[center][h1][i][b]Semper Fi[/b][/i][/h1]
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/AC-130A_pylon_turn.jpg[/img]
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"Alright guys. We might have an opening...." The atmosphere in the the currently deserted Hotel near Florida was one of somber silence. Namely the Evacuation of D.C hadn't gone as some of the soldiers had predicted. Namely nobody could predict having monsters come out of the Gates or having a PMC-Megacorporation take control of several key points of the United States Capital.

Needless to say, many Tier One Units had been scattered - despite the initial tide-turner of Task-Force Reaper, with the sudden freezing of the European Front any kind of extra aid was out of the question. That was to say, they weren't helpless. They had more than enough training and equipment to turn any Invader or Mercenary into mince-meat. Plus they had an actual pilot with them....if they could find anything fly-able. That had also straight instructions on their controls - in multiple languages.

Namely, Valentina Tsernova or simply called Tina by her new friends - were in the middle of trying to teach her English. She was as Russian as the stereotype went - sexy and speaking words that were both hot and impossible to understand. Their group of twenty had several Marines, a few Rangers, two SEALs and one Delta Force Captain - and one Russian MiG pilot. Not the best bunch, but they had survived for a year before that and were doing fine. Even with one of them having a language barrier. She understood enough of what was edible, who to shoot and how to shoot.

"Roria? Idiota-" she commented, slapping the head of the Marine - whom had explained the details of Roria to Tina. Namely she wasn't all happy to understood, that the US Government allowed such large companies to exist in the first place - whom shat on the rules and barely obeyed the Government. They sounded very similar to the Oligarchs whom were in power after the fall of the Soviet Union.

"Hey, you two quiet up, we got company." One of the Rangers said, as faint footsteps could be heard below them. From the sound of it, a small squad, but it was too difficult to pinpoint how many of them were downstairs. And from how hard they were trying to stay silent they were no regular scavengers. The Ranger signaled the one who was near the window to sneak a peek to see if there were more outside. 

Slowly, silently and carefully he peeked outside - indicating that there was a good four to five black clad mercenaries just outside the entrance. He gestured four with his fingers to the others, keeping it as quiet as he possibly can. "Clear..." It was faint but, loud enough to be heard in complete silence from one floor below them - the Mercs thought this place was clear and soon moved on to the upper levels. 

The watcher signaled that the men were clearly hostile, as he spotted the remains of two-three US Army soldiers in the back-alley. He slowly returned the curtains back, as the steps got closer to their room, making them raise and prepare for what was to come.

Tina even got out her own sharpened knife - as the rest of their group got into position. Either awaiting at the corners or namely lying down to play dead. It wasn't much of a challenge, as the five of them stepped inside. Namely, in a split second - all five of them were suddenly taken down with the utmost brutality. Despite the government being the usual sack of incompetence or running around in a panic - the Armed Forces still held some loyalty to the nation. As thus they absolutely hated traitors.

All of them were dead, before they hit the ground and neither a shot was fired. Just good old-fashioned knife in throat, liver or simple neck snap. As Tina also cleaned her blade, she soon fetched a map from inside the vest of one mercs. Namely, it was a map of Florida - as she soon waved her hand and pointed at the map. Namely they had several marks done down on the map. She couldn't read it, but she understood intel when she saw it. Namely the mercenaries had marked down Eglin AFB in a red circle - with the notes 'intact'.

"I smell freedom in the air." A marine mockinly remarked, as he recalls, how one of Uncle Sam' special toys were in said air base. But, something odd was on the area as a small X in the map, which had previously been a Legacy Testing Site. And the infamous Black Mountain logo were on their shoulderpads - a clear indication that the ones that attacked the Russian Gate were the ones involved here. Although none of them would know that tiny fact. 

"Never liked them from the beggining." One of the Rangers commented at the sight - both the dead men outside and here. 

"You worked with them?"

"It was not my choice." He said as he shrugged them off, making his way down to the corridor. The hotel was clear and the two on the mercs at the entrance had no idea what was going on. The Ranger called up the others as he instructed the others to draw up their arms and pick their targets. Two "Clinks." Two bodies fall.

Tina followed after the group, since if they planned on raiding the AFB - then they'd need somebody who had a decent grasp in piloting. Most of the American personnel had been either caught unaware and unable to reach the depots. That left only Tina, whom barely was grasping English - as she kept up with the group.

The town itself was mostly abandoned, with the only personnel remaining here being either the dead, the rare goblin scavenger or some of the other Black Mountain mercenaries. She mostly kept watch and helped coordinate their movement, while keeping tabs with the map. As she kept a decent line on where they were - namely on the road towards the Air-Force Base. 

