“Good!” Tantalus said. “Now we look like a real military unit. Remember the order of your shifts to keep watch. Squads 3 and 4 will meet back here at noon to begin their watch. That’s enough for today. Everyone else can go, but I would like the squad leaders to stay back for a few extra minutes.”
The crowd of Revenants slowly dissipated after Tantalus finished. They were talking excitedly amongst themselves. Some were showing off their new mark of office while others recorded, their shining yellow eyes twinkling under faded hoods.
An image came to Tantalus’s mind unbidden. He saw those grey cloaks motionless on the unforgiving ground. The bodies underneath the cloaks were broken and bent at unnatural angles. The cloaks were ornamented with complex red patterns. He shook his head, and the images disappeared from his mind.
Five individuals now stood in front of him. One had red hair, one had blonde hair, and two had darker skin. Based on these attributes, Tantalus could tell that these were the squad leaders he had asked to stay behind.
“Squad leaders, it’s good to see you,” Tantalus said. “And congratulations on your promotions. Jester, Pixie, VK, I know the three of you didn’t expect to be promoted to squad leader so quickly. My reasoning for making you three into squad leaders is simple: either Redgrave or I saw you in battle, and we were impressed.” Tantalus turned to VK. “Sergeant Voight-Kampff, Redgrave complimented your skill. Trust me, he does not do that lightly.”
Tantalus turned back to the remaining squad leaders. “I expect great things from the five of you. Now, as for why I called you here…” Tantalus trailed off and walked over to the trolley which he had used to transport the grey cloaks. He reached into a compartment in the base of the trolley and withdrew a small metal box. He then returned to the squad leaders gathered around.
Tantalus opened the box and revealed the contents. Inside were five combat knives held within leather sheaths.
“Consider these welcoming gifts to Tango Company,” Tantalus said. FullDan was the first one to move forward and take a knife. He unsheathed it and began inspecting the blade.
“A foot-long fixed-blade combat knife,” Tantalus said. “Five-inch handle, seven-inch blade. Our bayonets are twenty inches long. Having used one extensively to butcher some Orcs, I can tell you that it is far too long for knife fighting. These knives you now hold are identical to the one I will be carrying on me.” Tantalus pulled his cloak back to reveal a similar knife clipped to his belt where the bayonet had previously been.
The five squad leaders took the knives gratefully. FullDan was the fastest to integrate the knife into his kit. He immediately clipped the knife to his belt in such a place where he could easily reach it with his left hand. FullDan held his pistol in his right hand and his knife in a reverse-grip in his left hand. He aimed his pistol and used the wrist of his off hand to steady himself.
“It feels just like knives we used in the Scions,” FullDan chuckled.
The three less-experienced squad leaders did not wield the knife with the same familiarity as FullDan, though they all fastened the knives to their belts.
“I’ll try to live up to your and Redgrave’s expectations,” VK said quietly. By the tone of his voice, Tantalus could tell that VK understood the gravity of the responsibility he had been given.
Tantalus had spent more than an hour the night before deciding who would be the squad leaders of the Greycloaks. Clearly, he wanted FullDan and GatorKing as squad leaders, but the three remaining non-com positions were a difficult decision. More than five hundred people had expressed a willingness to defend the Gates on the BloodNet forums, and many of these people had more experience in Ninth Oasis than VK or Jester.
Ultimately, Tantalus decided to favor those either he or Redgrave had come into contact with. The squad leaders of the even-number squads all shared two qualities: a basic level of skill and a pliable disposition. Years in the Scions had taught Tantalus how to quickly tell if someone was a rule-follower or a maverick. Tantalus was confident that Pixie, VK, and Jester would follow his orders without question. There were places for loose cannons, but “squad leader” was not one of them.
“I really appreciate this Captain, but neither Gator nor I need a knife,” Jester said. “The two of us already have swords.” Jester pulled his cloak back and gestured to the looted longsword at his belt. This was the same sword which Jester had anointed with the blood of Deluvians the day before.
Jester’s skin was lighter than Gator’s but darker than Tantalus’s or Pixie’s. Tantalus would consider Jester (or rather, Jester’s avatar) to be mixed race. Jester’s skin color was about as dark as someone from Greece or Sicily, but Tantalus would still consider him to be black based on his other features.
“When you’re in melee with an enemy, you can never have too many weapons,” Tantalus said. “If an Orc grapples you, you can use the knife to kill it. Plus, the knife is more of a mark of office at this point.”
GatorKing pressed his index finger to the knife’s blade. Within a few seconds, the texture of the blade had changed. His blood spread out and infused the blade, causing the blade to take on a dark red Damascus pattern. The blade started to resemble a topographical map of a mountain range.
Pixie watched GatorKing for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face. She held her hand out with her finger outstretched. A single drop of blood fell from her index finger to the ground.
“Oh!” Pixie exclaimed, surprised at the ease with which she was able to summon forth her blood. A moment later, VK and Jester did the same.
“It was that easy the whole time?” VK grimaced. He looked down at his arm, which still bore several faint pale scars where he had slashed open his own wrist.
“No tutorial in this game,” GatorKing laughed.
“Gator, Jester,” Tantalus turned to the two squad leaders, “remember that the two of you will start your watch at noon. FullDan,” Tantalus’s expression suddenly became much more serious, “I’ll see you at the East Gate at one P.M.”
