Chapter 18

“What is that moron thinking? Of all the times and places to drop smoke...”

Lux hung her torso over the railing and watched as the raiders quickly became obscured by said dark plume. Up on the back deck she could make out Esma showing a similar level of concern at the surprising choice in tactics.

That wasn’t to say the move itself didn’t fit the CC’s usual style. Though it did make the blonde security officer question whether the man was treating this like a routine convoy instead of a Galen Run. Then again it was precisely because this matched his usual style that Lux was able to piece together the strategy at play here.

Starting with the fact that Lautnor had ordered them to the platforms prior to the smoke. The command Crusader had likely noticed that the raiders were taking advantage of the stack formation to limit the number of deck officers who could respond to a potential approach from the rear. And in a way the response they’d settled on was making the enemy double-down on the rear by making the sides less desirable as an approach point. Then when it looked like the congregated force was prepared to begin its approach, they’d dropped smoke on top of them. Putting it all together, this meant Lautnor’s objective was —

“Baiting a reaction...”

With smoke obscuring their senses they’d have to rely on the drum majors for directions on how to respond. Sowing such instances of chaos also served as an excellent litmus test for a raiding party’s general uniformity and poise. But at the same time...

“...you run the risk of getting a reaction you might not like.”

And it appeared this group had been well coached as despite the situation the drums remained silent. Not that Lux minded as it allowed her ears to pick up the subtle but unmistakable sound of pistol cocking off to her left side. In response she subtly shifted her weight onto her outside foot and rested a finger on the custom rifle’s trigger.

“Hey Esma!”

The brunette turned around and looked down at her interim instructor, noting that Lux’s gaze was pointedly fixed towards the rear despite calling out to her.

“Trouble you for a hair tie!”

Esma reached behind her neck and scooped her ponytail over her shoulder, grabbing it by the end she waved it side to side.

“I’ve only got the one, and it's impractical to run it down to you given the current circumstances!”

Lux grinned and nodded to herself.

“You’re right, it’s better that you stay up top! And you shouldn’t readily give away things you only have one of either! I’m sure we can agree on that much!”

Esma picked up on the fact something was amiss. The leading question and subsequent impromptu life tip alerting her to some double meaning. Instinctively she readjusted the grip on her rifle and followed the barrel of Lux’s. Well versed in the absurdity of her ‘late hands.’

And just in time to see the contours of a Volts body armor emerging from the tree line of the limestone forest. A short whistle gave way to the sound of a bullet rebounding as the opening shot skirted off the face of an emblazoned buckler. Not for the party of Cloud Nine, but for the faction of Baugh. A reminder of who they were up against. As if the fact they’d somehow reacted to a split-second shot from a sharpshooter wasn’t enough to get that point across.

Lux quickly discarded the pomp and circumstance, squaring up the approach that had begun leaking through the limestone towers. Their angle of entry allowing her to distinguish each of the raider’s likely roles. Not that conventional stall tactics seemed applicable given the very limited amount of space between the two sides from the get-go. What would normally constitute the gunner being so far out front she didn’t have a shot to work with. So instead Lux targeted those closest, her main intent to apply pressure in such a way it forced them back towards the towers unconsciously.

As one would expect this was a lofty undertaking and didn’t allow the sharpshooter to offer any further instructions or guidance to Esma above. At the very least Lux being the more immediate threat would give the rookie some wiggle room to get a few shots in. Assuming she could find the nerve to do so.

In the meantime both sides continued to exchange fire as the mad dash for favorable positioning commenced. Recognizing this Lux did everything in her power to stall the approach by targeting those attempting to merge. All the while staying rooted in place, an. Unavoidable handicap given she hadn’t been afforded the chance to connect a tether. Provided she’d have to make use of the railing as her tether point because Youn, the self-proclaimed son of a bitch, won the preferred platform. And with such close proximity between forces, Wash would be inclined to act sooner rather than later.

Sure enough a call went out across the Crusader, and only moments before a wide gap was put between them and the approach. An agreeable development as it offered Lux a chance to reload. To no surprise the raiders did not immediately pursue, using the opportunity to rally its remaining members into the approach. But if they thought a little whiplash was going to deter Lux from remaining a hinderance, they were sorely mistaken.

