Chapter 153: Flares

It took two and a half hours to reach Hare’s Pass from the stronghold. And, unfortunately, we didn’t find the last sensor until late in the day. 

I wondered why they needed to collect those broken sensors so badly. If they were already destroyed, I didn’t see why they couldn’t also just let them waste away as scrap, or give up after not finding them for a while. 

But according to Pollux, each sensor had an array of Authority Nine White Crystals within them. There were six crystals in each array, making them incredibly expensive. 

Then when I wondered why the Scourge didn’t try and steal or destroy them. Pollux’s answer was vague since the technology was new and supposed to be secret. Even he didn’t know the inner workings of those arrays, but basically, when activated, they were extraordinarily difficult to tamper with or steal. 

However, there was one clear weakness: the sensor that housed the array. The enchanted device encasing the power array was pretty easily broken – ridiculously so, given the durability of their power source. The sensor itself and all the associated mounting devices were readily replaced though. 

So the arrays were anchored and reused, while the sensor devices around them were simply replaced to get them back online. It was a pretty cost effective system, though it demanded a lot of manpower. 

When I asked how they worked in practice, Pollux waved me over to one. 

The sun was setting as we walked over to a planted sensor. I could see its intricately enchanted shell, but besides that, it just looked like a UFO shaped saucer planted on a pole. 

He explained, “When anything with tainted Magika comes near this thing, aka Scourge beasts, this disk lets out a pulse that pings our maps back at base. It also uses all the nearby sensors to give us an image of where each sensor is in reference to each other, letting us know which sensor it was that sent the ping as well as generally where each sensor is on the map. The downside is that the pulse of mana it lets out alerts Scouts and sensitive monsters, so they like to come and attack these things. Well, when the sensor gets damaged, the disk lets out another pulse of levitating power and shoots itself into the sky. It’ll then hover there for a while and protect and conceal itself with a field before eventually falling back down. It’s intentionally designed to drift in a random direction so as to make it harder to destroy when it returns to the floor, but that also means it can be anywhere. We’ve had to drop down that cliff to retrieve some before. Thankfully, the ones we’re dealing with today were all still in the area, but it still took us the whole day to find them all.”

Pollux let out a long breath. I nodded. 

It seemed the arrays had their own protection mechanisms. They were interesting little machines, yet I couldn’t help but feel they were grossly inefficient. I felt like there was a much easier way to achieve the same thing. 

Not to mention that, despite taking six Authority Nine Crystals, they only covered the surrounding 5 miles of Hare’s Pass and Scythe’s Peak. All that power and they were hardly covering any significant area. The only benefit to using so much power was that they could transmit from so far away without a booster or repeater. 

Still, grossly inefficient. 

But I suppose it did the job, and it wasn’t like it cost me anything, considering I didn’t exactly pay taxes. Plus, I considered something else I hadn’t thought about for a while. 

The Crystals used in these arrays weren’t White Crystals. White Crystals were Crystals with completely purified Magika, wholly cleansed of the poison of the Scourge beasts they came from. Only the Church knew how to completely purify a Crystal. That meant the Kingdom’s Crystals weren’t completely pure and thus less powerful, less efficient, more degrading on anything that used them. 

Perhaps that’s why they needed to use so many more. That or the enchantments were just that shitty and inefficient. I couldn’t know unless I cracked one open and got the schematics for it. 

I shrugged and watched as Pollux buried the sensor before walking back to the steed. 

The rest of the squads were all there, and Squads One and Three were getting ready to perform recon. That was the only opportunity a Pathfinder got to go over Hare’s Pass. It was dangerous, so I wouldn’t be going, despite volunteering my services. All I had to do was stay on top of Shield Hill and act as a communications relay. 

As for Squads Two and Four, they were going to reconnoiter around Scythe’s Peak. That involved going around the base and checking for any indications of Scourge activity. They would set up traps and such all around the Peak, along with mini-sensors, so if they detected any hint of the poisonous Scourge, they’d prep for a hunt. 

Amary and I, along with two others, were to stay back and watch the cargo. 

The squads boarded their respective Steeds, Pollux giving up his bike and replacing one of the people staying behind. 

“Alright, Pathfinders. Meet back here in two hours, check in every 20 minutes, report any anomalies. You know the drill.”

“Yes sir!”

“Let’s roll.”

Pollux ducked into a turret as the Steeds sped off. Amary and I, plus our two chosen ones, stood watching. 

Amary and I went back to the top of Shield Hill. I had to be up there and Amary was my bodyguard, so she followed me everywhere. Randal and Quinock, the two chosen ones, got to chill out in the trucks. 

The sun dipped below the mountains before the horizon, giving auras to the edges of the mountain peaks, bathing the valleys beneath in a pseudo-darkness. We wouldn’t be making it back to base tonight. 

Thankfully with my vision, even when it got dark I could see as if it were daytime. Nothing would escape my sight so long as it was in my field of vision. 

The rest of the platoon quickly disappeared over the Pass and into the dense forest beyond. I could see them for a little while until they rounded a mountain. However, one Steed was stationed on top of said mountain, serving as a relay. 