Soon, the drums of wars echoed and following them were the mighty roar of beasts and warriors - engaging what seemed to be the Black Mountain people. As high caliber fire dominated the air before being swarmed by the creatures. "Ironically the orcs are our allies in this battle." One of the Rangers remarks after hearing the engagement. 

After walking for a while the group found themselves stopped at the sign of a well fortified check point and surprisingly a line of civilians were lined up and getting checked by the same mercenaries. But, there seems to be someone different in the top of the gates. "Its Andros." One of the Rangers said, as he peeked out from the alleyway. "Ex-ranger. And known to be unkillable." He ends as the group of people follow through the check point near to a walled off section, of a neighborhood near the entrance of the airbase. 

"So what's the plan?" one of the marines asked, as they look around the area - seeing a somewhat busted up vent, just around the next alleyway that would either lead downwards into the sewers or to a building' maintenance shaft. "The goblins are gonna be a problem." One of them comments, and soon, opinions and suggestions starts popping out in order for a way to get in. "Whats your plan?" One of them asks as he turns to the Russian pilot.

Tina in question simply points at her ears, indicating that half of what they spoke - she didn't much understand. Although seeing the check-point she nonetheless pointed at the vent. If anything, it was better than trying to fight armed Mercenaries out in the open - where they might hit civilians in the crossfire.

Namely cause, they had guns and in some cases fighting in this urban setting - even with their low supplies, was a bad idea. Thus she gestured for them to take the ventilation shaft - eventually the quick votes were in and vent it was. As she was soon helped up, as she started to undo the screws of the vent - being the lightest of them. At the moment, sitting on top of the shoulders of one Marine - namely the same one whom tried to teach her English and was half-way always hitting on her.

"So Tina I was thinking, wanna get something to eat after we get somewhere safe?" He asked in a pathetic attempt to hit on her, trying his best as her support, as she unscrews the botls from the panel. 

"Save it lover boy after we know were safe." One of the marine' taunts him, as he keeps watch of the surrounding, ever vigilant in case the Mountaineers ever catch wind of them. 

Minutes laters, the marine signals that three of the PMCs were patrolling and were near their alleyway. He ducked into cover just behind the almost collapsed wall. Only thing separating him and the patrol were a few inches of debris. The marine that was acting as her support however moved, while still carrying her with his shoulders to the sides of the vent, making them barely visible from the patrol. Tina had on kept working, until he moved and almost made her fall off - until she heard and noticed the Mercenary patrol herself. That caught her breath, and made her a bit too clingy with her legs around his shoulders.

The others of the group took cover around the numerous barrels, trash bags and the dumpster near their location. Luckily the group didn't stay for long, as they walked away to the next alleyway. Once they were gone she did sigh in relief and soon quickly returned to getting the last one open.

"I'm Gent by the way." The marine finally introduce himself to Tina. After a while they finished taking out the panel that separated the group from the ventilation of the structure.

Soon letting the others slip into the vent, while she climbed down from Gent shoulders. "T-hanke..." she said, her usual accent making anything sound sexy - as she gave the Corporal a quick kiss and wink at his offer. Then she gestured at the vent. "L-ater...da..." she added, before climbing inside as well. Letting him at least have something nice to look at - as they slowly crawled forward in the ventilation shaft. This one luckily seemed to be running through a building - being intact and not collapsed in. Gent was extremely happy with her reaction as he took in the beautiful view in front of him, with a rather large grin to match - as they kept on moving. 

[hr]

The group kept on moving down and up the vents, the further they went in, the darker it got and the heat started to build up too. Despite the problems they had, their incursion went surprisingly well as they soon found themselves dropping into a dark room. The Ranger pulling out up his flashlight, revealing a small portion of the room which was filled with stuff toys, a computer and a workbench of some sorts. 

The creepy part was that the stuff toys were a 'cuter' type of the goblins, an moe-fied female versions of the nightcrawlers with endless numbers. "Do these critters even have genders?" One of them interestingly asks, before the Ranger opened the door, revealing that the building was cut in half and aside from the door most of the structure had either collapsed to the ground or was precariously standing with what support it had left. Tina looked rather shocked and uncomfortable as well - when they had landed in the strange toy storage unit. A slight curse was uttered in her native tongue, before she continued following after the others. It was also a good thing, that they had decided to drop-out before they literally got dropped out of a high-rise drop into the ground below. Tina was both curious on how such a building was cleaved half in the first place, with such precision.

The good news was that they have passed through the check point and the building was facing the opposite direction of it. And that the airbase was just across the streets, below them the bad part. There was an skirmish between a squad Black Mountaineers and a group of the orcs near the entrance. It seemed like the mercenaries were trying to get to the base and the orcs just happened to intercept them.

The skirmish happening between the two groups was a difficulty, but not as bad as trying to choke through the checkpoint in urban fighting. Namely as Tina followed after Gent, they soon got deployed into certain positions - the good thing about having Tier One Units and the element of surprise? It made for very quick clean-up of enemies, if the timing was right.