Making good use of her new vantage point, Lux targeted the gunner along with those flanking them at the head of the formation. Something they seemed ill-prepared for as they’d been distracted processing whatever orders the drum major was currently disseminating. A presence she too had long since sorted into the ignore pile. Though in her defense such things were better left to the CO’s. Speaking of CO’s...

After baiting a raider into taking a shot in defense of their gunner, Lux’s thoughts returned to the back deck. Because from what she could tell the only assistance coming her way was coming from the front. Faust’s handiwork if she’d ever seen it. Also the main reason she’d been so comfortable staying rooted on the platform throughout this exchange.

Lux suspected her trainee would hold off discharging her rifle until it became absolutely necessary. Something that could become problematic as the number of visits mounted. Because any party worth their salt would use the first confrontation to gather intel on the crews. And the fact she hadn’t contributed to the defense of the convoy would be noted.

As she was contemplating ways to keep a target of Esma’s back the Crusader suddenly lurched again, back in the direction of the approach that had since reorganized. The abrupt change forced Lux to brace herself against the railing to prevent going over, in turn preventing her from keeping both hands on her rifle. A problem now that she was essentially being thrown headlong back into the enemy. Though the speed in which they were closing suggested command meant to chase the raiders out of the passageway.

Aware of the encroaching Crusader the party members began to scatter in various directions, namely those who weren’t confident enough to navigate between the passing towers. Faust and the other officers were content to let them go as a means of conserving ammunition for the castles that lay ahead.

But even with foresight some of the raiders skewed closer to the center of the approach had been boxed in by indecisive comrades and no longer had somewhere to escape to. Lux spotted two such Volts falling into the path of their Crusader. The bulkier of the two, owing to some heavy-duty body armor, took charge of the situation and signaled the woman behind him. She responded in kind and took up a position at his hip.

Deducing the pair meant to ditch their bikes and board as part of a last-ditch effort to avoid being crushed to death, Lux sat back on her heels and took her rifle in both hands. The plan being to knock the first of the Volts away the moment they left the saddle. Leaving Faust to finish or delay the other.

Not that she cared either way, but it soon became clear Lux would be tasked with repelling the larger of the two members as they drew closer. A rational choice as their armor made them more suited for absorbing the brunt of the response. It was also possible that they’d overlooked Faust or perhaps judged he wouldn’t concentrate on the woman as it could be interpreted as a waste of ammo in the context of a Galen Run.

“Sorry, but we’re not accepting passengers!”

Lux moved to intercept rather than receive, knowing full well she was at a significant weight disadvantage. But the raider wasn’t about to wait around for her to meet him either. As such he’d jumped with his buckler raised above his head. Intending to use the momentum of his landing to bring it down on her. An impressive display of dexterity and proprioception all things considered, not uncommon among well regarded Voltigeurs.

Time slowed as the buckler collided with the barrel of her rifle, the result a painful vibration that traveled up both arms. The split-second decision to lock both arms leading to a meeting between Lux’s back and the wall of the Crusader behind her. Fortunately she had enough wherewithal to tuck her chin and avoid an impact to the back of her head.

Gritting her teeth the blonde mustered the strength necessary to push the man and his buckler back before he could find stable footing. The raider responded by releasing his buckler as it was allowing her to focus all her strength into one spot. He followed up with an awkward attempt at grabbing her, needing some way to reduce the momentum sending him backwards over the railing.

Lux’s close combat instincts kicked in and she redirected the path of his hand upwards with her left elbow. The man adapted and grabbed the top of her sleeve thinking it would be enough to pull him forward but overextended his right side in the process. Providing Lux an opening she filled with the end of her rifle. A harsh blow that slammed into the side of the raider’s jaw.

The clunk at the point of impact was consistent with a dislocation of the mandibular joint and precipitated the raider’s legs giving way as his consciousness faded. This made it child’s play for Lux to guide the man back over the railing with her follow through.

That’s one.

Lux tried to reset quickly, recognizing that no shot had sounded above her during the brief confrontation. This raised the possibility that the other raider had managed to board uncontested. But about halfway through her turn she felt something disconcerting press against her temple. A throbbing pain emanating from where the end of the pistol was pressed. She hissed through her teeth in response. Also noting that the hand gripping said pistol was quite steady. A blow to her chances of surviving the next few seconds. But it was just as telling that they were making her sweat rather than blowing her head off outright.

A form of payback for the comrade she’d disposed of maybe. Unfortunately for them Lux wasn’t much of a worrywart and had already begun to search for her next opening. Because if the raider really felt that strongly about getting revenge, then her corpse would have long since slid off the platform.