“Squad Two to Liaison, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Copy, Squad Two.”

I got a report from them, keeping the exchange short. I didn’t want to annoy them with overly professional chatter, so I kept things casual but succinct. Besides, I had a feeling that was how this platoon operated anyway. 

Amary suddenly asked. 

“You know, I haven’t heard you speak once, even though you click on your Aerial occasionally.”

“Oh. Yeah, I don’t have to actually talk into it. I can use it with my mind.”

“The hell? They do that?”

“Mine’s the only one that does. It’s made for summoners.”

“Oh. Must’ve been expensive.”

“Eh.”

I just shrugged my shoulders. The less people who knew about my not-as-impressive rainy-day stash and my connections, the better. At most, I would have to explain to Pollux what the giant box I received on my first day was. As for everyone else, deflection would serve better. 

Pollux reported shortly after Squad Two, nothing out of the ordinary. After that, I waited some more, doing a whole lot of nothing as nightfall chilled the air. 

I rubbed my fingerless gloves together, feeling my fingers go numb. My hood also went on, so my face was spared some of the chill. However, when I saw my fingernails turn purple, I started to think that I might need new gloves. 

Sorry Rayla. The cold didn’t care about style, and I was not a fan of this finger-numbing weather. 

For the time being, I sunk my hands into my coat where it was perfectly warm and toasty. After another 20 minutes I got another check-in from Squad Two and Four. 

The check-in from Pollux was delayed. After five minutes, I reached out. 

“Liaison to Commander, status report.”

“…”

“Liaison to Commander, come in.”

“…”

No response, even though I could see the Steed still sitting on the hill in the distance. The people manning it were all looking away from me and down the hill. One of them had an Aerial in his hand, probably talking into it, but I wasn’t hearing anything. 

My eyes narrowed as I pinged Polly. 

“Liaison to Handler, come in.”

“Go ahead, Liaison.”

“Squad One and Three are currently across Hare’s Pass with the Commander. I have line of sight with Squad Three and their Steed but cannot establish communications with them.”

“Copy Liaison. That’s a Scout Troop causing that blockage. Not a concern unless you get signal flares. Stand down for now. What’s the status of Squad Two and Four?”

“Still searching the back of Scythe’s Peak.”

“Tell them to halt their recon and stand by.”

“Roger.”

I switched channels.

“Liaison to Squad Two and Four, come in.”

“Copy, Liaison.”

“We’ve got a Scout Troop blocking comms with the Commander. Halt recon for now.”

“… Understood, Liaison. Give us a call if we need to head back.”

I switched the channels back to base. However, just before I was going to check in with Polly, I saw three balls of white shoot up into the sky, popping like balloons in rapid succession, definitely not a normal combat spell. 

I recognized it. It was the signal flare. One meant all clear, two meant distress, and three meant retreat. 

I saw the Steed on the hill across the way start rolling down the hill. Amary also shot out of her seat beside me. 

Squad Two rang. 

“Liaison, was that the retreat flare?”

“Affirmative, Squad Two. Come back and regroup.”

“On our way.”

With order, I went back to Polly. 

“Handler, I just got a retreat flare.”

“Understood. Order Squads Two and Four to return and assist in the retreat.”

“Already done.”

“Good. I’m mobilizing the Snow Doves, but the Commander needs to personally give confirmation for their deployment. If you see a flashing red flare, immediately report it and get ready to run. Otherwise, prepare for a fight.”

“Copy Handler. Liaison out.”

I set down my Aerial and turned to Amary.

“What do you usually do in this situation?”

“Well, there’s no red flare, so we need to fight whatever’s coming our way. Where are Squads Two and Four?”

“On their way.”

“Good. We’ll go down last.”

“Mm.”

I nodded before standing up and keeping an eye on Squad Three’s Steed stopped at the bottom of the hill. 

Before long, I saw another Steed come flying around on the trail, the two turrets on it firing in rapid succession. Squad Three joined them and started firing back as well. 

Their target? A small horde of spiked snow wolves, two Scouts, and a group of eight creatures that looked a lot like mutated and zombified polar bears standing at least 12 feet tall. 

Pollux’s voice came over faintly.

“-ome in, Liaison!”

“Copy, Commander. What’s the order?”

“We hold them at Shield Hill! Get everyone to the chokepoint next to it and dig in!”

“Roger. Squads Two and Four are on their way.”

Right as I said that, both the aforementioned Squads appeared from around Scythe’s Peak. I pinged them. 

“Squads Two and Four, head straight for Shield Hill. We’re digging into the chokepoint.”

“Roger. Heading over.”

The two adjusted their vector from the Pass to the hill. They arrived at the bottom, where the trail started to wrap around it, and sat there. 

“Amary, go get those two trucks back behind the Steeds.”

“Gotcha.”

She jumped down the hill, bounding over where our friends were already boarding the trucks, having realized what was going on. They didn’t have an Aerial, so I couldn’t talk directly to them. That seemed like an oversight. 