“You’re talking about ‘Operation Eastern Front?’” FullDan asked rhetorically. “Yeah, I’ll be there. The pain in my head and ringing in my ears has stopped. I should ask the same of you. Will you be able to make it?”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine in an hour or so,” Tantalus said. He felt like he was about 75% healed by that time.
“‘Operation Eastern Front?’” VK asked. “What’s that?”
FullDan had a guilty look on his face as if he had accidentally revealed a great secret.
“Well, you see…” FullDan started to explain what he meant, but he was coming up short in excuses.
“It’s okay, Dan,” Tantalus put his hand on FullDan’s shoulder. “They’re squad leaders. I’d say that puts them high enough on the food chain to give them clearance for this information.” Tantalus turned to the squad leaders. “Operation Eastern Front is a mission organized by Ashcroft and ScaryClock to acquire a technologically advanced rifle from the Deluvians. The plan is for five S-ranks, including FullDan and me, to strike deep into enemy territory and retrieve one or more M1 Garands that were spotted in the hands of various Deluvian officers. We believe that we can use the Talents of multiple Revenants to take these weapons and mass produce them.”
Everyone but VK immediately understood the significance of this statement. Pixie’s mouth was open in shock for a few seconds before she regained her composure.
“Talk about a game changer,” Jester said after a long second of contemplation.
“Not to sound like an idiot,” VK said, “but what’s an ‘M1 Garand?’”
“It was the rifle used by the Americans in World War II,” Tantalus explained. “It is an eight-shot semi-automatic rifle with an interior magazine. Most importantly, it’s chambered in the same caliber as the rifles we currently use.”
“Oh, I see,” VK’s eyes widened. “That’s big.”
“Damn straight,” GatorKing said. “I wish I could be there.”
“I’ll make sure to kill some Orcs for you,” FullDan smiled.
“That’s it for now, I’d say,” Tantalus said. “Look after your squads. Socialize with them when possible. You’ll be fighting together, so try to foster a sense of teamwork within the squad.”
“Yes, sir,” VK said, saluting. The other four soon followed suit. Tantalus returned their salutes with a certain amount of hesitation.
They all went their separate ways. The squad leaders left the gatehouse toward the car pileup, and Tantalus left for his office in the barracks.
----------------------------------------
As Tantalus walked, he soon ran into Corporal Sigismund.
“Hello, Captain,” the Corporal greeted.
“I see the news of my promotion has already spread,” Tantalus responded.
“Of course,” Sigismund said. “High Command distributed the message of the Revenant promotions several hours ago.”
“Good, good,” Captain Tantalus said. “Is the Colonel pissed?”
“Yes, but not about you.” Sigismund admitted. “He, and most of the other high-rank field-officers, are angry about the fact that Ashcroft was made a captain as well.”
“Your Duke’s a shrewd one,” Tantalus said. “He has temporarily defused the walking disaster that is Ashcroft.”
“I thought he was your friend,” Sigismund wondered.
“It’s complicated. I’ve known him for a long time.” Tantalus said. “Anyway, have you retrieved what I asked for?”
“Of course. I had it when you woke up, but I didn’t know if you wanted it yet,” Sigismund said.
“I’m forgetful when I wake up,” Tantalus responded.
Sigismund reached into the pocket of his green coat and retrieved a small black box inscribed in flowery silver letters. He handed it over, and Tantalus weighed it in his hands. The box was about the size of Tantalus’s palm, and it weighed less than a pound.
After a moment, Tantalus opened the box. Inside was a silver wristwatch. Its analogue face declared that it was 10:55 AM. Tantalus removed the watch from its box and analyzed the back of the watch face. There was a small pane of glass at the back which allowed Tantalus to see the small gears inside. A small pendulum within the watch face swung back and forth as Tantalus adjusted the orientation of the watch.
Tantalus had owned a watch just like this in the Old World. The small pendulum within would swing as the watch moved, and this process wound the watch. Such a simple yet elegant device.
“Perfect. It’s just to my specifications,” Tantalus said, surprised. “Where did you find this?”
“Ah, right,” Sigismund said. He paused, and his face tightened. Tantalus knew that whatever he said next would be a lie. “I took the money you gave me and checked a few pawn shops in town. Luckily, I found one that fit your specifications at the third pawn shop.”
Tantalus instantaneously put the pieces together and realized the truth of the matter. Sigismund was a spy for Colonel Dozok. Tantalus had made the difficult request of Sigismund in order to determine this truth. A normal person could not acquire such a specific watch on such short notice without the help of someone high up in the chain of command. The truth didn’t particularly bother Tantalus, however. Colonel Dozok wasn’t necessarily his enemy. It was only natural that he would want to keep an eye on this powerful and unknown variable working within his barracks.
“So what are you going to do now?” Sigismund asked.
“Do paperwork in my office for an hour before heading out to a meeting with the other Revenants in an hour and a half,” Tantalus responded.
“Which Revenants?” Sigismund asked. Tantalus thought he wasn’t a very good spy.
“Mander and his followers, I guess. We need to organize our forces before the assault on November 5th,” Tantalus lied. He didn’t want the NPCs to interfere with Operation Eastern Front.
At that point, Tantalus and Sigismund reached the door to Tantalus’s office.
“See ya, Corporal,” Tantalus smiled. Sigismund saluted and Tantalus returned it. Tantalus wondered if he would be doing that a lot.
Tantalus entered his office and saw four men standing within. His eyesight had improved at this point to the point that he could recognize them at a glance. These were the men of Squad One: Redgrave, Elias, Grim, and Synth.