As moving her body would be grounds for pulling the trigger, Lux relied solely on her senses to assess the current predicament. Her eyes flicking from the cool gaze of the women holding her hostage up to the railing of the front deck. Where she saw Faust partially slumped over the railing, pain evident in his features. His right hand clutching the fabric over his left shoulder as it grew darker by the second. She wasn’t sure where his rifle had ended up.

By no means the answer she was hoping for as to why the other Volt had made it onboard but one nonetheless. Lux’s mindset proactively shifted to buying time for Faust to collect himself or better yet his rifle. That or wait for another crew member to take notice of the situation. Not too big an ask now that the approaches had more or less been stalled and scattered.

“You pull that trigger and it’ll alert the rest of the Crusader to your presence. And they won’t take kindly to my ill-timed demise.”

“Then consider this me not taking kindly to my own colleague’s demise.”

“Don’t just write him off like that, he could still be alive. I made sure to knock the poor bastard out before pushing him off the platform after all. Factor in the body armor and he’ll be right as rain assuming someone puts his jaw back together.”

“Interesting theory. Care to provide a control?”

“So my jaw remains intact, and I get to stay conscious. You’re on.”

The two exchanged looks liable to make a passerby cross the street when a new presence appeared in the doorway.

“Drop it!”

Lux internally rejoiced at the sight of Esma leveling her own rifle at the woman’s head. And though it was definitely false bravado the brunette’s tone and body language expressed that she was serious. She’d also taken care to position herself just far enough to react to any hypothetical forms of retaliation, while also being close enough that missing would be nigh impossible. Though to the raider’s credit she did not so much as flinch at the new arrival.

“I said drop it!”

The woman turned towards Esma while increasing the pressure of the pistol against Lux’s skull. A silent warning to behave or else.

“Assuming we both pull the trigger, your side will face a much harsher blow than we will. This girl is a sharpshooter after all.”

It appeared Lux hadn’t been the only one carefully assessing things. If she had to guess her belt had likely been exposed when she’d raised her arms to meet the raider’s buckler. Not ideal should this encounter devolve into negotiations. What’s more it looked like Lux would have to be the one to do the talking as Esma was becoming increasingly anxious.

“Can the control have the floor for a moment?”

“Just see to it your mouth is the only thing that moves.”

Prior to beginning her pitch Lux glanced at Esma out of her peripheral. And if the bead of sweat rolling down the poor girl’s face was any indication, it would be best to resolve this before things got any messier. Literally, as Faust was in the process of applying a tourniquet to quell the flow of blood running down his arm and onto the deck.

“Look, longer this goes on the worse your position becomes. Instead it would be in both of our best interests for you to turn over the pistol and allow yourself to be taken into custody.”

“And how exactly would that be of any benefit to me?”

“For one thing you won’t be shot. I’m not particularly interested in shooting you, our man upstairs is well on his way to passing out from iron-deficiency anemia and the brunette over there has an aversion to getting her hands dirty.”

“I don’t think that choice of idiom properly encapsulates my animus towards —”

“I mean listen to her ramble, idiom this animus that. Think that kind of person is a real threat to you?”

The raider let those words sink in and looked between both Faust and Esma. The latter scoffing indignantly as she half-lowered her rifle.

“I’m sure you understand this better than anyone, but firearms do their job regardless of how the person pulling the trigger feels. So go ahead and skip to what custody would entail.”

She didn’t know if this was part of the raider’s master plan to deceive them, but Lux was beginning to like this woman. Rather she might feel a skosh of remorse if she had to shoot her later.

“We’d restrain your hands and keep you in a space where further interference would be difficult to manage. As for after we reach Riga...I can pull some strings and get you some expedited processing.”

Esma looked over at her with a raised brow. Not a whole lot of sympathy in those emerald hues for the comrade being held at gunpoint. Meanwhile the woman had taken to tapping her foot against the platform, mulling over her options before speaking up.

“Consider it a soft agreement, we’re out of time.”

The raider eased the pistol off of Lux’s temple and offered it to her handle first. She then strode purposefully over to Esma whose body tensed as a form of defense mechanism, only to relax again when the woman offered her wrists for restraining. As Esma scrambled to find the cuffs lent to her from Wash, who’d been privy to the earlier discussion on taking prisoners via the speaking tubes, Lux inspected the pistol before tucking it into her back waistband.

