanguard like Abs and Kiera are Ascalon Army thus the Army ranks)

Alt headed into the Vanguard’s Medical Bay to discover a Kiera tearing apart the medical supplies and then shuffling lighting quick back over to the paperwork, the sight reminded Alt when a moa bird got loose on the farm.

“Kiera” Alt said

Alt waited for a second, realizing she was lost in inventory.

“KIERA!!!” Alt yelled

She looked up and smiled with a big cheering grin “Hi Alt” she said

“How are you doing??” Alt asked

“Fine as can be expected, Alt” she smiled

“Kiera believe me if situation is tough on anyone I know it must be pretty tough on you, believe me if there is anything me or Abby can do, we will try.” Alt explained

“Yes” she replied

“There is something can do, you can tell me …WHY DID YOU LEAVE HIM THERE???”

She repeats the phrase a few more times and collapses in Alt’s arms and begins to cry. Alt looks down at Kiera with a look of uneasiness, he realized what if it had been him, but he knows full well if it had been him, he knew what exactly Naix would have done. Come in full throttle and kick ass to save his friends that’s first thing he taught me, never leave your friends behind.

He Looked at Kiera and said “Because it’s you, I can tell you we are going in for him or die trying. Mostly because if it was me or you or even Abs who was MIA, you know dam well McCloud would look over every rock till he found us. Alt replied

Kiera’s smile returned to her face and she sat down, about that time Abs came back, and smiled
“You want that Moa Steak Sandwich now, Kiki?” Abs replied

“Yeah” she smiled,” that might actually not be a bad idea. Give me a chance to get out of here. Thanks for coming by Alt”

Everyone said their goodbyes and Alt headed for the briefing room

The Briefing room for the ebon vanguard was a giant tan tent next to the CIC.

It was a simple area that housed a few maps and a rectangular table surrounded by chairs at the center of the table was a Asuran crystal projector, it was one of the things McCloud had the asuran’s put in this so it could be like the Briefing room in the vanguards briefing room at the Eye. Its job was to show a full optical picture of a target or area.

Hovered over the projector was a short mousey looking creature, it was working on the projector with some tools when Alt walked in.

Watching the creature work was interesting but then watching Asura’s work was always interesting. Usually they talk down to humans, calling them loud bellowing creatures who scare children or “bookas”.

McCloud and Jangol were the only humans that Asurans never called booka’s mostly because of their interest in using Asuran tech on the battlefield and that gave asuran genius and workers a chance to test their mettle and build the better machine. That was one thing McCloud and Jangol loved about the asura; they never stood back from the Challenge.

“Hello Jangol” the Asuran said

“Thank you for getting me away from that horrible golem project” The Asuran said without looking up

“Asuran’s are always building big horrible machines for bookas, you and McCloud are different. Yes because you give us challenge and finesse, not just another big lumbering weapon of war” He chucked

“Well that’s good to know Zimm; we can’t thank you enough over the years. If it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t have the success we have had. Alt grinned

“Look Zimm have you got the new field data on the locator beacon yet” Alt asked

“You know it’s a good thing, you and McCloud and even with some convincing of that booka Thackery to not just use the goggles but have the locator beacon wired in as well before that mission” Zimm said

“How did you get that booka to comply anyway, Jangol” he asked

“Well” Alt laughed, “It wasn’t me who made him comply”

We Flashback a few days ago to the CIC where Naix and Thackey are having a conversation

“I understand about your concerns Lieutenant. However, you are not in command here. I gave the Captain a recommendation for you lead the ebon falcons, don’t you forget that.” Naix explained

“Now because you’re on loan mostly because I need good commandos and this mission are putting us balls deep in Mantle territory and going it at night. Shit can go down very easy and this provides me and your squad mates your location, if things get hot.” Naix replied

Kerian just looked at McCloud like he was crazy and replied

“Your trusting the ASURA are you Crazy, there mad” he replied “Furthermore you insult yourself as a ranger, not being able to track at night. You shouldn’t be in command, THIS SHOULD BE MY OPERATION. Your nothing but a skirt chasing lush who got lucky, your no Commander, you’re a fool. Your no ranger you’re a fraud, McCloud, I have more rangering in this little finger than you do in your whole body.” He screamed

Naix crossed his arms and gave Kerian a look like are you finished

“Allow me to retort, Lieutenant “McCloud replied

All Naix does next is flick his wrist to make a natural pointing gesture, the next thing Kerian knows is, he is feeling dizzy and sick and falls to the floor

Several hours pass and the next thing Kerian sees is the lanterns of medical.

“Huh what happened??” he asked

“Is our patient awake yet, babe” McCloud asked

Kiera grins and replies “Yes he is awake now, and whatever you gave me, really helped.” She chucked
“What did you give him anyways?” She asked

“A lesson” he chucked

“Well Well, Enjoy your nap??” He quipped

“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GIVE ME? YOU SADIST” Kerian screamed

“A lesson” Naix replied

“A LESSON YOU LUNATIC!!!!” Kerian screamed

“Yes, A lesson it is all about tactics, if I wanted to kill you I could” Naix replied

Kerian Stared at him in disbelief

“Let me explain” he holds up his left arm and showed a Kurzick armor gauntlet with 5 throwing knives and then holds up right arm and it shows 4/5 knives accounted for.

“The left knives are poison, a powerful deadly nerve toxin used by grasping roots on monastery island in cantha.” He replied

“The right knives are a mixture of aged norm ale and Mountain Pinesoul root, it doesn’t kill you but you’re going to feel it in the morning” He Stated
“It’s all about choice, kid remember that” he smirked

Kerian feels the need to speak but can’t

“Oh by the way Kid two things…One before you ask what I gave you was an old Canthan hangover cure, because getting hit with one of those stun knives you wake up with huge headache. Two I only push you as much as I push myself, which is because I see something in you. That and before you put your foot in your mouth before you left. Gwen loves you for some odd reason you fool, and I am going to make sure your safe enough to come home and love that girl.” He replied

Kerian looked in shock and then in respect, he knew him and McCloud had clashed numerous times but he finally realized why. He knew at that point he would have a home in Melandru’s Fist and stood strong with his brothers in arms.

As Altimus tells his tale to Zimm, the room fills up with the others attending the meeting. There was laughter when Alt got to the part of Kerian being hit with the knife. He now realized why he called these people family; they were a lot closer to him than blood kin.

Kiera and Thackery were relatively new friends but friends never the less. I have never seen McCloud happier then when he is with Kiera, She was tough but even the conversations he had with her, in the last 48 hours. Despite all her denial she they liked each other, if there was never a truer cause then love. If we couldn’t fight for love, then it just isn’t worth fighting

Alt continued in thought. Captain Langmar and Zimm were old friends, and have helped out in many scrapes. Then there was Abby, well he had know Abby since the beginning of his career. He always wondered if he had just done something different back then. He wondered if he had never fought those bullies, McCloud wouldn’t have seen him fight and he never would have meet abs, wow what a dull life that would have been.

He cleared his throat, “Good Afternoon everyone, if you don’t know already Operation: Happy Trails was a success and the mantle supply house was destroyed, but in the escape. Commander Naix McCloud was MIA; he sacrificed himself so we could escape with our wounded.” He declared

“Now I know everyone seated here owes something to McCloud, which is why you were called here. You know him best and feel if we should do something, then it’s by majority. “
Alt looked at Langmar and asked “As per our Discussion, earlier?? Did we have any success with the Shining Blade??”
“I believe I can speak on that myself, Commander” a female voice said
At that point Princess Salma herself entered the room, with no guards or aides.
All present kneeled in respect of the princess
“Arise Commander” she said
“I just learned about this, even Bartholos can’t hide information from me. Despite his yelling I have always supported your missions. Commander McCloud is a valuable asset to this revolution, and we stand by in our darkest hour to aid you” She stated
“Good because I have a feeling, we are going to need all the help we are going to need” Alt explained
The room was in shock
“You see, mine and Naix’s trouble with the mantle stems back years ago, to a job we were doing for the canthan government” Alt said

“Now on any scroll it was officially denied, but it’s been deemed classified. All this trouble can be rooted to one man Yugzar Lashona or as we know him know as Inquisitor Lashona of the white mantle. He is a dangerous man, determined to settle his score with us. If Naix has been captured by the Mantle, Lashona has him.”

There were stares around the room…..in disbelief
“The good news is well before the mission, we were all outfitted with an experimental tracking device similar to what the Asuran use for Golem beacons, and do we have tentative location, Zimm??” Alt asked
“Not yet Jangol, keep talking” Zimm replied
“Well I think it’s no longer going to be a secret anymore, I have to tell you what happened because if I don’t, we all might not come out of this one”

Alt thought back in his mind …many years ago to Cantha. A land of mystery, intrigue and the deepest amount shit he ever had to dig himself out off….

Wow, I like the complexity, and the back story, and how you are leaping forward and backwards in time, but it's all clear where we are and what's happening. Nice tying this all in -- having to reveal the past beause of the capture. Can't wait to hear the full story. Keep going. Loving it so far.

Thanks for the Kudos Donnilee


Btw I will post soon but for now I leave another teaser poster of one of the new factions involved in the story

Want more! :p

Chapter 5
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." – Thomas Paine Dissertation on First Principles of Government

As the room quieted back down and Alt managed to reclaim order, he knew this had to be related. He told the group he would return in a second.
He went across the camp past medical and the mess tent, to where the vanguard kept the quarters for personnel. Alt came to the drab tan tent he shared with McCloud a wooden door, with the words “The Swamp” painted on it decorated the front door.

Alt chuckled as he opened the door. He wondered why McCloud called this place “The Swamp”. As the door opened, you could see it was a usually deployment tent, he door squeaked as he rushed in the tent, he realized how quiet it was for once. The air changed from a smell of wet canvas and pine to a smell of a combination of old socks, firewater, engine grease and some cologne McCloud used Aged Spice cut with semi wet canvas.

Normally McCloud (when he slept) snored like a bear he also didn’t shave (adding even more to the bear look) but the greatest part was and how full the firewater still was for once.

As he looked through his trunk he glanced over to the bunk of his captured colleague. He noticed his red robe slung over the bunk. If you lived in the Vanguard camp, it wasn’t uncommon for the commander to just stroll around camp in a red robe over a pair of base fatigues.

For a man that hated the uniform as much as McCloud did, that robe was his.

After digging through his trunk for a few minutes looking past the odd mementos of an interesting career. An Autographed Poster from the Dancing Dervish Club in Istan headling “Miss Salome” An Unopened 5 year old bottle of Saki with a special label for vintages made only during the dragon.

Other things are we can see are a piece of purple rock from the tormented realms of
Abbadon and an old arrow with the words “Good Job New Blood You remembered rule #1” scrawled down it.

Then he found it a tattered leather attaché folder with the crossed Katana’s flanked by dragons. The words operations log still visible, also visible are the words “EYES ONLY Lt Jangol”

Alt runs back to the briefing room and throws the leather binder on the table. Captain Langmar picks up the binder perplexed and replies.

“Canthan Intelligence Agency?? Operation Invading Lion?? Canthan Army Intel Item # 9906753 what is this Jangol??”

“Is another one of those tales you and McCloud love giving bards to gain badass points with barmaids and the ability to drink free anywhere in the known world??” Langmar asked.

“No” Alt replied

“It is much more complex than that, you know how we originally came out of the Mantles good graces right?” Alt Asked

At that point Abs spoke up

“Yes I have heard numerous times after you came to Kytra you became yeoman for hire doing odd jobs then got recruited and help save Cantha from the plague” she replied

“To this day Alt for a man “who recently came to Cantha just to help”, you seemed to know a lot of people to help us and Togo get the job done” she stated

“Well to be honest I wasn’t recently off the boat, I had worked in Cantha for the previous 5 years doing all sorts of intelligence work all hush hush.” Alt replied

The whole room was interested and attentive. Alt continued

“After recruiting a proper band of mercs, we had a connection and took jobs helping the Mantle. Most of the time, the jobs were hunting undead and clearing swamps and temples in the swamps. Until one day we were tasked by Confessor Dorian to provide security for the “test of the chosen”.

The Job was simple and the pay was decent. At that time we were just simple security force escorting the white mantle officials who have this big glowing eye following them.”