Amary led them back, and Pollux plus Squads One and Three started crossing the Pass. 

Amary arrived back at my side. 

“What now?”

“Now, I get to have a bit of fun.”

I brought out a Lewis gun and rested it on an outcropping, taking aim. 

I didn’t feel much threat from the horde. The bears were the most dangerous, but I didn’t think they were stronger than Pollux. The only issue was their numbers. Pollux probably just didn’t want his two squads to get overwhelmed and decided to gather everyone for a proper defensive. 

I could sense a collective Aura from everyone. It was the kind of thing most obviously felt from an army or siege, but my Aura was sharp enough to sense it from small groups now. From that, I knew that the whole group was collectively stronger than them, but it would be a close match with just the two squads down there.

Pollux had good judgment, even if he couldn’t quite sense the same thing. 

The Steeds were faster than the horde, though not by much. They crested the bridge before the horde and made off. After that, I had a clear line-of-sight. 

Then, I took the liberty to do what I did best. Without confirmation, I opened fire over the oncoming Steeds, sending fully empowered rounds toward the spearhead of spiked wolves. 

My aim was rather imprecise, but they were grouped enough for rounds to hit regularly. Mere seconds passed before the pan magazine went dry, though not before half of the wolves fell, either injured or fatally wounded. 

I quickly slammed in another magazine, unloading. At the same time, the hexagonal projector turrets on the Steeds continued to fire, hurling explosive fireballs into the horde and adding to the rapidly increasing kill count. 

Another two pans went through my gun before Pollux made it back. He didn’t even have to give orders. As soon as they were no longer blocking line of sight, the other two Steeds started firing their turrets, while warlocks unleashed their own spells. Any remaining wolves were blown to smithereens before a single one could so much as lick the knights who stepped forward to defend. 

The bears were next. They didn’t stop even if all the wolves were dead or dying. I unloaded a pan into one of them, but when I realized it wasn’t doing too much, I shifted my focus and let them clash with the rest of the Pathfinders. I also sent Amary down there to help since she seemed rather antsy just sitting around. 

So while they fought the bears, I turned to the Scouts. There were two, and they kept their distance, lingering on the bridge, ready to bolt on the drop of a hat. 

I brought out the Garand, taking aim and immediately firing once I acquired one Scout. 

A bullet connected with a head, dropping one easily. Before the other could start running, I shot it too, the bullet easily punching through the side of its head, a bit off center, but still enough to kill it. 

Now that I knew more about how these guns reacted to my empowerment, my aim felt much better. 

Just like that, the communications block was lifted, and Polly’s voice came in over my Aerial. To think those Scouts had both insane senses and area magic-communication suppression, however that worked. Thankfully they were still pitifully fragile. 

“-dler to Liaison. Come in Liaison. I say again-”

“I’m here, Handler. Scouts are dead.”

“Copy. What’s the situation?”

I walked over the edge of the hill, looking down at the chokepoint. 

There, the bears were clashing with the knights as warlocks used spells to suppress them. Although the bears towered over the sturdiest of the heavily-armored knights, they were sustaining so much damage from everyone all at once that they could hardly catch their bearings. They were spinning around and swinging like they were swatting at flies, as the knights surrounded, pierced, slashed, and chunked them down one by one. I couldn’t see a single casualty on our side. 

They were doing just fine. 

“Most of the horde was decimated, and the remnants are engaging the platoon. We’ll win this fight with what looks like no casualties. I’m watching from the side.”

“Understood. Remember the details – you’ll be giving a mission debrief with me when you get back tomorrow. Write one down if you can’t remember. I’ll be a part of it though, so don’t worry about doing it alone.”

“Copy. I’ll check in when the battle is over. We won’t be needing reinforcements either, so the Snow Doves can go back to sleep.”

“I’ll let them know. Handler out.”

I smiled as Polly clicked off. Then, I raised the Garand and started firing at the bears, doing whatever I could to help bring them down. 

Before long, the last one was vanquished, and the Pathfinders emerged victorious. There were some cheers as I looked away and scanned the surroundings. 

I saw nothing alive and felt no danger. Looked like we were clear. 

“John! How’s it look up there?!”

Pollux yelled from below, his voice easily echoing up to me. I responded. 

“All enemies dead or dying! I got the Scouts too!”

“Good! Can you confirm kills from up there?”

“Yes sir!”

“Then do that and come down! Everyone, pack up and get ready to head to camp!”

Pollux started handing out orders as I scoped in. I went and shot every wolf from the hill to the bridge, confirming kills before climbing down to the bike that Amary and I had parked halfway up. 

I drove that down and met up with everyone, Pollux approaching when he saw me. 

“Good work, John. You’re proving to be a mighty fine addition to our platoon.”

“Just doing my job, sir.”

“Mm. Well, it’s time to head out. Grab your partner and follow along.”

“Roger roger.”

I saluted before finding Amary. While we waited for everyone to get situated, I also gave my final report to Polly. 

With that, we rode off into the darkness. 

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