The Cloister of the Gentle Mercy, a monastic temple that on appearance is harmless, the monks within tend to their prayers and speak reverently and softly to visitors who seek guidance. Below hidden, that is a different story entirely. The Inquisitor moves with a purpose the Quartermaster issuing arms and munitions to all personnel who was assigned to the task, the Interrogator a wry man cleans his hand after his most reason round of questioning with the abominations that can turn into fierce beasts, an issue that was remedied by a special blend of poisons the cloisters Battle chaplains created to keep them from changing before they could be fully questioned and inevitably disposed of.
Sister Ysella the head of the expedition and Lead Holy member of the Radiant Sun, she attended to her blessings of all involved as well as made sure that the seals on the weapons were logged and stored. Once things were done they all spoke briefly twenty members of the redemptioners along with four battle chaplains including Sister Ysella whose face was now covered by a veil of radiance, and the Lead Inquisitor, interrogator, Relic-warden, and purifier they stood by the hidden passage entrance “by the Radiant Sun” spoke the inquisitor, the gathered group spoke their response in unison “the Light guides our Path” The Inquisitor nodded in satisfaction “We will be capturing a what was thought long dead abominations race, the Hylarr” even as he said the word it left a sour taste in his mouth but he didn’t stop “our target has been confirmed by multiple Informants, furthermore the asset is not alone, Redemptioners and Battle Chaplains you will provide a diversion against the active threats while we grab our target, this will not be a normal incursion, you have been given permission in the use of your holy arms, a group of Jaguar warriors are already nearby, and stand ready to aid us when we begin, we cannot allow this filth to continue to exist, furthermore, this capture may lead to where they came from and how many still live” Sister Yselda spoke next “we have multiple elements at play so chaplains we will be provide divine protection and direct consecration of ground while we are outside these walls, do not falter in chanting your holy scriptures and protect your brethren, in the event direct combat is required from you maintain the chant but keep the foe at bay, once we fire a single retreat spark, all are you retreat immediately, retreat by fire, and if you should find yourself at the mercy of those heathens say your prayer and give your life to the Radiant Sun, masking invocations will be maintained to and from the location, leave no trace of our presence was ever there.” an acknowledgement came from those assembled before they all rushed through the passage which led to a very discreet location far enough away that there would be no way to lead their presence back to the cloister.
They moved at a pace that was swift and true, the cloister was some distance away from the target, but they were used to traveling by foot and more, they were used to hunting Hylarr. They would be successful, and those with this beast would either be dead or left with a trail that disappears even as they search for it.
Toross was amazed by the swift efficiency of how Bast killed, there was no question that she was a lethal force of nature, but he didn’t stray from his task as he kept his eyes on the back of his wife who was moving with lethal purpose taking down anyone who’d escaped the initial slaughter, those they were here to collect already immobilized by the darts. When Bast caught a straggler on the roof Desmond was somewhat confused, there was only roof access from the outside and they had covered ever possible path of escape preventing them from slipping by. He keyed his comms “Toross you got us on the guy who's on the roof i didn’t see him when we made entry” Toross switched his view to the roof and looked “copy...wait who’s that?” Desmond looked at Bast confused and replied as he started making his way to the front door the accesspoint just around the corner “what’s wrong?”
Toross zoomed his scope in and he was confused a man in what looked like a leather armor, that carried strips... like a Jagaur.” his instincts were going crazy that something was wrong “Philana, get on comms with the rest of our team” Philana was chilling slightly standing in sight of Toross her eyes still watching around her, when she heard that tone she spoke up her weapon being raised “what’s up?” “we may need them” that had her looking at everyone near her and gesturing inside “MOVE!” if he had a feeling she wasn’t going to question it as she rushed inside and knelt down keying her secondary chanel reserved for Lance communications “Vulture lead, this is Vulture two requesting immediate mobilization of Lance, priority Sigma” she proceeded giving their grid coordinates as the Sniffers came inside, a Response was immediate “Vulture Two, this is Vulture lead, Priority Sigma and coordinates confirmed, Rallying to your location ETA ten minutes” Philana switched comms and spoke as she stood up “Sigma protocol activated” Desmond half way up the ladder when he stopped and keyed his comms “what's going on?” his instincts told him something was wrong “Philana was about to speak and when Toross gave the Answer “CONTACT! one team moving with a purpose to your location... ********! We may have church inbound switching to disruptors” Toross was confused by what he was seeing they didn’t look like the church’s usual hunter teams. These looked like professional soldiers, and they weren’t packing the usual heat. He swapped cylinders immediately and chambered the first shot, his sights were on what look like a priest, but they weren’t wearing the typical garb the church usually wear, with the release of his breathe his sights settled on the priest's head instantly a shot flew true.
