Breakout & New Wings
Growls and the sounds of claws on the floor could be heard from the room in front of them as the two groups stared at each other, neither quite ready to make the first move. Tom's brain raced furiously trying to think of the best strategy to get them through. This was the only way back to the only entrance they currently knew about.
"Derek, you'll go in first with your power armor, Kevin, Kirsten, Bron, and any other barbarian classes follow behind Derek. Then all other physical classes. Mages and ranged attackers take up position at the door. Keep us covered the best you can. Light spell first to try to disorient them. Aim for the middle of the room to light it up." Tom quietly prattled off his plan trying not to move to prevent provoking the little creatures.
"You're getting a lot better at the strategy part of fighting," Bron complimented them as they tried to move around behind Tom, getting into position.
"Thanks. If we get out of this, remind me to think harder about that." Tom replied, smiling uneasily.
"We'll be fine. Just use that handy tattoo of yours once you get in the room." Derek replied.
A single Kobold leaped from the front line at Tom, hissing its rage as it flew at him. As it did, a shot rang out from behind them, and Tom felt the air move as it passed his head. The bullet caught the leaping Kobold in the chest and stopped its momentum, causing it to drop to the ground, dead.
"GO!" Tom yelled suddenly, scaring the front line of Kobolds causing them to jump slightly.
Moving to the right, back into the doorway, Derek rushed past him, mace and shield in hand as he used his armor to blow into the horde of creatures. A ball of light shot into the room from behind them as Briana cast a light into the room. All of the barbarians rushed in behind Derek, swinging weapons to keep the Kobolds back while they moved. Shrieks of rage escaped from the Kobolds as most of them shielded their eyes from the light they were unused to seeing.
Kobolds began to get trampled as the lead fighters rushed into the fray, many squealing in pain as they were crushed or the much larger attackers’ broke bones. Derek charged through several cubicles that were still standing, trapping some kobolds under them and knocking over additional desks in the process in a bit of a domino-style continuance. Tom moved in behind the initial charge and activated his Tattoo of Absorption which began to drain all the Kobolds around.
Screaming with a renewed rage at the drain on their health, the Kobolds finally began to fight back. Unfortunately, for them, they had lost their edge with numeric superiority with the light nearly blinding them and the aggression the fighters in Tom's group showed. They simply didn't stand a chance. All were slaughtered in short order by the follow-up of more fighters and mages along with ranged weapons.
"That went well," James said with a smile on his face as he looked around the room for any signs of movement.
He fired once down at a Kobold hitting it squarely between the legs as it twitched.
"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Derek asked him in resignation.
"It moved," James replied with a shrug, not looking up at Derek as he continued scanning.
"Not what I meant," Derek said as he walked away.
"Loot what you can for now, and we move out. Looking for the good stuff only for now. Potions, are top priority." Tom called out to the team as they began to quickly pick through the bodies. "I don't want us staying too long and getting surprised.
After about fifteen minutes, Tom and Derek called for everyone to move out. Continuing back the way they came; they finally made it to the entrance and headed for the vehicles at a jog.
"Load up! We head to the base next door!" Derek called when he reached the GS2 and turned to make sure they weren't being followed.
What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks.
"We got company!" Derek shouted.
Kiera turned to see what was behind her and noticed they were being followed by the biggest Kobold they had seen so far. Switching quickly to her rifle, she aimed at the creature's head and fired. the bullet ripped through the creature's skull, and it fell forward mid-jog, its arm falling from where it was trying to shield its eyes from the sun as it died in the parking lot, its rage extinguished in a moment. She could see movement back inside the entrance and fired two more shots into the building.
She was rewarded with shrieks of surprise as both shots killed more Kobolds. No others dared to leave the building as the team loaded into their vehicles.
"There, those buildings are where we are headed," Derek pointed as he finally jumped into the passenger seat.
Tom turned and drove toward the Naval Base buildings in the distance. The other vehicles followed as members of the team opened windows and watched for any other monsters. Once they had left the Lockheed Martin parking lot, Tom increased their speed. Looming larger as they got close, the hangars were a sight to behold. The giant doors were currently closed, hiding any secrets they may hold. Tom came to a stop outside one of the hangars and parked the vehicle away from the door.
"Move out. We get in formation and try to make as little disturbance as possible when entering. Be ready for anything that may be inside." Derek said before they exited the vehicle.
Grouping up, Derek moved into the lead position.
"Weapons ready. And I mean guns. I want to surprise whatever is inside and we can switch if we get in close. Be ready for anything. Including people. Armor on too. Anything you think might stop a projectile." Derek ordered before arriving at the side door.