“The Eye of Janthir, Amazing so it’s not a myth!!” Zimm exclaimed

“No it’s not and believe me that was the only highlight of the assignment” Alt Continued

“Shortly after the job was done and we were paid, we did what mercs do better than fighting.”

Abby Interrupted “Drink to excess and see who the bigger badass is??”

Alt glared and looked confused “No Abs take in the local scenery, Naix and I were approached by shady character who emerged from the other side of the tavern. Now In our current business seeing and dealing with shady people was an occupational hazard.”

Thackery interrupted “So you two dealing with petty thieves, no offence this isn’t anything ground breaking”

He Continued “Great the further adventures of Rangers of Debauchery, now instead of sitting here listening to war stories of these two idiots, could be spent doing something useful for our alliance. I am leaving. Captain, your majesty, good day”

“Freeze, Lieutenant!!”Langmar yelled

“Yes Captain??” Thackery replied

“Your conduct through this affair has been unprofessional; you have fought the commanders on every turn. I may be in command of the Vanguard and your superior officer. Because of the lack of volunteers the 501st runs the black ops here in the vanguard. I allow them this despite the use of some of the “questionable” tactics used by the 501st . Commanders McCloud and Jangol run a very respectful squad and have an almost perfect success rate.”Langmar replied

At this point the Princess spoke up

“They also have some of the best intelligence on operations and Dossiers. Some of their connections might be shady but there research and intelligence validity are second to none. They have helped us on numerous operations over the years. When they have had a hand in running the operation, it goes smoothly and builds our reputation as professional hard hitting revolutionaries. Believe me Mr. Thackery the commander isn’t wasting our time, the connection to the White mantle or Commander McCloud will show up soon enough.”

“Your abilities have never been in question, only your attitude. The reason you have been temporarily assigned to the 501st was because it was requested and I allowed it. You can ask Alt who takes this seriously but the unit has a history of only picking the best.” Langmar added

Alt nodded “You don’t volunteer to join us, you’re asked. In your case Thackery, the Command was impressed by your actions. We needed good people for the intel gathering missions and the depot infiltration. Despite the dangers we “pretend” to ignore. All of those missions had high possibility of if things went south, by capture by the Mantle. Because of your skills and the skills of the rest of the unit, we managed to escape that mess.”

Langmar continued

“But not for nothing Thackery you only have your post in the Falcons because you were handpicked by me and my review committee to lead the Vanguard Sanctioned operations unit.”

“Fine” Thackery stated “Who was your review committee??”

At that point there was enough tension in the room to cut with a knife at that point. Alt started laughing

“What’s so funny?” Thackery asked

“You really didn’t believe him when McCloud told you??” Alt snickered

“The committee was myself, Captain Langmar and Commander Naix McCloud” he replied

Thackery was shocked and replied

“I thought it was just McCloud being a ball breaker and trying to get in my head. Your telling me all those things he told me even the stuff with Gwen…was true” he said

“Aye Lad” Alt replied

“So this whole file isn’t just an old war story…”Thackery said

“Trust me, this isn’t just any old war story” Alt replied

Alt looked around the room, realized this now might better time than ever for a smoke.

“Allright everyone let’s take an hour and meet back here, Dismissed” Alt
replied

As the people got up and went to break for an hour, different things were happening. The Princess was called outside and was meeting with aides.
Zimm went back to working telemetry and getting the projector to work. Thackery just slumped in his chair with a snake bit expression, shook his head and left. Alt felt for the kid, but there were bigger fish to fry at the moment. Langmar got up and yawned and mentioned her intent to head for the mess tent and if anyone was joining her. Kiera smiled and said she was and they both left for the mess tent.

Alt shuffled some papers pulling the beaten folder over an ivory hand slammed down on it.

“Ok how does this relate, Alt? How does this secret file and the shining blade come into play? Not for nothing but how are you and McCloud tied in to all of this”-Abby asked

Knowing perfectly well, his smoke consumption would be through the roof. He took a small case out of his pocket and opened it. He pulled out a hand rolled cig, and lit it.

After taking a few healthy drags, he sat down and leaned back on the chair.

“It’s complicated but it’s big. Officially to the Canthan government this mission is a conspiracy wrapped with secrecy, deep fried in red tape, wrapped with denial, and boxed with mystery and sent to an address that is an enigma.“ Alt replied

At this point Abby is dumbfounded, she had a feeling this was big but not that big.

“Yeah it’s a real black eye and political nightmare, they wanted this to never see the light of day...ever and as usual myself and Naix were involved.” –Alt replied

“Your ability to story tell amazes me sometimes hon” Abby replied

“You’re acting like the emperor himself was involved” she continued

Alt took another drag and said “No but there were a few in the imperial cabinet” that allowed this to happen.

Abs was shocked at this point and then had a worried look on her face

Alt knew that look and asked “What’s wrong sweets?”

Abs replied “You know I reunited with you and McCloud shortly after, if your dates are correct. I wanted to know but never asked, but this time seems like a good one. Did McCloud change after that mission, he seemed more jaded?”

Alt looked for a minute and replied “He did change, he was betrayed before anything….There was a mole in the mission...*alt paused* and we didn’t even know ….Until it was too late.”

Abs replied “How did you get out of that one “

Alt stood up, flicked his cigarette and took abs by the arm and he walked her outside. After they went outside. He looked in her eyes and said

“We do what we normally do …..persevere. There are times I have delt with men who have cause and then there are times like this, were all we have is people who just want the let the world burn.”

Abby just hugged alt and said “So that’s why you’re here? To Fight for a better tomorrow?”

Alt chuckled and said “Funny you choose those words; you haven’t been chatting up McCloud have you?”

“No…” she replied

Alt said “Let me tell you why I asked??”

We travel back months earlier to a giant fortress in flames the stone sign emblazoned we see the letters “Mloslof Prison”

Now Mlosolf prison was a famed White Mantle prison it was max security and a know facility for “Non-conformists” in Mantle occupied Kytra.

This prison housed Commandos and Soldiers and Killers but it mostly held Scientists, Scribes, Authors…those deemed unworthy of the “unseen ones sight”

It was a very secure facility and despite the mantles short history it developed a steady history of being inescapable.

Our Band of heroes proved that wrong, with the help of Tosh Gabeson A Kytran who was part of a failed Mantle Training Program started by Lashona.

Its purpose was training rangers to condition them to be super soldiers more stealthy and more resourceful and efficient than your average White Mantle Commando.

Project Melandru’s Ghost was stopped mostly because the effects on the weaker subjects were a high suicide rate. The remaining subjects were incarcerated in Mlosolf prison.

Gabeson had no love for the mantle and sot help from the Shining Blade

After being refused by the SB. He privately contacted Commander Naix McCloud.

Tosh knowing the Commanders love for the Mantle and Lashona, and the attraction of blowing up Mlosolf Prison. He made an offer to McCloud, if you help me free the remaining Ghosts from Mlosolf Prison, I will train you and your squad. In Ghost tactics where you just need basic skill and not much neural conditioning.

McCloud agreed and said the shining blade will listen to me; you will have your men. Tosh said since you are going to use some tricks to aid me I will return the favor and aid you, in combat with the mantle. Sounds like a deal, we might just need the help someday.

McCloud got the Shining Blade to agree and send units. He also called together Jangol and Thackery as well as some volunteers from the Ebon Vanguard. The Mission was a success using the large force to distract the front garrisons. Gabeson, McCloud, Jangol and Thackery snuck in the rear entrance, disabled the prisons reinforcement flares, moved a few barrels of dwarven powder into an areas marked “Flammable”

Set the Timers and Ran back before the timers ...timed out

Minutes Later

A Reddish explosion fills the late afternoon sky…

Hours Later...

We see members of the mantle fleeing along with brown sack-clothed individuals overtaking the mantle guards, among the fray we see shining blade troops taking order and capturing mantle security.

On an overlooking Hill where the aftermath of the battle rages on, we see a small camp and zoom in to find a few rangers talking …

There are 3 standing around an intelligence table with 2 of them smoking; the tall skinny one in the red hair tied in a topknot wearing a black leather long coat is smoking a cig. The other tall red haired man is looking at the table while the other top knotted ranger with Brown hair is sitting smoking a cigar.

He gets up and stares down the hill …

“In 10 years no one has ever escaped Mlosolf prison but we broke it open in an afternoon...” He replied

His friend the other top knotted ranger stated “I am amazed we pulled it off”

At this point a ranger inked in traditional Kytran fashion emerges from the shadows he looks at the two top-knotted rangers first the Brown Haired one and then the Red Haired one.

“McCloud and Jangol you guys did good. Now me and my brothers in ghost squad can finish this revolution. We can finally kill Confessor Isaiah and burn his precious mantle to the ground”

“You didn’t too badly yourself Gabeson, Just keep your end of the bargain and we will have no trouble” McCloud replied

At this point the non-top knotted red hair ranger looked insulted and headed over to the intel table

“What’s his problem” Tosh Asked

“You know Thackery, he is hearts and minds” Jangol quipped

Thackery starts flipping through dossiers about inmates at Mlosolf Prison

“You guys see a victory but this is just a start. This is about a better tomorrow, don’t you see that?? We have released every scientist, free thinker and unjustly prisoned of the White Mantle. THAT was our true victory today.”

Angered by thackery’s words Gabeson unsheathed his dagger and jammed it into the table and yelled.

“Are you really that Naive?? Tomorrow there will be a new mantle and another one after that. Your Shining Blade optamistic view of the future is nothing more than Mesmer induced illusion.

Jangol looks ready to fight but McCloud ushers him down, and calmly goes over to the intel table with the jammed dagger and unjams it. He runs his finger down the ornate handle and blade and tosses back to Gabeson.

“So if it’s all so bleak, why are you playing revolutionary with us, Tosh? What are you getting out of all this??”

Gabson smirks “The same thing you get brotha…I don’t quit till Lashona, Isaiah and the rest of the Mantle are dead”

McCloud looks solemn as Thackery continues on

“This war isn’t about vengeance; this is a revolution about freedom.” Thackery explained

McCloud walks over to Thackery and pats him on the shoulder

“You will see that better future Kerian...”

McCloud walks over to where Gabson is and returns his dagger and says to him

“But it isn’t for the likes of us”

McCloud walks out of the tent into the bright night sky, while Gabeson resheathed his dagger and faded into the shadows. This left Jangol and

Thackery with an odd look.

Jangol takes his crystal lighter and we see him re-light his cig. We take a closer look on the lighter and as alt snuffs out the blue flame, the screen fades to black.

Next chapter is coming soon

Fair warning this is going to get a little inception esque at least 2-4 flashbacks with in flashbacks. But dont worry I guide you in up and back..you going to be amazed. Hint if you havent allready read jangol the journey and The Lone Bowman. I would, I have put somethings from there in here. This one is going to stem all the way to the gods, your going to see how all this lore both myself and Alt have constructed is going to tie together.

Can't wait man!

wow, all i can think is i wanna know what happens to McCloud!!!!! and you and Kiera ey? you got something you wanna share with the rest of us reading your story? hmmmmmmmm?

Chapter 6
“Has your life taken a turn? Do troubles beset you? Has fortune left you behind? If so, the eastern lands of Cantha, in all its glory, is inviting you to begin again. Come to a place where wealth, excitement and intrigue await around every corner.”-Canthan Board of Tourism flyer

As our Sixth chapter opens we find our hero Naix McCloud chained to a stone chair and looking a lot worse for the wear. His left eye was swollen shut and the other was clear and bloodshot. On his left temple was large laceration gushing blood which ran down his battered cheek. His hair was tattered and his trademark topknot was hacked off by the White Mantle Shock Trooper who wanted proof McCloud was indeed captured. He looks like a man who isn’t going to last, but this isn’t the first time McCloud was “questioned”
As the door opened with a metallic groan a bright light filled the room. As McCloud was blinded and screamed in agony. Lashona entered and grinned
“Are we having a good time Commander??” Lashona Grinned
McCloud sneered and spit at him. Lashona just laughed
“I am not too keen on family reunions either; I hear they can be lethal.” Lashona replied.
As Lashona paced around the room and gloated
“I see your still not talking, even under Mesmer induced Questioning, what is your plan McCloud, if you really think you are going to escape this one I believe your dead *as he grows closer to McCloud’s face* wrong.” He replied
At this point knowing his leg was free, McCloud inched his boot over Lashona’s Ankle and swept him. Lashona screamed in pain and fell backward. He fell on a small desk where various prisoner notes were kept. As the force of the sweep, knocked him back he broke the desk and disturbed the candle.