The Redemptioners moved with a purpose their movements fluid every member of the team holding a sight line keeping the battle-chaplains inside the center of their protective bubble, the chaplains chanting different protections, one for consecrating the ground they walked, others providing an aura of protection, and one whose role was simply to provide a grounding point for the entire group, by his words they would march as they chants battle rites. when the shot hit the protections the chaplain who had been the target of death simply looked in Toross’ direction “******** I'm made...they have priests” a team of four Tercios broke ranks as the priest pointed in Toross’ Direction after which a uniform volley of Cannon fire erupted at the building where Toross had been he was quick on his feet as the section of roof was torn to shreds by weapons fire “I'm on the move” was all he said as the group came into view with the warehouse entrance Philana opened up immediately her Light Cannon a spitting whispered death out towards the approaching force. Desmond reached the top of the roof quickly his bow already out and his eyes fixed on his first target releasing an arrow which hit true on the first target in the front.
The masking evocations were working as expected Sister Ysella was a marvel display of holy devotion, consecrating the ground they walked while maintaining a masking evocation simultaneously, they reached the warehouse just as the Redemptioners made contact with the enemy group, just as they went in through the back door that was unattended with everything going on at front, the warden moved with skillful purpose as the opening shots erupted, his shot was already loose. A glass tipped dart flew towards Bast hitting the hood with precision, the force of the impact causing it to break the glass tip releasing the toxin held within. As she started to move, the effects of the liquid touching skin were immediate, the paralytic designed to subdue, and was especially effective against the Hylarr since it was originally made with hunting them in mind, it just so happened the neurotoxins that came from various sources from their homeland was just as effective against everything else as well, though if the antitoxin wasn’t administered within an hour death was certain, and right now the clock was ticking they needed this subject alive long enough to pull the intel that made this operation necessary before they allowed for her preordained release from her cruel life. The Jaguar warriors who’d been keeping a low profile pounced immediately rushing forward to collect their prey, one slinging Bast over his shoulder and slinking back into shadows where the awaiting inquisitor and his team waited. Once they had her the, fighting at the front was picking up, as was expected by the redemptioners, they did so ensure that no one was looking in the other direction and purely focused on them.
Bast’s mind was a fog, neither able to move nor speak, the sudden change in Bast’s demeanor and mind hit Desmond instantly which had him darting to the window they had used earlier in time to see a group taking Bast out the back “NOO!” he ran to the other end of the roof an arrow notched and he looked down expecting to release an arrow in a fleeing group and finding nothing, they’d seemingly vanished. Desmond keyed his comms “SHE’S GONE The attack is a diversion!” His mind was racing in panic as he tried to find something and came up with nothing. A Flare popped up in the sky high above them which had an immediate response from the group who was fighting. They started moving in groups Desmond’s Eyes were red as blood as he changed midair down to the ground and rushed towards the retreating hostiles. Philana swore as she stopped firing the Hybrid’s Wrath was plain to see as he caught a group who seemed to understand the implications and decided to delay for whatever that was worth, a single priest and a group of eight enemies stood their ground the rest seemingly phasing out of sight the other Priest swtiching from protection evocations to masking evocations they would be like the wind, and they would honor those who gave their lives to allow the rest to live to fight another day.