“What’s your name legs?”

A not so subtle reference to the woman’s height. She didn’t seem to mind though as she held still, waiting for Esma to work out how to apply the cuffs.

“Carrie Roe.”

She’d used a common placeholder for concealing one’s identity in legal proceedings. Which meant her real name would have rang some alarm bells and potentially weakened her leverage for future negotiations.

“Legs it is then. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go help patch up Faust.”

She proceeded up the stairs to the front deck, leaving Esma to show their new prisoner to the makeshift holding area.

“Right this way please. I hope you’re not sensitive to heat or cramped spaces...”

*

“They got me good.”

“Yes they did. Fortunately we were able to make use of the terrain much the same way they did.”

“Looks like they don’t hand Class A operating licenses out like candy after all.”

“And I’ll be sure to extend that praise to Redcliffe later, but for now we have new concerns that need addressing.”

Cloud Nine had used the cover of the smoke to access entrances to the natural drainage systems running underneath the entire region. The use of which allowed the party to take up flanking positions while the convoy remained largely focused on the rear. Only the incidental deployment of officers to the platforms had saved them from complete catastrophe.

“It makes you wonder though, why not commit more members to the cause? They had us right where they wanted us.”

“I imagine the drainage systems are unimaginably difficult to maneuver and navigate. Plus they had to squeeze through the openings between towers just to commence the approach. Even a feeder of Baugh’s only has so many riders confident or skilled enough to pull that off.”

Lautnor positioned himself with his legs crossed atop the console.

“I suppose it does make more sense to position the less skilled riders in the castles...that or their party leader assigned members according to a less savory method.”

“You think Hite placed his more prominent dissenters in this approach to thin them out?”

“It’d be a win-win situation. They succeed and the convoy is drastically weakened, maybe even toppled. The credit of which would go to him. Or they fail and his opposition takes a blow in the process.”

“I’m not so sure, according to reports from the visit Reed wasn’t even present. And he doubles as they’re best rider and Hite’s biggest dissenter.”

The CC waved his finger back and forth.

“Of course he wasn’t. It’s in Hite’s best interest to keep him close, otherwise it becomes too easy for Reed to carry out plots against him.”

“All of that sounds very convenient, but without proof it’s no more than speculation. And it doesn’t change the fact that Cloud Nine has a working understanding of the drainage systems.”

“Maybe a party member slipped up and left some sort of clue?”

“I doubt any of the members making up those approaches were stupid enough to bring a copy of the underground map with them. They would have memorized it beforehand to safeguard their homefield advantage. As unlike the castles we have no way of drudging up intel on what’s below us.”

“You called them castles again.”

Sumiye looked over at the commander as if his mere presence was a hindrance. An impressive feat for someone with what would be considered expressionless eyes.

“I’m mean I don’t have a horse in this race per se but pick a lane already.”

Before the head CO could dignify the commander’s nonsense with a response a transmission came over the main channel.

“Is now not a good time?”

“Go ahead Officer Katsurn.”

“Seems two of our own managed to take a party member into custody just now.”

Sumiye made eye contact with Lautnor, prompting him to put his own headset back on.

“Is the party member in a state where they can be questioned?”

“They are. To a worrying extent from what I’ve been told.”

“Go on.”

“They’re unharmed. Struck some sort of deal with Lux. Turned over their firearm and everything.”

“Alright, I see the problem. Give us a moment.”

She lifted the mic to kick around the matter with Lautnor.

“Well?”

“Normally I'd have Lux see this through, but with the injury to Faust we can’t afford to keep her off deck long.”

“Sounds like a perfect excuse to have Faust do it.”

“Not his MO. He wouldn’t be able to distinct the good intel from the bad.”

“What’s the alternative, make the rookie do it?”

“Not a terrible idea actually, but I’ll have Cade do it.”

“Your reasoning?”

“If we’re talking about a place onboard a Crusader that can keep someone out of the way then the engine room is the only real option. Seeing as that he’ll be spending the bulk of his time there anyway, why not let him chip away at our guest as he works.”

The idea being that it would feel less like an interrogation and more like idle conversation to pass the time.

“If it means keeping our security officers free you won’t hear me complaining.”

Lautnor groaned as he stretched both arms above his head.

“If nothing else at least Galen Runs aren’t boring.”