The candle fell into his face and he screamed. Mostly because the right side of his face was on fire. He took his cape and blotted out the fire. As he patted out the fire, he screamed for the guards.

The Guards came and Lashona shouted

“I THINK THE COMMANDER IS COOPED UP AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO STRETCH HIS LEGS. MAKE SURE HE IS NICE AND “LIMBER” WHEN I RETURN”

At this point the guards took out clubs and bashed them into McCloud’s legs and body beating him further. McCloud never leaving a time to rattle the mantle replied.

“Um oh I'm sorry were you just hitting me or did I just get bit by a mosquito?”

(The Guards Hit McCloud again)

“Say Lashona if you happen to see the Guard Captain could you tell him his grandmother was just trying to work me over.” He replied.

As we pan out from this awful scene, we pan out down the hall pass two sentries out the door to see a top down view of the building where McCloud is being held and there is a fade to black.

The next thing we hear is a voice yelling and door knocking

“COMMANDER JANGOL…COMANDER JANGOL”

Followed by a groan of pain and a large white light. As the light dims back we see Alt lying on a bed with his head half buried in a pillow then a another pillow is
thrown at his head and a female voice going

“Wake up sleepy head told you this wasn’t the smartest idea during an hour break”.

Alt groans “Five more minutes...the war can wait”

The raven haired female cuddles on top of him wearing a powder blue kimono that doesn’t leave much to the imagination which shows off her curves in a flattering light.

She kisses him behind the ear and goes “Alt you going to hate me now but will forgive me later for this”.

She flips the mattress leaving a less than decent Alt on the floor and Alt goes

“Ok you win abs I am up. Throw me my pants will ya.”

She takes two pairs of pants up from the clothing and ale mug littered floor and gives them to Alt

As Alt dresses, abs picks up the room folding clothing and such. Minutes elapse and as alt is adjusting his 501’s corps long coat.

Abs replies “Commander Jangol, did I ever tell you I have a thing for a man in uniform, I think you’re the type that helps ladies in distress” as she grins her ever famous evil grin.

Alt is looking slyly in the mirror in abs quarters in medical and goes “Normally I do but I got a real friend to save out there and a battle to plan. There looking for me I have to go.” Alt frowned.

Doing a cute voice Abs replied coyly “But Commander Jangol the mantle could break here any moment and I am ...scarred” grinning more evil

Alt rolls his eyes “Well suppose I could fool around for a few more minutes!” Takes Abs in his arms and kisses her and says “if they send in an entry team, I am blaming you…” and resumes kissing her.

2 Hours Later

Alt comes back to the briefing room embarrassed to find everyone gathered with a “This better be good Alt look” Alt cleared his throat and apologized for the delay because he was helping in medical doing inventory with Abs.

The whole room laughed for a few minutes and after Alt asking what was so funny. Langmar replied “You know Alt that is really not your shade. I had you pegged for more of an autumn.”

Alt looked at Langmar with a WTH look. She finally said “Yeah there is Lipstick all over your face, might want to clean that off before you have to give the briefing in front of the entire SB.”


Alt was red with embarrassment went outside to the water trof and washed his face.

He returned moments later and apologized again but Langmar replied “This has been tough on us all Alt, I was wondering how you blew off steam but I guess now we know. Come on let’s get on with the meeting.”

Alt sits down at the head of the table takes a drink and continues on. “Before this meeting is delayed further let’s get down to business”

Alt Continues “Before we broke I was telling you about how the war is a lot bigger than just a free kytra but a free world”

“We were approached by a group of hooded females, who had a lot to say about The Mantle and its crimes…

We fade back a few years to the Smiling Lion Inn a quaint place near the Lion’s
Arch docks.

Of Course if your definition of quaint is Shithole full of drunken sailors. We pan around the tavern to see it’s not much different than many of the taverns in similar locations.

The walls a made of simple brick, decorated with various famous ships on the walls. Barmaids serve drinks and there is a smell of sea salt mixed with body odor and stale ale in the air. In the distance a band plays a Kyrtan sea shanty.
In a corner booth we see two men dressed in brown longcoats, arguing over there ale.

“I don’t care what you say Alt, it’s a trap. I have heard rumors from travelling merchants and escaped prisoners. The white mantle because of its reputation of certain “ghost stories” that easily sway people. They often send operatives in, posing as resistance members to sway the mercs under their employ. It’s a loyalty test; if you “agree” then they will give you a place to meet.

After the meeting you’re usually left to rot in some hole in the Kytran Jungle...BECASUE THEY HAVE KILLED YOU and have found new mercs in your place. The ranger growled

The other ranger named Alt replied

“I can’t believe you Naix of all people not wanting to help people, what happened to that ranger who took me under his wing and showed me how to be a hero?? What happened to him?”

Naix looks down at a chain around his neck and fumbles with a small tarnished silver ring and glances at at the silver ring on his right hand. He cleared his throat and replied

“If you grew up how I grew up, consistanly moving place to places and never really had any real roots. Sure I had family but as soon as you felt settled in an area, some other two bit nobleman would want you for more money and you would have to move. When my family left the troupe and settled back in Ascalon City it was the first place I could feel like its home. The Charr and arrogance took my family and any sense of home I have EVER had. So yes if have to go back living on the road…I'll go back to what worked back then…At the end of the day it’s all about keeping your tab paid and your limbs still attached. Right now that’s happening, if we mess with the status quo, it might not.”

Alt looked at his friend with a sense of dismay...as Naix Continued

“So yes call me a heartless mercenary if you wish but if I fall and challenge that status quo…it won’t be for hearts minds and ideas. It’s going to be for something worthy.

Alt looks more dismayed and replied

“Ok Mr. Paycheck what’s a worthy cause??”

“Family, Love, Honor, is the bigger reasons”

Alt looked surprised especially after what had transpired.

Naix continued

“Look so far the white mantle hasn’t harmed my family, they never hurt my loved ones and so far no betrayals Right now I got no urge to rock the boat”

Alt chucked took a drink from the tarnished tankard and asked “What about the charr?”

McCloud’s look darkened “You know damm well the char killed a lot of people, our fathers for one both died on the wall…”

He paused and cried he reached into his pocket to recover a small red piece of cloth and placed it on the table

Alt looked and replied

“You still have that piece of cloth Gwen gave you, eh?”

Naix paused again

“Yes it reminds me of those without remorse who will kill anyone who stand in the way. They kill anyone but for now the crimes of charr are far greater than the ones of the mantle. Right now I am content with running the company and keeping my name out of the funny papers”

Alt signaled the barmaid for refills

Naix thought about was just said and wiped his face and gulped down his ale. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pocket case and took his dagger off his belt. He opened the metal case which contained some brown banded cylinders and some wooden sticks. He took out a banded brown cylinder; he took the non banded end and lopped off the end with the dagger. He returned the dagger to his belt. He took out a few wooden sticks from the case and struck them on the table and they lit. He lit the cylinder. He waited for the tip to glow and took a big huff on it.

Alt gasps and coughs a little and glares at him

McCloud Laughs and replies

“I know that look, and I think it’s hardly fair for the amount of cigs you smoke to yell about my cigar smoking. At least I buy the good ones from Methani Keys not the cheapo’s from Kytra. “

Alt nods and looks around the tavern

Naix replies

“No sign of our contact yet??”

“Nope”

Naix looked around as he reached into pouch on this belt and placed an object on the table. He moves his hands to reveal a set of dice

“Come old friend we will win back our bar tab by using my lucky dice”

Alt rolls his eyes

“There not so much Lucky as they are WEIGHTED”

Naix gives a look of “and your point is” and replies

“You know I never see you refuse your share of the wagered gold”

Alt laughed and replied

“One of these days, our adventures will become a story...and I want to look the one with human morals. Not a scoundrel that has a fill of luck equal to about 20,000 people.”

Naix Laughed and replied “Touché”

About that time three hooded people entered the tavern took a booth at the end of the tavern.

They signaled the barmaid and ordered some ale.
One whispered to the others in a sultry tone with a ting of husk
“I know we are very late you think our contacts are still here?”

The other replied in a sweeter voice but with a ting of chaos

“Look I can vouch for one of them, Altmus Jangol will hear us out and will listen to me. Since I left along with Tasha and Arwen before the searing and have been here. Alt after all the first time I meet him saved me from bullies before he even knew my name.”

The Third one jumped in with a voice of sweetness but a motherly tone

“McCloud will hear us out once he sees I am involved, after all he is family. My cousin Naix is a rebel without a cause, however once we give him proof the white mantle has implanted a spy in his band of mercs ...that’s all the provocation he is going to need. The fact his sister is also being held by the mantle is only going to fan the flames of the wrong man.
The first signaled for the tavern keep and gave him a letter.

The first asked

“Are there any private rooms and could you deliver this to Captain Naix Mccloud”
Tavern keep replied

“Wait your looking for Naix Mccloud? I’ll let him know you’re here”

They were surprised

The Tavern keep replied “He keeps his office here, figures the best way to keep in the merc business is go where the scum is. I let him stay here because the rabble doesn’t start fights with squad of highly trained mercs living upstairs. But as an aside you’re far better smelling and easier on the eyes than the others who have made me play messenger boy.”

We head back to the back of the Smiling Lion where a crowd has circled around the table

We see McCloud still huffing over his cigar hunched over a dice cup across from him is a big burly bearded man with multiple ale mugs stacked next to him.

The large bearded man goes “You going to bid sometime soon, savy”
McCloud looks sheepish

And goes “sure I see your 10 platinum and raise you another 10”

Pauses for a moment and goes “So that a big enough bid, savvy?”

The bearded man goes “Yarr it be a man’s game now, we roll”

Both men place the dice in there cups, wrap the cups on the table and tip them over. The bearded man takes his giant hand over the cup and looks at his dice. He reveals he has rolled a 4 5’s and a 6 looks up smugly and goes “your move”
McCloud looks at his dice and grins an evil grin. He looks up takes out his metal case and re-lights his cigar. Looks around takes a draw on cigar and goes “5 sixes”

The bearded man goes “Arr right for the main sails, again I see. Not only are you a liar but your also a cheat. The only person I know as lucky as you in dice was my old captain Margrid...and she cheated in dice too. She was me captain and a lady so I didn’t hit her …but you ain’t me captain nor a lady so I am going to...” As he stands up and approaches McCloud. “Take me lost gold out on your face”

McCloud rolls his eyes and thinks here we go again.

He takes his fist and grabs McCloud by the jacket tabs and starts choking him
McCloud gets slammed against the wall a few times rasping and gurgling. The crowd has spread out while others have come to see the fray.

We fade back to the hooded women who are sitting in the tavern all of a sudden there is yelling and a clearing of chairs. One of them cried out” What’s going on?”

The tavern patron replied “Looks like someone is being a sore loser to Naix again, it’s always fun to watch a pro kick ass” Then look at each other and proceed to move away from the opposite direction of everyone else towards the fray.

The fight hasn’t changed much because the brawny man still has Naix in a choke hold.

Naix gurgles something like “AN EWWWW RRELL NI FIFE N URRRRR GGGGG”

The bearded man goes “What did you say wharf rat”

Naix dents his boot heel against the wall and in the boots toe pops a dagger blade, he kicks his opponent in the knee. His captor screams and releases his grip, Naix drops and rasps

“I said can you feel that knife in your leg”

Naix taps his heel and the knife retracts. The bearded man gets up and throws a chair which Naix dodges. He picks up a keg and lobs it at McCloud, and
dodges it again.

McCloud smells the air “Kytran Ale Private Reserve…you couldn’t smash the cheap stuff.”

The bearded man enraged charged at him

McCloud looks around and sees the lighting fixture, then the table, then the fixture again

He jumps into the air grabs the fixture and swings towards the table as the fiend hits the wall and jumps back on the fixture goes to his gauntlet and flicks his fingers three times.

The Man goes “You plan to take me down by waving your hand”

McCloud goes “I’d look down if I were you”

The Man looks down and sees three throwing knives stuck in him and crumbles to the floor

McCloud waves to the tavern keep “Have his mates take him to the ship, because he is going to have a helluva hangover.”

