The Fire Rises: Attack on Tylmerande

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

“One thing before we go in."

As they ascended the steps of the Magistrate's office, Storm Veritas and Hayate Amatsukami turned their heads in tandem in response to Shinsou Vaan Osiris’s voice, surprised expressions accompanying the motions as if they had not expected him to speak at all. The Telgradian’s steely eyes examined Storm’s sun beaten expression in particular, looking for the slight giveaway twitches that displayed at the corners of his eyes whenever the electromancer was forming one of his retorts. Nothing but a slightly bemused expression came back, whilst Hayate offered a slightly stern, if not puzzled, look.

“Do not underestimate what is about to happen,” The Telgradian began, flipping Enpera's sheath from right to left before securing it in his other hand, “we were expecting Tylmerande to be easy work. The town itself isn’t much of a threat – it’s like you said, Storm, we’re dealing with fisherman, traders and at best a local militia. But remember why we are here. This place is a shipyard for Corone’s navy, and a key one at that. The second word gets back to Radasanth of what has transpired here, you can bet your bollocks that they’ll throw everything they’ve got at us a day later. It won’t just be them, either; we’ll be getting every Radasanthian affiliated son-of-a-bitch within a hundred miles baying for our blood. In those numbers? Enemies, former collegues, and even friends. Are you both ready for that?”

There was a pause as Shinsou looked out beyond the hall, over the glimmering Coronian sea as a dirty harbour tug pushed the bow of one of the navy’s few ships in port around to the south, facing down the channel. The dock that had held the caravel for two interminable months was now just a water filled wooden box, one of the many specifically built for harbouring larger vessels for repairs and maintenance. On the edge, a collection of sailors and dockyard workers looked on without a wave or a cheer, oblivious to the monster that waited on the fringes of their territory.

“…For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and a Coronian reaction is quite a fucking thing. That’s what we’re counting on. We want them to throw their resources at this like their lives depend on it, because when the time comes we need as many of their forces away from the capital as possible. That does, however, put a huge commitment onto our forces here,” He gave Storm and Hayate knowing looks, ones that were deliberately not returned, “So, when we ignite the fuse on Tylmerande, we need to make sure we’re ready.”

With not a word said between them, Shinsou’s gaze returned to the town from the steps, at the end of the stretched of crushed shells and glistening white shale. After a moment of scanning the outbuildings of the port, the Telgradian spotted the flag of the Coronian navy hanging limply from a pole aghast a bevy of concrete buildings to the south of the port. Men in pairs stood like toy soldiers, stiff as boards, to attention at a pair of wrought iron gates leading into the sun drenched docklands complex. That was going to be his second visit, but the more he thought about it, the more he wondered why he wasn't hitting the garrison first. Shinsou had come prepared for it. From within his coat pocket, Shinsou pulled a set of forged Coronian credentials. They had cost him a small fortune, paid to a disgruntled insider within the government who had been told the ruse was going to be used to leak military intelligence to the press. The fool would never know that his selfishness had lit the fire that would burn down the Radasanthian administration.

“There it is; the Coronian navy’s garrison. Forget the magister; that barracks is the first fuse. I don’t expect much in the way of resistance, but once we take it, make sure you’re wearing your war faces. Now, let’s go talk to the real man in charge, not this jumped up prick.”

**

Despite its huge bulk, the navy military accommodations would have shamed a Lornian gaoler.

The staff consisted of fifteen officers, housed in fairly decent cabins aft, and seventy enlisted men who were stuffed into whatever corners and racks they could find space in throughout the barracks. Indeed, the concrete building’s size was deceptive. The interior of the doubly thick stone shell was crammed with all sorts of navy hardware; pipework, bolts, valves, compressors and configuration levers, cannons and munitions and oil. There were various small arms stocked in cabins that were re-purposed as armouries. The men themselves served as a primary method of assault.

Shinsou, having been granted permission to enter the building with his “special advisors”, strode purposefully down the grimy length of the barracks, just behind the port’s commander. His name was Galshin, a young, stocky man who came across as both exceptionally well turned out and somewhat naïve to the Telgradian. The short journey to the port’s command room involved swerving overhanging pipes, sidestepping scurrying pedestrians and dodging supply burdened men. Everything stank of grease, sea salt and iron. As they went, Galshin slapped an anvil sized hand on the shoulder of a passing officer, stopping the young man in his tracks.

“I need you in command in five minutes. Fresh orders from Radasanth. I’ll be along presently.”