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A regular-sized door, the side entrance offered a stealthier approach, instead of opening the giant hangar doors. Derek paused as he looked back at the others. When they nodded, he made a motion of counting down from three before breaching the door with a kick. He moved inside, sweeping his assault rifle back and forth with the flashlight attached to the end turned on.
The others followed closely behind sweeping the room as well. Silence greeted them as they moved inside and through the hangar. Several fighter jets sat in the middle of the hangar, but the teams ignored them as they continued to sweep the building. When they reached the back of the building, they called out that all was clear.
"WOOOOO!" Eric called out as he looked over one of the jets in the hangar. "These are beauties! I can't wait to get in and take her for a spin."
"Get moving on it. We have spent enough time already. Get those hangar doors open so we can get the first aircraft out! Kedron, get in the Hummer and head back to base to pick up Eric when he gets there. Everyone else, stay on alert. When we start this bird up, it's going to make a lot of noise." Derek began calling out orders as though he were back in the military.
"It all comes back so easily, doesn't it?" Tom asked Derek as he smiled at him.
"You never really lose it. It's engrained. So, pick up a damn weapon and get to watching or open a hangar door!" Derek smiled back at him as he gave him an order.
Tom rushed over to help open one of the hangar doors. Eric sat in the cockpit and looked over the instrument panel while he tried to find what he needed.
"There should be a computer box somewhere . Normally the pilots would take it with them when they leave the plane. Have a look around to see if anyone can find it." Eric called down to Derek.
"Alright, we need everyone looking for a computer box for the jet! Get moving! Search everywhere!" Derek called to the others.
After they had finished opening the hangar doors, the team scoured the area while Eric continued to familiarize himself with the F35. Taking a peek outside the doors, Derek noticed dark-clad figures in the distance making their way to the hanger at a jog. They appeared to be armed as well.
"Shit! Get over here and close these hangar doors NOW!" Derek yelled at his guildmates.
Scrambling to the doors, they worked to get them closed again as fast as they could. The team managed to get the hangar doors closed and Derek latched the doors shut.
"Cover the entrance we came in through. Weapons ready, we have hostiles incoming!" Derek called to the everyone inside. "Briana! Barriers would be helpful so be ready."
Everyone moved into position and took cover behind anything they could find or move into place. Banging sounded on the door they had entered from, and the room went silent.
"United States military! Open these doors now and surrender yourself for questioning!" Came a commanding voice from the other side of the door.
"Major Derek Calloway, U.S. Armed Forces! We are here of our own accord and need these jets to ensure the safety of civilians during the impending invasion!" Derek shouted from his position.
"These aircraft are property of the United States military and are not available to rent right now! Surrender yourself now or we will be forced to take action!" The voice called back.
"The United States military seems to be in disarray, and these are not being used! We kindly decline your offer and ask for a parlay instead!" Derek shouted back this time. "Enter at your own risk!"
A long pause followed the exchange. Silence reigned heavy inside the hangar as each member of the team sat ready for action.
"Parlay accepted," The voice called back.
Derek let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He motioned for everyone to stay ready, though. He had been in the military long enough to know not to trust anyone.
"Very well! We will open the door! One wrong step though, and we will see it as hostile actions!" Derek called and began to move for the door.
He still held his weapon at the ready as he grasped the handle and opened the door, aiming the weapon out at the men standing outside.
"You said parlay. What's with the welcoming party?" A grizzled-looking man said as he leaned against the doorframe, a smile on his face.
"Just a precaution. It's a dangerous world out there. If I meant you harm, I would have just fired." Derek said back.
"That's a shiny suit of armor you have there, Major," The man said to Derek as he looked him up and down.
"Goes with my shoes," Derek replied slowly lowering his weapon as he saw they were not pointing theirs at him.
"HA! You're military alright. Lieutenant Marshall, Navy, nice to finally meet another military man Major Calloway." Lieutenant Marshall extended a hand to shake with Derek.
"Call me Derek. I'm not active." Derek replied, taking the hand, and shaking it.
"In that case, call me Marsh," Marsh replied.
Derek nodded and motioned toward the back of the hangar.
"We can talk inside. No need to stand here making targets." Derek replied.
"Thanks, Derek. We have some very serious questions for you. I hope you have the right answers." marsh said eyeing Derek as they entered.
"Great, just what I need. Another power-happy military man looking to show me he has the largest member," Derek thought to himself as he followed Marsh to the rear of the building.