He looks down at the man and states “Next time Do your homework before you pick a fight...I maybe puny but I can still kick ass”

His defeated foe groans and rolls over

He walks over to see alt already collected the take and dice

McCloud grins and states

“What?? Come let’s take the take and let’s retire to the office. Maybe our contacts have arrived”

Alt just rolls his eyes

The tavern keep goes “Another fight, I am only not angry because you didn’t start it …

Alt mutters “This time”

McCloud looks sharply

The Tavernkeep continued “Anyway I have letter here for you...”

McCloud read it, looked around and handed it to Alt.

Alt looked and said

“Our Contact is Abby?? I didn’t realize she was even here”

McCloud laughed “I always knew that girl was trouble”

McCloud signaled the tavern keep “If they are still here send them up to the office”

He said to himself great with that screwy dame involved, Alt will be no use. I have always said that girl was trouble. If my choices are my friend or neutrality, I stick my neck out for no one because if she wants me to join the cause of the Blade….She is wrong because I am the only cause I believe in.

Enjoying this, keep it coming!

Chapter 7
“Naix Mccloud represents a clear and present threat to a united Kytra!
He is an unscrupulous, lawless revolutionary bent on spreading fear and dissention across the sector!
He and his ragtag band of miscreants have instigated open rebellion across all of Kytra.
And stolen vast amounts of Mantle weapons and hardware! I assure you, this criminal will be brought to justice... very soon.”
- Inquisitor Lashona (Taken from a propaganda scroll posted throughout Mantle’s empire)

We enter in on a conference table in Naix’s palatial suite in the Smiling Lion. Sitting down in the chair that faces the door is McCloud; he has removed his long coat and gloves. He is wearing an undone vest and an undershirt. He has his boots up on the table smoking a cigar.

We look around at the furnished suite which contains a private office, conference table, a small bar set, a lavish fireplace and a door to a bedroom. There are lavish vabbian rugs on the floors made of blue and white Middle Eastern patterns.

But the highlight of the room is the charr head above the mantle. As we zoom in the plaque reads
Here Lies Vatlaaw Doomtooth
He chose the wrong ranger
To **** with

As we finish zooming around we see Alt still dressed in a long coat making a drink at the bar, while nervously smoking a cig.

Naix looks over “Relax my friend finding out what these people want, we going to need our A-Game and being a mess isn’t going to help. Calm Down. We still don’t know what she wants. “

Alt looks conflicted “I am sorry Naix but being Just being around her again is... intoxicating.”

Alt gulps his drink and takes a drag

Naix goes over to the bar and looks at what Alt was drinking then looks at Alt and says

“Easy easy that stuff is sipping whiskey if you are not careful that will strip the
lining out of your stomach”

Alt replied “Yeah”

Naix replied “Look Buddy she left you as in desertion when my punk sister decided to leave ascalon some of her friends left with her ….Including Abby.

Alt replied"On one of the missions when I got injured by the gnawl attack…she was there and I told her I would come back...and I did come back only to find her not there.”

At that point Alt got up and poured some ale and sat and slumped down and replied

“You might be right old friend, but she …”

“Gets to you?? Naix replied

“Aye” Alt Replied

“She must know some Mesmer spells...some of the stronger ones. Mesmer’s have powers over the mind, believe me growing up, how I did. You would be amazed what some of the male and female Mesmers would do to get a date...and the answer is not much” Naix answered

“Really...what are you saying a few wave of the fingers and its Wango Tango time?” Alt asked?

“Yes some of the more powerful and advanced Mesmers no doubt. Someone with lesser experience can usually get someone in a few “sessions” Naix replied

Alt looked at him with a sign of disbelief …but McCloud continued

“Because she doesn’t get in my head but to be fair I know some of the counter spells which can keep those type of spells from being any use. I can teach you some base spells for keeping unwanted thoughts out”

Alt perked up at this point and made a kill motion and Naix gave the what’s
going on look

Alt replied “As much as I would like to, something is coming up the stairs”

The door opens and we see three people all in hooded cloaks, by the curve of the cloaks in the right places you could see they were all female. Prompting McCloud to go

“What’s with the hoods and cloaks is this séance or a meeting because if this is the latter fair warning my Ouija board is in the shop”

We pan in close up to the lead figure standing at the opposite end of the table to reply

“Captain Naix Mccloud –earner of multiple commendations from the Ascalon Army. Including The Ascalon Bloodstripe 2nd and First Class, which is surprising because most people that, earn 1st class bloodstripes are awarded them right before they throw you in the crypt.”

Naix Laughed and replied

“What can I say, save the lives of 10 special operations people and destroy a major charr encampment. They gave me an honor few living people received, it’s not a bad but there times I even amaze myself”

She continued...

“Member of the Ascalon Vanguard. Currently is the Leader 501st ranger corps and co-owner of the smiling lion.”

“Captain Altimus “Alt”Jangol –earner of numerous commendations including a second class bloodstripe and a first class one for saving lives during a gnawl raid and from what I hear barely survived the ordeal. Also numerous Ascalon Army and Ascalon Vanguard and Special Forces commendations. Also current leader in 501st ranger corps and co-owner of smiling owner inn”

Just as she finished we hear a click and we pan out to see Naix and Alt both standing and both holding crossbows pointed dead at them.

Naix replies

“First meetings usually warrant introductions…now drop the cloak and dagger shit, and let’s chew the fat”

The leader goes shakes her head no

“No dice” as she steps forward you hear a bow click and a gut wrenching groan

We pan to the shadows behind them to reveal to see an armored figure slumped face down on the floor with a bolt rammed through the skull.

We pan forward to a smoking crossbow held by McCloud

McCloud yelled “I thought you said in your missive no security and that isn’t one of my guys because the armor is wrong and I don’t shoot my guys”

Alt glared at him and McCloud rolls his eyes and goes

“Ok I don’t shoot my guys …much”

The hooded crew of mysterious women go to take a step forward again and between them is a support beam and we hear a whoosh and an arrow hits the beam we pan to Alt holding the smoking bow.
“NOT ONE STEP FURTHER …”Alt yelled

McCloud still holding a bow goes

“Now here is how things are going to work, drop the hoods and the bullshit or we drop you. As you can see both by the last few moments and our records which you seem to know, we are damm good shots. So I will say again you have two options let’s sit down and be civil or you can be a notch on my crossbow and be taking a permanent swim in the darkest waters of the harbor. Now dismiss your remaining security and we can get down to business”

The lead motions to the girl on her left and she goes out and says something and nods back to the leader

“Very Well” says the leader

The leader removes her hood and does her two guards

There is a look of shock and anger coming from both rangers

We reveal the mystery leader as Princess Salma and her two aides

“TASHA??”Naix Yelled

“Abby??” Alt yelled

They looked at each other in disbelief

The leader remarks “Seems you do really know each other?? Allow me to introduce myself my name is Salma? The Princess or the fraudligent usurper depending on what you read. I apologize for the secrets but I wasn’t sure if I was going to be greeted by you or a squad of mantle commandos. You want to talk lets pour some drinks and “chew the fat as you say”

Naix and Alt look at each other and groan painfully “Oh Boy!!”

Nicely done. Nice twist. Really enjoying this, keep it coming.

Thanks for all the kind words.

I know I am not the best writer but ...I try my best

After this post comes chapter 8

I pardon for the ever growing list of movie refs. But if your a fan of
tarantino. You might see something familar in the next chapter


I kinda been doing this in a serial mode. Mostly for the ease of the reader and a chance to expand upon misadventures. I thank you all for reading Now with out further delay ...

Chapter 8
“A little revolution is a good thing every now and then” Marko Ramius

At this point McCloud starts laughing and Alt gives him the “WTH” look

“Wow I knew you would stoop low to staff your revolution but asking us and then using cheap pity tactics to engage an emotional response.”

At this point the princess looks around with a sense of busted in her eyes

McCloud Continued

“I mean what was your plan have my family member and a girl...”

Looks at Alt with a look of stupidity

“Alt has been pining for since …well forever. To gain my help, you’re either desperate or crazy”

Salma and her aides tried to speak but McCloud wouldn’t let them

He continued

“My guess is crazy. I risk my neck for nobody just because your business is politics. My business is running a saloon and maybe the occasional odd mission but it doesn’t involve the pissing contest currently going on in Kytra”

At this point Abby tried to return the conversation and got up to go near Alt

She started to talk

“Alt Con…”

At this point McCloud drew his crossbow and pointed at Abby

“No that will be enough of that, make another chant, Go on and try I dare you …
I double dare you. Try and make another spell” He exclaimed

Abby looking very shocked and puzzled replied “WHAT”

“Abby what country you from??”He yelled holding his bow dead at her

“WHAT??” she exclaimed again

“WHAT AINT NO COUNTRY I EVER HEARD OF…..THEY SPEAK ASCALONIAN IN WHAT???” Naix Roared

Abby looked confused and Naix Roared

“ASCALONIAN MOTHER****ER DO YOU SPEAK IT??”

Naix flipped a few switches on his desk and grinned

Alt yelled at this point “Naix what in the name of Melendru’s pantyhose are you doing”

Naix grinned and laughed “Causing a tactical distraction, to keep the meeting on an even keel”

“Even Keel” Alt replied

“Yes, A little invention a friend of mine gave me...helps me take magic or *looking at Abby* and those who use it to negotiate out of the equation” He smirked

Abby glared at McCloud evilly

McCloud gestures with his crossbow and replies “I believe you were sitting down lass”

At this point Princess Salma was furious and glared at McCloud as he sat down and she spoke

“What is the meaning of this?? Pulling crossbows on my aides and threatening them?? Negating Magic??”

Alt tires to speak but McCloud interjects

“It’s very simple my dear Princess, It can be answered in two words “House” and “Rules”

“House Rules??” she asked

McCloud goes to the bar and takes a fine bottle of kytran brandy and pours himself and glass. He steps back to his chair at the table. Raises his glass and takes a swig

“When entering into a business or strategy deal locations are chosen. Your Majesty you chose to meet here under my roof and when we both agreed to having our sit down here. You subtly agreed that I would have the advantage. Thus what I have used.”

Salma tried to talk but couldn’t

At this point Tasha tried to speak

“Naix be reasonable now…you have family that lives in Kytra and this whole conflict affects us all. If you can’t join for family what reasons do you have for fighting??”

Naix finished his drink and slammed his glass on the table. He opens his cigar case, cuts and lights a cigar. He walks over to Tasha….and takes a big drag on the cigar

“FAMILY ….I HAVE NO FAMILY HERE……*exhales a big puff of smoke in Tasha’s Face* THE ONLY FAMILY I HAVE IS MY UNCLE MYCROFT in ELONA. THE REST DIED IN ASCALON.” McCloud yelled

“Aren’t you forgetting your sister and myself” Tasha Replied?

Naix looked in her eyes and grabbed her by shoulders and yelled

“YOU ARE DEAD TO ME BECAUSE, YOU LEFT ALL OF YOU. MY FAMILY WERE THOSE WHO DIED ON THE WALL OR THE SEARING OR ALT and REST OF MY SQUAD, WHO TIRED TO CLEAN THIS MESS. WE WERE NOT BROTHERS AND SISTERS OR EVEN COUSINS IN BLOOD BUT IN HONOR. WHICH IS WHAT I CANT SAY OF YOU AND MY PARTYING SISTER OR THE WITCH HERE.

Tasha Started to weep, Abby and Salma had a look of horror.

Salma replied

“McCloud enough of this …now let’s get down to business”

Naix walked back to his chair and flicked his cigar ash over his glass

“I have already told you, I will not help. My resolve was never stronger but now using a bunch of honor less harlots. Shows me you are not people I want to deal with and this comes from a man who deals with scummy people for a living”

“Naix Please ...” Salma begged

Naix scowled and moved his hands over a panel at the end of the table and replied

“No Dice Doll”

He pushed the button and the floor in back of them opened and their chairs tilted back throwing them in to the recently opened passage.

MINUTES LATER
We pan to a back alley near the Inn; it’s littered with trash and Barrels. There is the stonework of the buildings. We pan to some stonework opening and out spills our three exiled women. Each is horrified of the afternoon’s events
Tasha replied

“I knew the searing changed Naix but I didn’t realize it was this Bad”
Salma dusted herself off along with Abby

Abby looked at Salma and asked “Did you let it leak I was a Mesmer?? Princess??”