Once their group had gotten into position, the 'Captain' of their unit soon gave the signal. Thirty rounds were exchanged, the notion ending with the quick death of most of the Black Mountain Mercenaries. The orcs were easier to pick-off, since they likely lacked the idea and even capability of responding to an assault from afar and up-high - and even weapons to reach that high. Once they had dropped the last orc, they stayed there for a good ten minutes to make sure, nobody more would come. Before they soon deployed and started dropping down onto the ground level - via harness and cables. Tina hanging onto Gent as they had to drop down together - since she lacked a harness for such things.

Needless to say, once they had boots on the ground they made a covered rush for the AFB. Staying on the ground, this cut off from reinforcements or even support wasn't the best option. Once inside, they started to sneak towards the hangers, namely hugging the walls and keeping an eye out for anybody else.

The AFB was in a dire state- remains of crashed fighters, planes trashed with their wings clipped off or stripped in half by either human scavengers or the fantasy creatures. The hangers were a different story as they seem to be guarded by a few orcs and the sounds of something big snoring was heard inside. 

The runway however was in much better condition - than the control towers as it seems that whatever had once been there, had been completely transformed and remade into something else. [i]"STOP! This is the warchief' workshop, and no one is allowed to enter!"[/i] One of the orc yelled out to stop one of the other orcs from entering. [i]"Go back or we will make you."[/i] His partner continued making him wander off away. Although, beyond loud screaming - none of that was understandable to the humans.

Further away - evidence of an orcish settlement became visible as tents and fortifications seemed to cover some parts of the abandoned structures and with them their complementing guards. On one of the nearest runways however was now a marketplace of some sort, as unfamiliar livestock and plants were seen growing on the sides strip and the runway was now a high way of activity with the field workers hauling their goods to the nearest structure or smashing apart the concrete ground.

It was one of the largest orc settlements that the group had encountered since their journey together. "Take a look, that’s the largest group of orcs that we have found and their doing something other than run at us with their blades." The captain remarked, also looking at an untouched location of the base, with his binoculars. That didn't seem to have any orcs in sight.

"Problem is that its occupied." One of the Ranger' muttered as he took a second look with his sniper scope. "It’s them, Mountaineers, and it seems like their guarding something big." He adds as he scanned the area spotting a small group, but with them were turrets and droids. Bright flashes of lights erupting from inside the structure. 

"How much?"

"Three mercs, twelve droids, five barricades, five turrets, and no blind spots." The ranger replied. 

"Strange, I spot orc captives with them." He said, as he spotted the cages inside the hangar. "Okey then, Gent take the rifle and provide us with overwatch cover. Also take the Russian with you and keep her safe, she’s our one-way ticket out of this mess." As soon as he gave out his orders to Gent, he turned to the others and giving them their own tasks.

Gent nods in agreement happy with his assignment, "Seems like I’m with you with this." He said to her with an obvious joy in his voice. After they were done the captain and the others took their positions - he looked at Gent and said. "Take care of us, not your junior." He said before he went over to the strike force, and gave the order to start the attack.

[hr]

While the others got busy, Tina followed after Gent - as they needed to set up in a position that allowed them decent enough coverage of the location but also a way to not get instantly mauled, if they were to be cut off. Thus, Tina indicated for the two to climb on top of a nearby scaffolding next to the hangar, that didn't have any guards around it. To their luck, they soon saw what was inside one. Namely an AC-130 gunship, that was still intact as well.

Meanwhile the others, had some luck in uncovering some a pair of jeeps to use as a distraction, that they were able to hot-wire into action and had enough fuel inside of them to work. Tina saw this as well, and the amount of orcs in the airbase. Thus she started pointing at the AC-130 in the hangar, if they got that running - they could escape. "P...ease?"

Gent noticed her plea. "We could, but I need to make sure that the boys are safe." He answers as he watched the others prepare for the attack to come - having cars with their horns blaring never failed to get anybodies attention. "But, that doesn't mean you have to." Gent winks hinting that she could explore and get the old bird running. 

On a hanger, a few of the Black Mountaineers were talking with one another, as they took turns guarding on one of the barricades. "So what do you think we need them monsters?" One of them asks.

"Don't know but, HQ been asking for the freaks." One answers before a loud sound erupted, from beyond the guarded hangar turning all eyes towards it - both human and orc. Soon, the noise was followed by the roar of a siege beast, which unfortunately caught the attention of the nearby settlement.

In the cover of the roar, Tina soon slipped inside the hangar - then made a quick beeline to the inside of the AC-130. As she looked it over, she could see - it had most of its armaments intact and untouched. Barring the occasional paints and symbols drawn upon the old girl. It seemed that the freaks thought of this thing, like some ancient beast that shouldn't be touched. Soon starting to look over everything and anything that might have it be a dud.