Desmond was a storm of rage as he took hits from rounds, blood pouring from where they hit but not fazing him at all in his Rage fueled fury, he tore into the men with a fury that was primal the demon and the Wolf a perfect blend, the priest who had tried to put up a more valiant fight was a whimper as Desmond tore his body to ribbons, those who had remained didn’t last much longer as he tore them apart, his rage was immense.
Philana keyed Comms “what’s the hell is this, is this why you guys are called dogs of war!?!” Varos who was panicking in the Monitoring room was trying to not to lose it himself, Cassarria clearly as angry as he was, and worse yet the cameras they had couldn’t find them, they were there until they weren’t, and then he had a revelation “Divine Power!” the growl that came out of his throat caused most in the room to jump in alarm. Even as his anger was starting to boil over Varos keyed his Comms “we are Hybrids, someone get on that roof and collect the one that is unconscious we’ll have words with them” Philana looked at the sniffers who nodded and went up the to the roof to collect whoever was up there. Desmond was breathing heavily blood dripping out of his mouth and off his claws, he turned his eyes to the others and simply walked into the warehouse and into what might have been a locker room, Philana keyed her comms “get down here we need to secure the area” Toross already moving his weapon was smoking from the constant shooting he was doing in between relocations, they had kept him busy but he gave them as much as he received, and while excluding the priest, every shot was a kill against the church he couldn’t have been prouder in this moment, though he had to wonder what was going on at this point he had never seen any of the church crowd dressed up like that before much less have a military baring and divine support that shrugged off a disruptor, the very thing the Confederacy had developed to deal with Priests and their divine powers, this was going to be a very long report one even the forge was going to want to hear about.
Eventually, Desmond returned in a uniform designed for dogs of war, he made sure to collect any gear he had left there the last time he had been deployed from here as well as take the dropped gear when a sniffer approached him with everything he had dropped when he changed, giving them a slight nod of gratitude. Philan and Toross stood by the vans that had been pulled into the compound, the bodies of the dead soldiers off to the side in a neat line their gear stripped off them wearing nothing but a uniform that didn’t look like anything he had ever seen. Approaching the two he spoke “any idea as to who they were?” Toross shook his head “no clue, i thought maybe the church but seeing the crest on their uniforms, highly unlikely” Desmond nodded and keyed his comms “Varos we need Trey onsite, i hate to blow our operation but we’re going to have to secure the warehouse and expect trouble from RRT when the enforcers here miss a check in time, which could be anytime between now and in a hour.”
After some time the rest of the lance arrived by vehicle, Philana had brought the priority down from Sigma but requesting additional bodies, Valerius and Gideon both got out of the armored truck they had been using since assigned to New Houston for anti-church operations, a Medicae got out of the back of the truck her kit in hand and followed them, an Artificer heading towards the pile of gear and bodies to examine what was there.
Toross and Philana came to attention and gave a crisp salute as a formality before they shook Valerius’ hand his face unreadable as he took in the sight and just nodded finally “the church?” Philana shook her head her helmet off and clipped to her belt “we aren’t sure, not any church group we’ve ever seen before, the weapons though, seem similar to ours” Valerius nodded and looked at Desmond “I’m Captain Valerius of Vulture One, I apologize for not getting here sooner, if we’d been able to get onsite we might have been able to help and keep them from taking your mate” he was well informed, but Desmond nodded “we’ll need to go after her but the scent starts and end at this warehouse, we’ll need one of my packmates to hopefully track down the trail” Valerius nodded and looked at Gideon a moment giving him a nod who took off before Valerius continued “understood, The Marsonian Confederacy stands ready to provide assistance, I've already been in contact with headquarters, the size of this attack, from a force unknown, warrants a greater response from more than just one Lance, three more Lances are being tasked to the area with one specializing in breaching locations, if we can find where your mate is being held we’ll be able to get her out of there” Desmond nodded “understood, we’ll be grateful for any assistance you can lend.” at that Valerius pulled Toross and Philana off to the side to have a conversation with them, all the while Desmond was desperately trying to reach out to Bast and finding nothing but a fog hoping that he could get through to her.
Reply