Tasha laughed

“McCloud comes from a family of mesmers. Ever Hear of the Amazing Fatales??”

“Yes I have, they used to tour the globe if I recall” Abby replied

Tasha Looked

“Despite not being a Mesmer, he knows most of the tricks and magic. His Mother taught him mostly to not fall into traps. I know we use you for light recon and can stump the average sword slinger but not advanced users like McCloud and other skilled Mesmers.”

Salma nodded in agreement and gave the sign to move out

We pan back to we last left our heroes in McCloud’s suite at the Smiling Lion
McCloud starts laughing and puts out his cigar in the bowl and gets up to fix himself another drink.

Alt looks uncomfortable and still semi shaken from the transpired events

Alt replies “You want to tell me what the hell is going on??”

Naix looks up and bites his lip “Perhaps there is no time like the present”

Alt laughs and shakes his head wondering What McCloud is scheming
McCloud takes a sip from his recently remixed drink

“Plain and Simple …it was a gambit and ruse”

Alt looked shocked and replied “A RUSE…WHAT”

McCloud explained further

“I have received coded personal missives from the Princess she believes one of her inner circle advisors is truly a White Mantle Spy. Her further intelligence reveals and can narrow down a lot of operatives.”

Alt chuckled “And let me guess …the ones left are Tasha and Abby?? You can’t believe their spies??”

Naix went over to his files and slid over the missives and information which Alt picked up and read

After a few minutes Alt spoke

“So the code name for the spy inside the white mantle is the Ascalonian???
Come on McCloud given the influx of people coming to kytra. The Mantle has recruited people from Ascalon.”

McCloud slid over another folder …

Alt asked “What’s this??”

He looked it over and asked with a surprised look “Is this really??”

“Current list of Mantle Aliases and assignments, yes Alt that is it but it gets better. Read the last Page” Naix replied

We see a page in the file with all the columns filled in except name and the read
Name Assignment Cover ID
Report On SB Inner Circle “The Ascalonian”
501st Merc Company Uther Brown

“So Uther is in fact a Mantle Spy?? I would have never known??” Alt Joked
Naix looked with a degree of seriousness

Alt Asked “So now what??”

Naix Laughed and replied

“Well I gather after the evening’s festivities, I gather we will be seeing what Brown is going to do for us. Come let us adjourn to the roof”

Like the twists - keep them coming.

Thanks Donni I like to keep my readers interested. Well that I love to setup people thinking I am going to go one direction...then ..it finds out i am not

Chapter 8.5
Two days Later (Present Day)
We open this mini chapter in the dark prison corridor outside the cell where the white mantle is holding Naix Mccloud since the begining of the story

A hooded figure groans heavily down a hallway leading a group of people down a corridor. Two figures were wearing burlap sacks were behind the hooded groaner and they are flanked on either side by two guards wielding pole arms. The lead figure halts this parade of the prisoners and opens a door and gives non verbal hand signal to watch them until he returns

The hooded figure opens a door to a wide open room about the size of a small briefing room with three chairs and chained to one chair is Naix Mccloud looking more haggard than ever. The figure steps into the room and removes his hood revealing the half burned face of Lashona.

Mccloud with now two bruised eyes and as
plit lip and dried blood on various cuts and growls

“You know…that won’t heal if you don’t stop picking”

Mccloud laughs as he coughs up some blood and spits it on the ground.
Lashona sneers

“You have no idea what is going on??”

Mccloud stares at him with one eye socket completely swollen shut and the other a blood filled eye.

Lashona Continues…

“Oh not to worry Commander, You won’t be receiving anymore family time but don’t worry I will give you some equally non related beautiful company to help you whittle away your last few days on this plane of existence”

Lashona signals the guards to push the two burlaped prisoners into the cell and moments later secures the two prisoners.

He moves behind the chairs and removes the modified hoods ….

“You know Mccloud I believe you are acquainted with Princess Salma and the good captain langmar”.

Both stare at each other for a second and Mccloud breaks the ice

“You know Lashona, now I am really going to enjoy killing you. Okay how is capturing these two going to help your glorious white mantle??”

Lashona thinks for a moment and replies

“Since you really can’t communicate with anyone, Why not.”

He goes on over the next few minutes how his sister has trained a group of commandos to use Mesmer magic to infiltrate various positions in the Resistance. By both using magic and Technology.

At this point Mccloud speaks up

“What Technology…There isn’t any technology that can guise appearance”

Lashona Laughs

“You think you’re the only one who has asuran help Commander...”

But since his services are no longer needed it will make it easier on my men to just kill you all in one spot

At this point the door creaks open again

And as three guards two flanking a small wheeled table while the other pushes it the item in on the table is a small creature strapped to it wearing a small straight jacket with restricts his movement. It is also wearing a small half faced mask. The sight looks like the transport of a serial killer not an asuran scientist.
As they are wheeling him in, the guards remark

“Oi, Sorry for restraining em Boss but he killed a few of the men when they tried to bring this beast his dinner”

The asura spoke in a pleasing baritone comparable to what in this universe would be Orson wells

Glances up at Lashona and replies

“Did you think of this little plot yourself?? Do you even Care?? When your little girlfriend ends up on the dead because we will triumph?? What will you do?? Because Booka You have no idea who you’re dealing with

Lashona stems with anger and Growls

Sergeant! TAKE MR VEKK AND CHAIN HIM TO THE WALL

These are the last instructions as Lashona leaves the room

Liking the drama and McCloud's ever-present 'attitude'!

Thanks Donnie

A lot of mcclouds charaecter is formed by watching the heros and anti heros of 80's action movies

These stories were kinda a running joke between myself and Alt...yeah these senarios only come out with you being the noble hero ...rangers arent heros but anti heros...so how would anti heros with a nemesis handle the situation



Naix would be the type to be if this was set in modern times..crawling through ducts barefoot and yelling YIPPIE KIAY Mother________

I'm still enjoying the story my friend! Good stuff.

Chapter 9

Two Days Earlier


Present Day-Ebon Vanguard Encampment

Questions and Answers

We pan back to the squad table in the SB camp with a look of intrigue and surprise around the table. Well to be fair the look of surprise belonged to Kerian Thackery and Salma.

At this point Captain Langmar spoke up

“Wait!!” she asked towards Alt “Naix actually threw out her highness and held loaded crossbows on her advisors?”

Alt laughed

“Yup, there are times Naix Can be about as subtle as the searing and that wasn’t even the last time. There were raids into prisons, pow camps and few luxon intelligence centers but the all time hall of fame was…..”

All of a sudden Kiera Spoke up and said “Angsiyan Plaza”

Alt looks with a sense of confusion

“That little mission has been triple red taped with Silence orders. The Empire likes to keep the notion that The Kurzicks and Luxon civil war doesn’t spill out beyond the Pongmei valley. How did you hear about it??”

Kiera Laughed and gave a evil grin similar to Abby

”I was there”

She Continued
“I had been working for the xunlai humanitarian relief effort doing...”

Before she finished...Alt started to Laugh

“You never told me you were a spy too….the whole part of the effort was to get medics with some social engineering ability into hot zones and gain intel on warlords and pirates”

Kiera smiled “Yes, but they suspected Minister Zaoying was dirty and the whole point of the Gala at Angsiyan Plaza was for it to be crashed by Baron Bruno. “

Thackery and Langmar looking confused asked who

Alt stepped in
“Baron Bruno Ulrikar, a member of a kurzick house who got thrown out of Kytra a few years back. He was a man who took a few liberties with science and a few other things. Naix and I just shut down his labs in the darkest heart of echovald beyond the falls. He was looking for a place to strike and show even without his science, he was a threat. Naix was called in because he would serve two purposes one could stop the problem and two had played the spy card enough and made himself an ally of Minister Zaoying. When he requested security for the event, his first missive was to Mccloud.”

Kiera replied

“He came to the building and wanted to go right on duty but the Minister wanted him to be properly dressed. So he asked his recent private physician to gal Friday to aid the Captain and see he is properly dressed.”

Alt laughs “Still doesn’t explain why he was crawling in maintence tunnels and why his feet were cut up and lacked boots”

Kiera looked shocked at this point and stammered

“I might know that big secret, but to be fair it was your fault…you spread
that death rumor”

Alt laughed louder “I was a ruse to convince the kurzicks, we needed him to infiltrate that Luxon R&D lab to see what Lashona was working on there”

Langmar spoke up “WAIT WAIT Lashona was in Cantha ….HELPING THE LUXONS????”

Alt went white as a ghost realizing he let a cat out of the bag

“Later Captain…Believe me. That question will be answered” “

Kiera Continued

“I missed him and when we were alone, I slapped him in the face and screamed at him for not telling me and he replied just that. He hugged me and told me he would never do it again…and um things got blurry from that point on”
Alt and Langmar laughed and both replied “SURRRREE”

Alt goes “Well that explains the undressed part”

Thackery goes “That explains nothing ….well what happened”

Alt laughs “You will get what happens when you grow up, Slick”

Thackery scowled “Not that..I meant to the Baron”

Alt replied “A story for another time…..when we don’t have a friend to save”

His look of laughter goes grim as he looks over

With a worried look he looked over to Zimm and asked

“Anything Yet?? It’s been a few days??”

Zimm blinked and wiped his brow and replied

“I have dispatched and reset parameters for all Bubo’s to lock into any 501st/Vanguard Beacons. If they get a signal, they are to set to capture and return to base.”

Alt replied

“Why can’t they just broadcast signals like they usually do??”
Zimm glared and replied

“When I was going through signal stream the other day, I got a signal asuran in concept. It was encoded differently but ran all known subsets and variants, In case Mccloud was using known variants like Kurzick OSSA, Zaishen, Vanguard, and I think he knows a few Krewe Variants”
Langmar looked at the following statement

“I know all of those except OSSA, What’s OSSA”

Alt laughed

“That my dear captain is a different story for a different time. In brief they were called the Knights of Truth a special tasks group within the sunspears made up of Assassins, Rangers and Warriors and even Mesmers. There are some things were you need brave souls and epic heroes and there are times where you just need to make sure the small warlord or despot/Pirate meets his end. On the groups first mission things happened and the Diplomats got involved. It was rebranded the Office of Sunspear Special Activities or OSSA. Before you laugh I didn’t name it....the diplomats did.”

Langmar laughed

“So you said its first mission didn’t go so well, what happened if I may ask??”

Alt took another pull from his flask and replied

“That too is another tale for another time, when we have the time”

About that time a beeping came from one of the consoles and Zimm Answered it.

“Slow down….Ok I’ll tell him ...Right…Zimm out”

Zimm walks over to alt and says

“Well Jangol, Not sure what you heard but your needed in the Lab ASAP”

Alt stroked the scruff on his chin and pondered

“OK looks like it’s time to get some air…I'll be back everyone”

Alt strode by the two armed guard outside the tent who saluted Alt as he walked by, which Alt curtly returned.

It was an overcast day with some clouds but the sun looks like it could break anytime. You could tell it was raining and there was more on the way due to the heavy smell in the air.

He passes rows of tents, supply buildings, and troops who either saluted him or people noting who he was and saying some random war stories. After a few minutes, he arrived at the cave where the Asura kept their labs.

Two more armed guards this time wearing insignia of the 501st Both Snapped to attention and Saluted which Alt returned. He stepped up to a panel by the elevator and reached under is shirt for a small crystal and inserted into a slot located in the panel.

The door hissed open and Alt stepped inside and the door hissed closed. We pan back to outside to see one guard take up offensive position the door, while the other looks at a gauntlet on his wrist.

We pan to inside the door to see sounds of beeping and different crystalline spectrums being shined on alt which goes on for a few seconds. After the lights stop shining, we pan back outside to the sentry still looking at his gauntlet; a small section of it blinks green.

The sentry waves the other off and they return to position. Alt presses the number 7 on the row of buttons, The Small space hums to life again, moving down, after a few seconds the small vault stops and hisses open again. As the door opens a soothing mechanical voice coos over the elevator

“Access to the 7th floor is restricted”

At that Moment a panel turns around, revealing the a keypad

Alt punches a few numbers on the pad

The elevator hisses open and the tannoy voice speaks again

“Welcome Commander Jangol”

Alt steps out and two guards flaking the elevator salute as well as the two guards standing in front. The Two guards standing in front both carrying longbows and wearing simple less ornate field jackets approach Alt. The scruffy looking one speaks up

“Sir, you’re going to need to come with us “

Alt looking at the kid goes

“Why would that be Lieutenant??”