Tina also soon heard the roar of more siege beasts - thinking that the others might have been found out, Tina quickly jumped forward towards the cockpit. Soon enough starting to check all of the instruments and the fuel gauge. 'Better than nothing,' she thought - as she soon enough, starting flipping some switches and turning the buttons. Gent was useful for something at least - since the more she pressed buttons, that she knew their names - the more times something lit up and went online. Enough that once, she flipped one handle - she soon was rewarded with the coughing sound of propellers slowly starting to wind up.

The beat of the war drums soon erupted, followed by the roar and the cry of the orcs creatures. "TINA GET THE BIRD UP AND RUNNING!" said Gent as he fired a few shots near their squads location in a bid to get their attention. Their idea of a distraction might have worked too well.

"Sir, their coming." One of the marines yelled, indicating at the gathering horde. 

"Retreat!" The Captain ordered, making them go back to their previous location. Seeing that the squad was coming back. Gent made his way to Tina, seeing that the engines were up and running - the old bird slowly getting ready for action. He quickly ran inside the plane, spending no time to get to the cockpit, seeing the pilot already busy trying out the numerous buttons and having the manual in her lap.

"I knew I can count on you." He said, as he sneaks a small kiss onto her cheeks. "I love you so much right now." He adds, before he ran out the cockpit, to namely get the hangar door open. Tina had been busy getting the plane up and running that she hadn't noticed Gent sneaking in. In addition, it was a surprise to her, when he also sneaked in a kiss against her cheek - while she didn't understand much of what he had said. That point of the kiss was clear enough - it made her slightly giggle in reply.

The Captain and the squad were able to quickly make their way, to Tina and Gent' location - with the plane already running, they had enough a moment the catch their breath. The others pitching in to clear the runway of any debris, finishing it with minutes to spare. Albeit, while they got ready to escape - fire soon start to spread throughout the Black Mountain' location. The thought of them experimenting on the monsters got the Captain a bit on edge.

"We are clear." Gent said, as he entered the cockpit - taking the co-pilot seat next to her. "Now let's get to a place where we can get our lunch together."

She soon heard the command and soon had the AC-130 slowly climb onto the runway. To the orcs present, it was likely a surprising scene - namely one of the Forbidden Beasts had awakened and now was slowly crawling towards them. Its wings pulling up gusts of wind behind it, which sent many of the hastily build rummage of what they called a town flying away. For the time being, Tina focused on getting them in the air and with a few jerks of the control - she got the AC-130 airborne. Any harpies that tried to follow them either got shredded by the propellers or blown away by the tail-wind the gunship was generating.

As the orcs had been making their way towards the hangar, they soon saw one of the Mysterious Artifacts get out and then climb into the sky and its great wings blasting away any harpies that tried to follow. 

While the Captain was soon able to unlock the AC-130s Weapon System. Despite the U.S Government having fallen into a state of anarchy, its passwords and codes still worked. As she circled over the AFB - allowing the guys to take pot-shots against the orcs. Either with the the gatling gun, the autocannon or the 105mm cannon. Raining blood and gut throughout the location. Soon, explosions erupted throughout the base as the surrounding area erupted with smoke and lead. One of which landed on one of the barricades of the Black Mountaineers. While it took some seconds for Tina to compensate they were able to do some damage in the air - before she soon had to fly off.

"....we....go....where?" asked Tina from Gent, indicating on where their destination should be. They had a gunship in the air, but now they also needed a destination to go towards. One that wasn't hopefully controlled by orcs, mercs or traitors. 

The Captain pulled out a map of the United States of America, crossing out several bases and other military installations, until a few remain. "Last I heard the Pentagon was in the hands of the Mountaineers." He said, as he crosses out the Pentagon and the various locations near it. 
 
"What about this location?" One of the Ranger' recommended drawing a circle around it. "Location is hard to access, and I doubt any orc war-engine can destroy the entrance or penetrate the defenses of the base." He explained further as he points at the surrounding thick forest and it being inside a mountain - that had been developed in-case of nuclear warfare. 

"But, no place to land but, this location." He said as he shifts to a nearby airport in the area, which was a bit of a way from the base. "We could always crash-land closer..."

"Better than flying blindly in the sky, until we run out of fuel." The Captain said, as he handed the map to Gent telling him to help their pilot navigate namely to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex - the likely only place left in America, where any members of the United States Government might remain. Gent nods and pointed it out for Tina, helping to guide her towards that location. 

While finally safe, the Captain couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Not knowing what the Black Mountaineers were doing at that base, how they were able to stay there without being attacked by the orcs - or what they had been experimenting there in the first place.