Galshin watched as his men jumped to their orders without question. Any order he gave could make experienced men shudder, and half of his crew were fresh from jails around Althanas, looking for a new opportunity to further their careers and appease the state that had granted them clemency. There were sudden pops outside as the hull of a ship being towed into port creaked under the strain of the waves below, something that Shinsou thought would take some getting used to, had he not been needed elsewhere very soon. Unseen by the giant commander, some of the younger men sat rigidly upright in their seats down the oily hallway. As Galshin, the Telgradian, Storm and Hayate entered and then passed through the room, the crew snapped to.

So it began.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the wardroom. Galshin held the door open for his vice commander, who had joined the party as they exited of the command room, then closed and locked it behind himself. The wardroom was a spacious affair for what appeared to be such a small base, located immediately forward of the command room, aft of the officer accommodations. Its walls were soundproofed, and the door had a lock because the designers had known that not everything the officers had to say was for the ears of enlisted men. It was large enough for all of the officers to eat as a group – though at least three of them would always be on duty. The safe containing all current orders from the government, in case of Galshin’s death, was here and not in the commander’s own cabin where a man might use his solitude to try opening it by himself. It was hardly necessary to open it, as both Galshin and the vice commander knew the orders already, but Galshin was obsessive compulsive about keeping order; unusual for a man in such a profession as this.

The vice commander, a nondescript fellow who had the most forgettable face in port, poured tea whilst Galshin took his seat, lighting up a choice cigar from his overstocked collection.

“Thank you for seeing us. We’ve come direct from Radasanth with new orders.” Shinsou stated theatrically.

“Of course,” Galshin smiled, “Your authority again, gentlemen?”

“Indeed.” Shinsou slid his fingers beneath the already broken wax seal on the envelope containing his forged written clearance and directive. “As the orders dictate, you are to release one of the anchored caravels to intercept a rogue Coronian merchant vessel named Domine immediately. The interception area is confined to forty square kilometers.”

Galshin frowned, digesting the orders carefully, before nodding towards his vice commander. “It’ll put a strain on our resources, and I can’t say I’m happy about it, but all is in order. Sooner it’s done, sooner we’re back at full strength. See it done, sir.”

The vice commander saluted, before disappearing back through the door. Shinsou, wringing his fingers through his hands, looked at both Storm and Hayate with another one of his knowing looks. With a ship crewed by half of the port’s strength out on a wild goose chase, their job would be infinitely easier.

Just give the vice commander a few minutes grace to organise the boat trip, wave him off at the harbour and then Tylmerande is ours.

Galshin stubbed the cigar butt out, blowing away the bluish plumes of smoke, before standing. “So, again I am permitted to watch the government befuddle my operations. Anyone would think we were a novice organisation, the way we waste men.” He turned towards the door. “Join me, gentlemen. I think-“

Shinsou kicked Galshin’s feet out from under him just as he was stepping away from the table. The giant fell backwards while Osiris sprang to his feet and grasped the naval base leader’s bear like head in his hands. He drove his neck downward to the sharp, metal edge corner of the wardroom table, striking the point. In the same instant, he pushed down on the man’s chest. An unnecessary gesture – with the sickening crackle of bones Galshin’s tree trunk like neck broke, his spine severed at the level of the second cervical vertebra; a perfect hangman’s fracture.

Galshin had no time to react. The nerves to his body below the neck were instantly cut off from the organs and muscles they controlled. He tried to shout, to say something, but the mouth flapped open and shut without a sound except for the exhalation of his last lungful of air. He tried to gulp air down like a landed fish, but this didn’t work. Then his eyes went up to Shinsou, wide in shock – there was no pain, and no emotion but surprise.

Shinsou laid him gently on the tile deck. He saw the face flash with recognition, then darken.

That’s the spark that lights the fire. All we have to do is keep quiet for a few minutes until the caravel leaves, then march the whole goddamned Brotherhood into town...

Moments later, wiping the dust from a nearby chair and seating himself, Shinsou nodded to his men and leaned forward.

“As soon as that ship leaves port, we leave this room and blast our way through the remaining men, but until then keep that door locked. I want one person and one person alone to find his way to Radasanth to inform the government of what happened here. They’ll send everything they’ve got, and while the Brotherhood holds the fort here, with Hayate in command, me and Storm head to Radasanth alone. With their army distracted here, we’ll get into the assembly and use Stygian to influence the most powerful senators. From there…”

Shinsou brushed a bang out of his face, revealing his golden, glowing eyes.

“No-one will be able to get in our way.”