The kid gulps and goes

“Because she paraphrased “When you return and Commander Jangol isn’t with you, she was going to shove macro-regulator spanners up parts of our anatomy”

Alt winced

“Say No more, take me to her”

After 10 minutes of walking through various R&D projects, before they all went through a door marked “HANGAR” Alt waved off his escorts an entered solo

We enter into a large open space we see something that looks a combination of an oversized golem case and a military science fiction dropship.

There is a figure underneath the cockpit of the ship, swearing in Canthan. She pulls out from underneath the ship and stands and smiles at alt. She is dressed in red Ascalon Academy recruit armor with the name” Rynel” on the left chest that is grease stained, she has the similar set of blacksmith goggles that Alt and Naix have used in combat.

She is about 5’6 average build and body with a Kytran Complexion. She pulls up the goggles up over her reddish brown locks, and takes a rag from a nearby toolbox and wipes her face.
She gives the smoke sign to Alt and He tosses her his case and she lights one up. After taking a few drags, she goes over away from machinery and puts it out.
She walks back to Alt and Smiles
“Glad to see you got my message, I was beginning to worry”

“Ok what’s the Problem Myth?” Alt asked

“Look I know the Hyperion was sup post to be getting retro fitted and rearmed but if the rumors I keep hearing are true. Especially if Lachona is evolved, you’re going to need her, I know it” She beamed

Alt laughed “Yes, that is for sure and you are the best mechanic/pilot the 501st ever had”

Myth smirked “Alt I am the ONLY pilot/mechanic the 501st has ever know”
Alt whistled innocently for a second and replied

“Also very true, Do you need help ??”

Myth nodded

“Yes can you get Zimm to reassign members of the special tasks krewe, I feel with 3-4 asura plus myself and we might get this done”
Alt nodded back

“I’ll see what I can do”

As Alt turns to leave Myth Speaks back up

“Alt???”

“Yes?” Alt replied

Myth Replied

“Find Him Alt, or things are going to stay awefuly dull around here, I hope you have a plan?”

Alt replied and laughed

“Darlin When have you know me to have a plan that wasn’t I am making this up as I go along”

Myth Laughed

“That’s for sure…”

As alt turns to leave, Myth pulls back down her goggles and goes back to her work

Cool man! I like it...expanding the borders, and adding cool stuff to the story. Nicely done!

Ah, a plan, ... sort of ... is forming! Eagerly awaiting the next chapter. :O)

Thanks!!

Seems Real life took a little toll

Sorry for the delay but good news everyone .. New chapter comes in the next post .. Enjoy

Chapter 10
False Flags
“A basic rule of covert ops, is let someone else do your dirty work. Let someone else find the guy you want to kill. It's a great technique, as long as you're not - the someone else”- Michael Westen

As Alt Turns walks back to the elevator and enters,

Myth comes running over yelling

“ALT ALT ALT”

Alt presses the Button to open the doors and runs out.

“What’s going on Myth??” he yelled

She reply’s winded “Zimm needs you on the comm. ASAP; he said he has found something.”

Alt runs to the secured crystal terminal in the Chief Engineers or Myth’s office and recites his access code to access the voice coded terminal

“Jangol Tango India four four six two eight niner”

The screen now showing the crest of the 501st whirurs to life and on the other end we see Zimm standing in front of his terminal in ops.

“Ah good to See you Jangol, Sorry too but one of the Bubo’s found something...

We found the commander, His Aid frequency came to life all of a sudden and they horned right in and found something. Alt it was not far from where your run in with the mantle was.

Alt goes “Fine, That good news I’ll get the Hyperion flyable and we can scoop him up. What Else??”

Zimm gulps “He is dead”

Alt shakes his head and goes

“He can’t be dead, it’s a trap. Trust Me Lashona needs him alive.” Alt Growls

“Well I am sorry Jangol but you need to look at this…” Zimm replies

The 3-D holo of Zimm changes to a small 3-D image of a burned out Caravan and a headless corpse”

“I’ll be back in Ops to prove otherwise. Jangol Out” As he slams the desk the console is mounted on.

He closes his eyes and mediates; he hears a sound in the distance of a person
slightly grazing a box.

“How much of that did you hear Myth??”

She comes back in the door way, with her head hung low and replies

“All of it alt... you can really prove this??”

Alt smiled and hugged Myth

“Yes I can, follow me”

Moments as Myth and Alt walk to the elevator. He cut to them walking through the camp. As they come to the ops center two guards stand at attention to Alt and Myth and Salute. Both return with a curt salute and enter the area.

Zimm beams with his pointed teeth showing “Welcome back Jangol and you as well Ms Rynel”

Kiera is at the table crying, she gets up when she sees Alt and runs up to him punching his chest Yelling

“YOU BASTARD, YOU SHOULD HAVE NOT LET HIM RUN LIKE THAT ……”

She collapses in Alt’s arms and cries

Alt replies

“Easy Darlin, It’s not Naix and I am going to prove it to you. However it is a trap and we need to be careful”

Keira looks up at Alt and replies

“You better not be lying Alt... “

Myth at this point leaves Alt’s side and hugs Kiera and escorts her back to her seat in the squad room.

Alt asks

“Pull that image up Zimm, the one where you found the commander”

“Before you pull it up, I don’t need people gabbing like a sewing circle, all information till otherwise noted is eyes only. If you can’t deal with that leave now.”

No one seated there the Princess, Langmar, Kiera, Myth and even Thackery sat steadfast

He smirked fair enough

“Guards” He yelled

Both Guards saluted and responded with a loud “YES SIR”

“Ops is Closed, No One is allowed in unless they have Raven-6 Clearance”

The Guards Saluted and left and the door sealed behind them.

“Oh and Raven-6 yeah that’s the highest security level, we have and not to worry everyone in this room has it, the only one not in this room with Raven 6 is Mccloud. “

He smirked and gestured to Zimm

Zimm nods and places the image on the main projector and a full 3d render of the “death site” appears

We see a headless male body in a 501st scout jacket with a black stripe on it similar to the one Naix wears. By the stump of the neck, lies a set of dog tags face up and near it a head facing away from the shot but the hair in a topknot and scout goggles over it. Around him are the torched remains of a white mantle caravan cart.

“Now Zimm, Do you actually have the Feed on how he found this... “
Zimm nods

We see a Bubo Flying over the trees and we hear “Distress Alert, to any 501st unit. Send Assistance!!!”

It diverts towards the scene and just as it gets over the tree and logs the signal and status of the solider and other identifiers it’s programmed to identify. Just as it finishes...we hear a bolt click and we see a bolt coming towards us, and a kickback. It lands on a tree. We see all internal system alerts, and then we see a man disfigured in his face but wearing fancy white mantle armor holding a smoking crossbow. He hunkers down into the Bubo’s sightlines and Laughs and says”

“I thought you had more courage that this Jangol, sending your little toys to fight me. The thing is I am going to have to let you determine wither or not this is your friend. Maybe I will HAMMER the point home. I mean you have an EAGLE eye so I’ll never tell.

You’re going to have to come here yourself and find out. But don’t worry about me I’ll just be HAMMERING out a few details Oh and by the way, I hope you have more of these...becuase this one*as he loads his bow* IS BUSTED *fires the bolt* and the screen goes static.

“DAMM Alt goes as the flight log ends”

He hunkers in the chair and replies...

“Re-pull up the image…”

Moments later it appears

Alt ponders for a moment folds his arms and looks at his right shoulder and grins
“Zimm get a zoom in on the patch on the shoulder, of the decapaited body”
“It will take a few minutes, Jangol”

“Good I can explain in the meantime” Alt beamed

Words around the room were confused… till Kerian spoke up

“Why does a patch mean anything??”

Alt motioned to his sleeve and said

“Many of us here were from Ascalon and many of our families were Knight Protectors of Ascalon, which means you would have a coat of arms, Naix and myself allowed our men to not forget who they were and allowed those with coat of arms to wear it on a field jackets, in place of the 501st crest. We are missing two men Mccloud and Higgins. Both Men favored the Master Scout Uniform but Mccloud always wore his coat of arms while Higgins was from a family of smiths and chose his family’s blacksmith seal.”

“2 Seconds and done”-The image scanned across the screen and moments later was complete

An Anvil and Hammer flanked by two eagles appears

“No surprise” Alt said “He told us, but wants to input the doubt”

Alt ponders for a second

After a few moments Langmar speaks up

“So what are you going to do??”

Alt looks back and shoots almost instant response

“We are going to do nothing, this is a trap. We are understaffed as it is and we can’t risk it”

Langmar looked insulted at this point

“So all those times we risked our necks because your credo of no man left behind actually ment nothing. This time is no different, why aren’t we going??”

Alt threw down his fist on the table and yelled

“BECAUSE THIS IS DIFFERENT!!! Other times it was the charr or the luxons or the sunspears. All units not know for prisoner security. This time we have a crazied merc with heavy white mantle ties who also JUST HAPPENS TO KNOW OUR PLAYBOOK, BECAUSE WAY BACK WHEN HE USED TO BE ONE OF US !!!!!!”

The whole room stood silent with confused faces

It was minutes till Langmar spoke up again

“Still doesn’t answer anything, it just means you be extra careful”

Alt didn’t want to hear anymore on the subject till he could work around this chuckhole

“FINE LANGMAR ... you want to get killed I have no authority over you to say No. But if you go al...”

Before Alt could finish his statement Princess Salma spoke up

“I will help you captain, we shall take some of my personal guard and investigate”

Langmar nodded and Alt Blurted out

“Both of you command important half of the forces, but if you want to leave I can’t and won’t stop you. It’s been nice know you”

He gets up and shakes his head and yells

“I’ll be in my ready room”
As Alt is walking off, the Langmar spoke up


“Assemble what guard you can your majesity,we march when you’re ready”

Hours Pass to dawn the next morning. In the Dawn of a new morning and we see a small caravan and elite royal troops build up in the exit to the camp. We arrive on scene an hour later of Kiera trying to dissuade Langmar from Departing

“Captain I must object, have you ever dealt with Lashona before??”

“My only dealings with him have been whatever stories, I have heard…” Langmar replied

Kiera Looking disgruntled

“CAPTAIN THEN LISTEN TO ALT and Myself and Myth have been telling you for hours this is a fool’s errand. I want to see him confirmed alive or dead, worse than you. I am keeping emotion in check because I know what he is capable of.”

Langmar smiles

“I’ll be fine Kiera, don’t worry”

Kiera exploded with anger

“He tortured and killed one of my friends long ago, because she thought the same thing. I don’t want to keep buring friends because of foolishness”
Langmar simply finished her task and went to the caravan master and gave the go signal. Kiera feeling distraught walked over to the ops center where Alt was sitting on a crate taking a smoke break and Myth was standing looking a little distraught

Myth Gave Kiera a giant hug and Alt nodded

“Why didn’t they listen to us??” Kiera remarked

There was silence for moments until alt smoked his cig down, tossed it on the ground and snuffed it out with his boot

“Because they are stupid, deal with the enemies we deal with and you learn something very quick”

Kiera quips “You don’t need to be a Mesmer, to know you’re going to tell me right?”

Alt nods as he takes a pull from his flask

“Yes you learn one rule… There aint no place for a hero, there aint no place for a better man. You need to be thinking three moves ahead. When you believe luck, heroics will save the day and it doesn’t it’s a bitter pill to swallow but you only have to learn it once”

Kiera replied “Yes but that’s only if your survive”

Alt shook his head “I can’t tell you how many looks of I chose poorly I have seen in dead friends whose live is seconds from ending as their blood oozes from them”

Kiera and Myth both looked worried because they never saw those words come from Alt

“I didn’t mean to frighten, I am just a old soldier who has fallen to many times” He replied

Myth Smiles

“Yes but you have had friends along the way who have picked you up” she replies

Alt taking another pull from his flask

“I do have a plan B; while they were prepping I got a missive to Auora. She is going to stay hidden and follow them to whatever impasse this leads us”

Myth Laughed

“Aurora is good but not that good”

While Kiera looking confused, Alt continued

“Well we have some new infiltration gear, we need to test as well the gate jacker too. I sent this missive, a few days ago when it looked like Mccloud was going to just need rescuing. All I needed to say was new toys and she has been in the labs for the last three days. I filled her in last night about Langmar’s folly. She has a good understanding about the new gear and will be keeping distance and following langmar”

Myth smiled and gave Alt a small hug, while Kiera gave him a small peck on the cheek

“I guess I was worried for nothing Alt, Playing things close to the vest Alt. Nice Job” she beams as she walks away”

Alt sheepishly grins, takes another pull from the flask and walks back into ops.

