Chapter 5 – Putting It Out There
Commander Maxwell was known even amongst his veterans to be just a little bit eccentric. What made him a brilliant leader, could also be described as one of his least endearing flaws.
You see, when he heard a bit of bad information, he didn't immediately jump to the worst case scenario. No that would be far too easy of a trait to overcome.
When Thaddeus Maxwell got involved, the teams knew it was all spears at the ready. He didn't simply prepare for the worst case scenario, he attempted to account for a hundred different ways it could all go wrong. The neurosis that he lived with every day had already saved the city more than once.
When the droughts lasted months, Maxwell was the one to tear through countless books of the old world to rediscover rudimentary atmospheric water generators. This basic technology used materials they already had on hand to gather small amounts of water out of the air. Individually the small generators produced an irrelevant amount of water, but he tasked all of the scout teams with bringing back building supplies. Within a month they had managed to build enough water producing units to see them through the dry times.
There was a time before personal crops when food was so scarce the entire community lived on tight rations. What did Maxwell do then? He researched. In a short time, he was able to discover what plants could flourish in the environment of Skytop. The rooms that had access to direct sunlight were converted in to growing areas. Excess water collected from the AWGs was used to tend the crops, with each family handling its own plot.
This is all to say, Maxwell was respected in the community as the person that could solve problems. However, you had to be sure it was serious before going to him, because once he was invested there was no going back. He had a mind that was unparalleled by any other resident in the city, and a physical form to match. Over six foot and three hundred pounds of muscle, there was no stopping him once he got started.
Truly he was the perfect human specimen. Intelligent, powerful, and Quick. He intimidated Glen, and everyone else walking with him in to the Greenmen Hall without even trying. The group couldn't falter though, they needed to get him up to date on the threat as soon as possible.
Glen opened the doors to the, gesturing inside with a sincere, “After you.”
Pirah walked through the open door, followed closely behind by Douglas. Liz came through last slowing just enough to whisper, “Acting like a gentleman to impress the lady? Father taught you well.”
With a light scowl he simply replied, “Maybe that would be true, if there were any ladies around to impress.”
Walking double time for a couple steps Glen and Liz caught back up to the other half of their group. They had been in here many times, but the majesty of it all was still a great deal to take in every time.
A large open living space had been converted to function as a mess hall, well maintained tables littered the room at regular intervals. Connected to the living space was an open air kitchen that was staffed at all hours by a rotating staff of cooks. It was one of the little comforts afforded to the scouts for their efforts protecting and supplying the tower.
Next to the common area were four attached side rooms. At one point in a distant past, they had been used to entertain a large number of party guests in comfort. These days they functioned as planning and staging areas for the veteran teams that had been around long enough to earn that right.
None of this mattered to them today, they had to climb the pristine glass staircase to the second story where their guild leader awaited. Away from it all, Maxwell preferred the quiet seclusion of his private office. It allowed him the ability to think and process without all the background noise that was the common area. The added distance also gave any looking to speak with him time to reconsider.
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Liz may have been the senior scout here, but this was Glen's team, and they would be taking lead, so he would be the one to knock. Not wanting to delay the inevitable he put his knuckles to the door and rapped lightly. There was no response.
Glen knocked again with a bit more force, and this time they heard a bit of shuffling and banging behind the closed door. There was a brief moment of silence before a booming, “Come in, I haven't got all day” exploded back at them.
Team Artemis was committed now, there was no turning back. Walking inside the office a few things were instantly noticeable. First and foremost, the commander’s desk, which was usually in perfect order, was now in complete disarray. It was covered in reports, maps, and books detailing every conceivable fact about their little corner of the world.
This was not a good sign, Maxwell was already in a bit of a manic state, and they hadn't even delivered the news. Their leader before them he spoke up, “What is there to report scouts? It isn't every day that I have an entire team show up unannounced. What has happened?” Everything he said came out in a rush, as if he were in the middle of an idea and if he didn't finish it right away it would be gone forever.