Good job man. I like it!

Lol /highfive i punched Alt!

Yes you do .. Enjoying the story KI ??/

I like to keep suspense.. here is the begining of the next chapter ...

Chapter 11
We catch up to Kiera as she enters her quarters, she lights a lantern on a small desk she keeps for doing paperwork in her quarters. She sits down at the desk and looks at the small gold butterfly hair clip adorned with sapphires and she smiles
VABBI 3 Years Earlier
We show the afternoon sun shining on the Kodash Bazzar. Various Sellers hawking their wares to various passersby. We focus our attention to a cloaked woman in a bright aqua colored robes that fit in with most of the styles many others were wearing.
As the young woman walks through the market further. She stops at the apple seller and asks “Are these Sweet Apples” she asks and the Seller smiles and replies “Yes, Finest Apples imported out of Kytra” and hands her one from behind the stall and nods.
The Girl picks it up and nods and begins to walk away and she turned down an alley.
She shines the apple on her blouse and took a chop out of the top of the apple and turns it over and takes off the piece of paper at the bottom of it . She unfolds the paper and it reveals a small scrawled note
“KI
Head for Ugarte’s Dress Shop in the center of the market, tell Ugarte The raven is calling in a favor. If he refuses, remind him where his Canthan Silk Contracts come from. Take the box he gives you and meet me back at the safe house ASAP.
NMC


She reads the note and conjures a small flame spell she learned to cauterize wounds and burns the note.

She heads to the center of the Bazaar where most of the shops are located. She arrives at a small white building with Ugarte’s written on it in three Languages Canthan, Elonian and Ascalonian like many of the other stores and shops in the area.
She steps inside and notices the various amounts of dresses and fine formal suits hung out for display as well as some very expensive looking formal ball gowns and dresses.
A small istani man with sullen eyes and a bit of an overbite wearing a tailored jacket, approaches her and replies in a raspy voice

“Salam and Good Day, how can I help you?”
Kiera not missing a step, expecting someone maybe a bit taller and less thuggish

“Are you Ugarte??”

“Yes” he replies, slightly giggling as if she made a joke

Kiera rolls her eyes and says

“The Raven is calling in a favor”

Ugarte laughs more out loud

Kiera remembering what the note said for a plan b “Remind him where his Canthan Silk Contracts come from”; she played a hunch that this guy owed money, to less reputable people than her current employer.

Kiera replies

“Corsairs or the Am Fah”

Ugarte stops laughing and does a double take

“Corsairs or the Am Fah, who has the higher price on your head?? Give me what, has been agreed upon and the Raven doesn’t need to know you were less than hospitable” Kiera says again

Ugarte sneers “Very well take your package; hope the raven chokes on it”

Kiera looks sternly at him

Ugarte laughing nervously “I mean have a nice day”

As Kiera leaves the shop we pan angle so you see Kiera leaving but in the nearby alley we see a tall man wearing a long coat and a hood. They are looking over the doorway, lighting a smoke.

He sees Kiera leave with box in hand, takes a puff of his smoke and waits

Shortly after she leaves we see Ugarte and two thugs in the doorway

“After her, a dead Canary cannot sing”

Nice

I am adding to the chapter post piecemeal .. I have added a new section.

Ohhh suspenseful!

Glad you like it Ki, Its going to get better.

The next part ...

The hooded figure in the alley snuffed out his smoke and waits for the two thugs to pass by, after they pass by, The hood flicks both wrists with surgical precision Out of the figures gauntlets, two throwing blades appear and fly through the afternoon sky till they strike with special force precision at the two unwitting guards.

Both Guards begin to foam at the mouth and convulse and fall to the ground.

The giant commotion surrounding the two guards causes Kiera too look back and realize those are the two guards in the Shop. She knew those men where Ugarte’s guards, she wasn’t far from the safe house now, she walked briskly but every few seconds she checked for tails as Alt Showed her. Moments later we show her making it back to the safe house.
We pan back to Ugarte who is in his office only this time a little bloodied and tied to a chair. A brass knuckled fist comes out of nowhere and strikes him in the jaw.

“That hurt, you IDIOT!!!” he exclaimed

The figure still obscured by his hood and shadows in the office says nothing

“You have no idea, who you have messed with do you??” Ugarte exclaims

The figure removes their hood and kneels down to look him in the eye. We see the figure in the hood was Naix

“No, I believe I do” says Mccloud

Ugarte Looks Surprised

“Mccloud, Are you here about the girl…If I knew she was tell.”

Mccloud cut him off

“You are not getting out of this one, selling Secrets to the Kournans. Who is your Leak?? ”

Ugarte laughs

“You have a ball gown made; you don’t need me to tell you”

Mccloud sneers

“The girl was an actress, paid by me to recite a script, nothing else”

Ugarte looked shocked and horrified and Mccloud Beams

“But you did show your hand…”

He taps his goggles and gets Alt over the comms

“Alt you read me?” Naix asks

“Alt here, how did things go with Ugarte??” Alt asked

Naix smiled and asked

“Alt, Run any notable dances or Balls that any noble is hosting”

“Acknowledged” Alt replies

Moments pass and Alt and Naix engage in various bits of small talk and dirty jokes

“So the female Asura goes that isn’t a Gollum …that’s my husband” Naix Replies

“Nice Punchline but I got a better one. Lord Auttan, one of the lesser nobles in Vabbi but a known Kournan Sympathizer. Is having his yearly soiree at his palace…Tonight” Alt replies

“Damm... That doesn’t give us much time. What do you want to do with Ugarte??” Naix Goes

“Use your imagination, but nothing too bloody. See ya Soon Alt Out” He replies

Ugarte gulps

He begins to walk away and Ugarte yells

“What are you going to do?? Leave me here?? When the Guards Come I’ll will talk”

Mccloud stops and takes a knife from his gauntlet and throws it, catching Ugarte straight in the neck. After he finishes gushing Mccloud goes over pulls the knife out and wipes it and replaces it in his gauntlet and tosses the shop a bit to make it look like thieves and calls Alt

“Alt??” Naix Calls over the comms

“Yeah find a new tailor in our employ and rename the shop. Ugarte just sew his last stitch” Naix Continues

“He sent goons after Ki didn’t he??” Alt Asked

“Yup” Naix replied

Alt starts to go

“And the guar...”

“Do you have to ask Alt?? Really??” Naix Replied

“Oh and before you ask, Ki is back with the package and no followers” Alt states

“Good, Gather Ki and the usual crew and lets meet in ops ETA ten minutes” Naix replies

He walks out of the back of the shop with his hood raised into the afternoon sun hazing over the market, he lit a Cig, as he walked out of the alley and blended into the crowds, just as the guards were investigating the incident from the front.

Hours have past and we now pan to the interior of a lavish Apartment decorated in Middle Eastern Patterns. Various Tapestries’ of Royal Purple with gold embossing and the Mccloud Family Crest adorns the space. Various pieces of furniture make the space more of an At Home feel. The Open Air forum of the Apartment shows the Crimson orange sunset in the distance.
Various members of the team are waiting around the large Marble Circular Bar in the Center of the Room. Alt is behind the bar smoking a cig mixing an Ascalon Thunderbolt for Myth. Where behind him is a large bar setup with a mirror and a large assortment of sprits and taps.

Myth sits at the bar tapping her fingers on the bar and humming an old Kytran Folk Song. Kiera Sits at the bar drinking a cup of tea, the large sealed parcel she retrieved is leaning near her at the bar. In the distance you can hear the town crier talking about a murder in the market place and for anyone with information Report to Guard Captain Greenleaf

A white Haired Ranger sips a mug of ale. She is wearing an armor
set that brings attention to her. It it’s a combination of leather upper and drake scales dyed hot pink. She is a bit older than our heroes but she sits apart from them waiting as well.

A silent hiss of a door opening followed by boot steps, Alt perks up and keeps his fingers on a crossbow behind the bar. Myth casually takes a sip of her drink and goes for the dagger on her belt.

A hooded figure in a patched long coat, some of the stains on the jacket like blood and mud looks fresh. They come near the bar and clear their throat and remove the hood.

The hood reveals the scruffy face of Naix Mccloud, he smiles to his friends

Alt and Myth relax their stance and resume what they were doing

Kiera breaks the silence and asks

“Where exactly have you been Mccloud?? “

Naix smiles and Asks

“On a mission, did you have any trouble with Ugarte??”

She looks at him and replies

“Nothing I couldn’t handle, you didn’t tell me the man was a total creepo”

She Continues

“I got the parcel you requested but I must have said something because his goons were tailing me for awhile but they disappeared . I think I lost them but I can’t be sure”

Naix Smiles and replies

“That reminds me I need more throwing knives, Thanks KI”

The rooms looks a bit shocked for a moment but Alt and Myth realize what is happening.

The White haired ranger speaks up at this point

“So that was one of your ops in the market place. Well when I examine the scene, I’ll note the presence of Corsairs and have the prince string a few pirates up, too keep public order.”

She sips her ale and continues

“You are lucky Vabbi has its fair share of scum and a prince who’s policy on crime is secretly employ a bunch of spies and assassins”

Mccloud chuckles and smirks

“Well Ellory ,having a captain of the guard, who is an old friend of my family also helps too.”

She laughs

“You are so your father, a silver tongued, braggart and scoundrel but when push came to shove. You know where your alligencies lie.”

Kiera looking annoyed interrupts

“So does this mean we are safe??”

Naix replies
“Yeah, You were kinda the distraction, I needed Ugarte’s goons to be on the hunt.”

He paused and removed scroll from his belt and unrolled it on the bar
“I got intel Ugarte was dirty dealing with the kournans for vabbian military postings. The rumor is since the princes won’t help, Varish will take it by force.”

Alt replied

“Yes was a creep but he was bought and paid for …by us. What would motivate him to double agent?”

Naix gestures the scroll to Alt and Alt reads it

“He was the fall guy??? “ Asked Alt

“Yes, it seems Lord Azabeth a known pro Kourna Lord, got wind of Ugarte after that Mission in Istan got botched” Naix replied

“So that was part of that Diplomatic Satchel, the Corsairs got” Alt Asked

“Yes” Naix replied

“So we are screwed, that had all our agents undercover in Kourna; we just lost our good eye” Myth Replies

“Not Yet, Lets Head for Ops and I will explain.

Alt Interrupts

“Before we do that, the boss got word of the operation and wants to talk to you, He has a plan”

Naix huffs in Disbelief

“So I suppose that new Crystalline Regulator Assembly Arrived eh”

Naix looks around the room and replies

“Then Alt, Myth lets go talk with command. El and Kiera please feel free to stay in the den, we shouldn’t be long. I hope.


The Three Rangers head down the hall to Mccloud’s Private Conference room, it was a little less lavish than the rest of the place. It was a simple Oak Conference Table surrounded by Drake Scale Leather Chairs. The table had Crystal Glass sculpture in the center

Mccloud took his usual chair and placed his hand on the table, the table beeped and whirred, a small panel popped out and the Crystal center lowered and opened. Mccloud pressed a few buttons which sealed the door, lowered the lights and activated the center which revealed it was simple Asuran Emitter Hologram Array.

Moments later a gruff looking ranger with a studded leather eye patch crew cut and Spiked Shoulders was being emitted over the Display

“About Damm Time, you two checked in. I don’t care if the Prince requested your services. When you’re still on my payroll, you check in.”

They all looked on with an uneasy feeling and the Hologram continued

“What happened did your letter dead drops get compromised too?? Did you forget how to use a portal??”

Naix spoke up

“Sorry Tydus, When Shiverpeak Station went dead, we feared the worst. We had to make a play and it didn’t work.”

Tydus groaned gruffly and replied “Bloody Charr, those damm cats slaughtered every last one. Lost a lot of good people and equipment it’s understandable, things are stressful all over “

Alt, Naix and Myth looked at each other and finally Naix spoke up

“It’s about to get worse did you get the report on Istan Op??”