Everyone was a bit shocked at Maxwell's ruffled appearance and lack of decorum, Pirah was the first to speak up.
Snapping off a perfect salute with her right fist over her heart she began, “Sir, we’re here to report an incident that occurred within the tower. It just happened within the last twenty minutes. Team Leader Glen, and Medic Douglas were first to arrive on scene. They claimed the situation to be handled by Artemis, pending your approval. As Tactical Advisor I have given the recommendation that we report to you at once. Glen is ready to debrief you now.”
Glen looked at Pirah with his most sincere thanks and just a little bit of admiration before speaking up, “What she says is true sir. I was alerted this morning to the sounds of screams coming from our security floor. It looked like one of our residents was attacked right outside are home, and not by rampant. From what we could gather, there was a strange man that attacked Lauri. He used a trained bone dog to inflict cuts on her that wouldn’t stop bleeding.
“It was only through the quick thinking of Douglas that we managed to save her life. He used black powder from a recovered bullet to burn the cut closed and stop her bleeding. When she came to, she gave us little more detail before collapsing. We believe this man may intend to cause problems for Skytop.”
Frazzled Maxwell began sorting through papers on his desk without replying for a very long moment. Finally, he found what he was looking for, holding it up and bringing it closer to inspect. It was a document outlining what each team had scheduled coming up for their scouting trips in the near future.
“Am I reading this correctly Glen that you and your team are planning to track an aberrant later today? That tracking this particular creature also led to the discovery of a new tunnel system that has yet to be explored.” Maxwell asked in a measured and knowing tone, implying heavily he already knew what he said to be fact.
Glen was admittedly a bit confused at this rapid turn of conversation and as such only managed to get out a meagre, “Yes sir, that was our original plan for the day. I would say that the unusual start to the morning calls for a little bit of change to that schedule. Wouldn't you agree, sir?”
“Declined.” Replied Maxwell with absolute finality. “You've presented no logical reason why I should allow this change of schedule. We were attacked by one unknown man, and you would have me throw all of our planning out the window?”
“Sir if I may…” Glen tried to say before being abruptly cut off.
“Alright son I’m putting it all out there. Do you want to know the truth? Do you see that stack of reports I've been going through?” so saying Maxwell gestured towards his cluttered desk. “Those are all the aberrant sightings we have had in the last couple months. So, when you tell me this story about one man, it pales in comparison to the larger threat. Their numbers are increasing, and we have no idea why.
“It's up to you, and every scout we have, to figure out where they're coming from. They already outnumber us five to one, and that gap is only increasing. Furthermore, it is no longer safe for three and four man teams to travel independently. Team Artemis, you're going to be paired with a more established team. Team Specter to be specific.” He finished while looking directly at Liz.
To her credit she held her frustration in, for all of ten seconds. “With all due respect, and no offense meant towards Team Artemis, but this is bullshit Commander!” Liz's volume was beginning to rise as she carried on, “We’re being put on babysitting duty? They're tracking a single aberrant. They could complete this task in their sleep. Is this really necessary.”
Maxwell grew very still, and his answer was cold, “Ms. Lovec, when you are ready to take responsibility for the lives of forty scouts, and over two hundred citizens, then you may question my decision. Until that day comes you answer to me. I've given you my answer. Take a couple extra hours to coordinate your teams and plan appropriately. I will brief a team to begin looking for this mystery man, as well as bring it to the attention of the council. You're dismissed. Find me when you return from your trek through the tunnels.”
Dejected and laid low by The Commander’s complete overruling of the request they had made, the four of them left the office. After wandering a small distance away Douglas spoke up for the first time since entering the Greenmen’s Hall.
“So, I guess we're gonna be spending a bit more time together?” he said playfully waggling his eyes at Liz.
She responded in the only way she knew how when faced with his teasing, “Would you look at the time? We have so much to do today! Gotta go get my team together and deliver the amazing news. Okay thanks bye!” She delivered without missing a beat as Liz sped away so quickly it could have been mistaken for jogging.