Tydus glared at Mccloud

“NO I WONDERED WHY MY THREE BEST AGENTS COULDN’T STOP THE DAMM CORSAIRS”

The Hatch Opened and closed and Ellory appeared carrying a large Sachel and Myth about to draw here crossbow sign, Mccloud gave the put away sign. Ellory walked over to the corner of the room and replied

“Better make that 4, Tydus”

Tydus looked over and replied

“I thought you retired??”

Ellory smiled

“I thought you did too. We are even”

She continued pulling out a large number of logs and book

“Perks of having a cover as guard captain, I went through along with Myth and tossed the shop. Found Ugarte’s books and “business “logs, we found out the corsairs were hired by Azabeth with Ugarte as the go between.”

Mccloud held up his hand and spoke

“How’s that possible?? The corsairs had a price on Ugarte so high; he was unable to go near a civilized pier??”

Ellory slid over a journal

“Apparently Azabeth parlayed with the Captain’s Council and payed Ugarte’s bounty plus a little extra.”

Naix looking relaxed

“Well that explains that, so how did they get the information from the embassy??”

Alt looked at a note and turned pale white and crumpled to the ground. Ellory helped him to his feet, while myth ran out the room to grab Kiera.
Tydus still on the line replies

“Well what was on the note that made Alt look like he saw a ghost??”

Naix picked up the letter and reads it; a look of disgust and rage overcomes his face, as he grumbles

“Because he thought he saw one …an old specter of the past was the inside woman in the embassy. “as he crumples the letter

Mccloud goes over to the console as Kiera comes into look at Alt
Tydus looks over, smiles and goes

“Kiera, I didn’t realize, you still patched up these scoundrels”

Kiera looks up and over, she beams

“Tydus!!! Good to see you!!Yes I still am patching them up; it is more exciting than running a town clinic”

She resumes her work as Mccloud finishes typing something and gestures to the screen, a rotating bits of information display on it

Ellory looks and replies “Abby Rhianne?? Who is that??”

Myth dropped her book, Kiera looked shocked and Mccloud banged his fist on the table.

Kiera helped Alt to his feet and Alt left the room

Tydus then spoke “After what happened Kytra, I would think him of all people would be ready to pump a few bolts in her skull??”

Naix growled

“Agreed and Ellory a very dangerous Mesmer, who Alt kinda has both history and torch carrying for the lass”

Ellory shook her head

“Poor Alt, I didn’t know they had a history “

Myth was looking through a recent journal entry and replied

“This isn’t over...Take a look at this!!!”

Tydus looks over and replies

“So the drop is tomorrow night at the Lord’s Annual Society Gala??”

Myth picks up two invites from some official missives in Ugarte’s letter pile

“Seems Ugarte and I am guessing one of his goons were on the guest list for security reasons”

Naix smiled

“That’s our way in then, fear not chief. We will recover the satchel”

Tydus grumbled

“Naix, Have your Staff clear the room and secure it??”

He nodded and made a move out motion to everyone. Once everyone was cleared, he stepped over to the table and flicked a few switches and replied

“Ok sir, we are secure”

“Good” Tydus replied

He Continued

“A couple things but mainly Jangol is benched till further notice, with Abby involved his judgment isn’t going to be around.”

Naix replied “You are going to give him direct order or do you want me to do it??”

Tydus replied” Negative, He is reassigned have him catch the fastest gate out of town”

Naix nodded “He is no good like this, he is a mission risk”

Tydus nodded and replied

“On a related topic, your kill order has been approved. I am going to get the Asura to broadcast it to all Intelligence agencies, just in case of course. How do you Plan to go in??”

“If we are done with the Uber Classified I would like to bring everyone in do it once, with all respect sir”

Tydus nodded and Naix went to the console and unflicked a few switches which sent the all clear signal to out in the lounge.

As everyone including Alt filed back in, Mccloud whispered to Ellory and she nodded. Before talking Naix went over to the console and stood by it and began to talk
“Alt, you can’t be in here. I am Sorry you are off the mission.”

Alt went from mellow to enraged

“OFF THE MISSION!!! THIS IS BECAUSE OF ABBY ISN’T?? THIS IS YOUR CALL ISN’T IT TYDUS”

Naix Interrupted “It’s both our calls, But I am team leader, your are scrubbed”

Alt roared and cried “I CANT BELIEVE MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER IN ARMS COULD DO THIS!!!”

Naix replied

“YOU FAINTED AND BECAME SICK AT THE SIGHT OF HER NAME. THIS IS AN ACTIVE OPERATION AND I NEED EVERYONE’S A GAME. YOU DON’T HAVE THAT”

Alt replied

“She is a good girl Mccloud, Just a little mixed up”

Naix looked with disbelief

“A LITTLE MIXED UP; SHE WAS A WHITE MANTLE SPY WHO ALMOST KILLED YOU TWICE!!!”

Alt looked confused

Naix roared and clicked a few switches

“I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS…”

Moments later two giant golem droids flanked Alt and dragged him out of the safe house. Naix Signaled to Myth and Ellory to accompany them to the gate.

“Follow them make sure Alt gets to the Gate, I’ll brief you on your return”

Tydus replied

“I’ll have guards at the gate and a secure cell waiting for him in the eye”

Naix Nodded

Tydus replied

“Well now that is over, what is your plan??”

Naix smiled

“Well here is the thing, we can continue. Since all the ground team is here”
Kiera looked around and replied

“Mccloud it’s just me??? I mean I have done the occasional wetwork but I dunno how that helps??”

He smiled

“Given the fact Myth is the best pilot and we need to keep Ellory’s cover as Guard Captain. Plus their names and pictures might be in the data we are recovering, you are it.”

Naix Continued

“Plus we were going to go anyways but given we now have invites and a mission it’s a bonus. Besides you need to make an entrance to a party like this, and with you, beautiful as you are is going to make quite an *kisses her hand and looks in her eyes* entrance”

Tydus cleared his throat with a loud “AHEM”

Both Mccloud and Kiera went bright red and Mccloud Continued

“Besides despite Ugarte being a creep, he was an excellent tailor, you don’t think that fetch quest was for nothing, Do you??”

Kiera looked is Disbelief

“I have been told it’s a very nice formal dress, I guessed on the size”

Kiera’s eyes lit up and she ran out the room

In the midst of Kiera’s cheers of delight Tydus Asked

“So the plan I take is blend in, get a lay of the land, get the data and get out?? If so I’ll upload what we have on his palace”

“Pretty much, Sir Thank you” Naix replied

“Seems everything is under control, I’ll keep you posted about Alt” Tydus said

“Thank you Sir “Mccloud said as he saluted

Tydus returned the salute and said “Tydus out”

As the holo connection went dead and the table reformed. Kiera entered the room

She smiled ear to ear

“Thank you Mccloud, I never got the chance to wear a dress that pretty before.” As she hugged him and pecked him on the cheek
He grinned

“Stick around and you will have plenty more, Oh I almost forgot...” as he pulled a small box from his jacket and gave it to Kiera.

“It belonged to my mother; she was very fond of lavish hair clips”

Kiera opened the box and saw a golden butterfly adorned with Sapphires

“Mccloud it’s too nice, I can’t accept this...”

Mccloud laughed

“Call me superstitious but that clip has history, my mother in her early days went on many a mission with my father. She called it her lucky mission hairclip because the one time she didn’t things went snafu. I always carry it with me, but I believe it would look much better on you.”

She smiled as she placed it in her hair

“Thank you, I do feel a bit luckier”

He reached out and hugged her as she laughed

“Now I feel Lucky” Naix replied

He continued as he held her in his arms

“I have one last question for you??”

She looked into his eyes and asked

“And that is??”

He replied

“Do you Tango??”

Glad you liked it , I figured making Donni A fellow ranger spy was a good work in. Actually the elite drake scale was her idea.

Its going to get better

Chapter 12
We open our next chapter still in the Past, a day later. Over the desert air, the violet orange night sky is seasoned with the bright stars of twilight and the backdrop for the small (small for vabbian standards) palace of Lord Azabeth.

It’s made of sandstone with carved columns, in front there is a cul-de-sac with valets unloading and attending the carriages of the various masked nobles that have come to this costume party. In the Distance, a large wagon with cargo crates in tow approaches the cul-de-sac. The wagon is being driven by a Kytran Woman in a top hat and goggles over her eyes, with reigns in one hand and a horse whip in the other. She is driving down the road.

As the Wagon pulls into the cull-de-sac, the attendant’s spring to attention and unbolt the door to the carriage, a woman wearing a blue formal dress with a matching blue masquerade mask and hair pin tucked in her blonde locks, styled a formal yet functional fashion which made her figure look flattering.

Many of the valet’s tongues fell out of their heads and they stared for a moment then continued on. She waited for a few moments for her escort to come out of the carriage. He was a tall man wearing a black masquerade mask with a black formal jacket with a crisp formal white shirt and cravat, his hair done in a formal topknot.

He looked very dashing and heroic. He is walking with a bit of a pronounced limp carrying a walking stick with a Silver Raven on the head, and takes the arm of the stunning woman.

A large beefy guard stops him and replies

“Sir I am going to need you to disarm before going in!!”

The man replies in an older voice

“Have you seen me walk good sir?? Do you really think this old vet can handle a sword much less wield one?? Now let us pass”

The guard pondered for what was actual moments but felt like a lifetime

The woman placed her hand on the guards shoulder in a seductive manner, and nuzzled close and asked

“You really don’t need to check him, he is harmless but me, you never know”

The guard gulped and looked around turning bright red and smirked

“Your Right old timer, you are not the problem. Enjoy your party.”

The man smirked to the woman as they walked in

“You know more about this stuff than you’re willing to let on”

She smiled and brushed her hand on his cheek and smirked

“You have no Idea, Sugar”

I figure release it in chunks makes it more readable

Here we go .

As we enter the interior of the palace it’s very lavish with stone stairwells and marble floors. Various candles light the area. Large Lavish Purple and Red Tapestries with Azabeth’s crest hang around the area. Waiters buzz around the crowd offering food and drink. In a small area in the back you can hear the music

(If you want context. Whole Scene , this would be playing the in background Here is a good jaunty waltz to set the scene. Johann Strauss II - Frühlingsstimmen - Walzer, op. 410, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGy4VePCX7w)

As they walked into the party the man’s ear buzzed we pan to the man’s ear a notice a small invisible implant in the ear. We hear a woman’s voice ask

“Mccloud what’s your 20??”

Mccloud signals a waiter and takes two glasses of Vabbian Wine off the tray and hands one to Kiera.

“Main Ballroom” he replies

Mccloud and Kiera walk across the room with Mccloud and Kiera waving to a few officers and other guests

Kiera asks Naix

“So How about those decorations, they are very pretty Huh??”

Moments later over the ear pieces you hear Ellory go

“The Decorations were planted, No Visual on our Targets. Keep an Eye out”

Mccloud after hearing that information replies

“The decorations aren’t as pretty *he smiles* as you”

Kiera rolls her eyes and smiles sweetly

“You old snake charmer you ...”

Moments Later while Mccloud refilling his drink; a new female voice came over the system

“Mccloud I am in position”

We shift to outside to a large cliff and small cave in the sands near the castle. A woman dressed in a Mao Zing Mask and a tactical coat similar to what Mccloud wears only instead of black trim, this was a dark violet trim, which matches her mask. Her Eyes are covered by the standard ops goggles we have seen both Mccloud and Alt wear.

She is in a prone position holding a scoped crossbow/rifle hybrid overlooking this small study in the upper part of the house not far from the ballroom. We change the scene to her view looking through the scope

“Yeah nothing yet Mccloud...” she replies

“How is the new stealth gear Auora and is the distraction set??

“Surprisingly well, I can converse and spot, and not blow my position and Mccloud Please …I am not that dimwit recruit Thorkary you were trying to mentor” she replied

“It’s Thackery and don’t get me started …Wait for the signal Mccloud out” he replied

About this time the music stopped and a herald called for the attention of the room, and announced

“PRESENTING HIS LORD CORRINO SHADDAM AZABETH”

Whew ..Let me blow the dust off this section of the forum.

Its been awhile since I added to my tale, mostly out of school committments and life.

Good news is, I have finally had some downtime ..and I got a new section of story coming soon.

Yay!