Again?
When Tom arrived at the security office there were already at least eight people crowded around the door. TJ was standing just outside the office talking to the group.
"I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. All of you can go back to what you were doing. You're not the Tom we are looking for." TJ said in an exasperated tone.
"There sure are a lot of Toms here now in the guild," Tom commented as he approached TJ.
"This isn't even all of them. The rest were either smart enough to know we didn't mean them or haven't shown up yet. Come inside. We have something to show you." TJ replied as he moved to allow Tom to enter.
Brian, Derek, Chris, and Jay were already inside along with the usual security team waiting. Tom looked at each of them and gave a nod of greeting.
"What's so urgent?" Tom asked seeing them standing over a table with a map laid out on it.
"There has been movement on the northern side of town again. Goblins. They seem somewhat organized again. Not nearly as organized as before when Jeffery was leading them, so we don't think we have anything to worry about there, but it's concerning." Brian explained as he pointed to a place on the map that had been circled.
"It couldn't be Jeffery. We left him in the oven too long and now he's extra crispy." Tom said.
"Nice," Jay chuckled at the joke.
"They don't think it's Jeffery, they already said that," A voice came from behind Tom.
Bob walked forward and stood next to him.
"Bob! It's good to see you, how have you been?" Tom asked, shaking the man's hand.
"Fine. I've been keeping busy helping with various team's efforts to establish themselves. Giving advice where I can." Bob replied.
"So, you think you know what this is?" Tom asked.
"We think it's a war party. When Jeffery began to gather the goblins, he managed to get the various groups to cooperate. When you killed him, that left a power vacuum. In goblin society that means one of two things." Bob began.
"Ooo! A war chief!" Maria said in Tom's head.
"A war chief?" Tom said aloud in question to Maria's comment.
"Yeah, how'd you know that?" Bob asked him.
"Maria. She's in my head and has a lot more free will than for anyone else it seems." Tom replied.
"Well, that is what we think is happening here because the alternative is a goblin civil war. The factions would begin infighting and practically destroy each other until only one clan was left alive. They slaughter all the others. Men, women, children, and any source of possible future bloodlines from the other clans. Since they are organizing, the war chief seems the likely situation." Bob explained further.
"War chiefs are dangerous. They have gotten more powerful than any other goblin and are able to use skills to control their actions and keep them in line. They'll also have special war tactics they will use to control the hordes in battles." Maria also explained.
"Maria said they have special skills and abilities that allow them to control groups in battle." Tom summarized what Maria said.
"Yes. It's very dangerous. This means we are essentially up against another rival guild. And you won't be able to single-combat your way out of this one. Goblins are ruthless and nomadic. They will move across the lands taking what they need to sustain themselves and killing anything that isn't one of their own." Bob explained.
"You sure seem to know a lot about goblins for someone who has only interacted with them as long as we have," Brian said.
"I have access to the System too, remember?" Bob replied.
"How we have the knowledge is very much secondary to the threat we have. So we march over and wipe them out before they get too much momentum?" Tom asked as he stared at the map.
"I have a slightly different idea," Derek said with a wicked grin spreading on his face.
"I know that look. What do you have planned?" Tom asked, not extremely interested in what Derek had to say.
"We just picked up a bunch of jets. Pilots need practice. Why not bomb the hell out of them and then fly back to the base so they know where we are?" Derek asked.
"Because we don't want them here at our gates trying to overrun us?" Tom asked, concern now beginning to fill him.
"But goblins have proven to be primitive creatures with terrible weapons. This should be as simple as standing on the walls and killing them with bullets." Derek countered.
"What about that one goblin we fought that was able to gain access to the vending machines? He wasn't even a war chief." Tom replied, still not convinced leading them to the base was the best idea.
"The bombings should weaken them enough to allow us to handle pretty much anything that comes back after us," Derek answered.
"Bob, what do you think?" Tom asked the older man.
"Goblins are notoriously proud creatures, much to their detriment. If we attack them, they will almost assuredly pursue us to exact revenge. Being more organized now they will be more difficult opponents, but their pride and anger should make them reckless. We shouldn't have too much trouble with them from behind the walls. Even if they have access to the vending machines." Bob replied, putting a hand on his chin as he thought about the idea.
"Maria?" Tom asked aloud.
"Seems like a sound plan. You could set up some traps outside the walls as well. Though it might be hard to disguise them with the pavement in place. Don't you also have some giant guns on the building that might help with the bombings?" Maria replied in his mind.
"That's true. We could use the gunnery at the top of the building to fire at them as well." Tom said aloud to let the others know what Maria was talking about.
"That's a good idea as well. Hammer them from afar as hard as we can to whittle down their numbers. Let's add that on. Let Nick and Herbert know." Derek ordered.
"In the meantime, what can we do about setting up some traps here as well? It's something we should be doing anyway to prevent people from sneaking up on us." Tom asked as he looked around the room at the others present.
"Landmines?" Jay offered.
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"Okay, and how do we disguise them?" Tom asked.
"I'm sure we can figure that out. You know you have an ex-military explosives expert right?" Jay asked.
"No, who?" Tom asked.
"Bobby. He was a combat engineer. He should have a few nasty little tricks up his sleeves we can make use of." Jay replied.
"Great! Get him here, TJ." Tom turned to look directly at TJ.
"On it," TJ replied as he moved to call for Bobby over the PA.
"Herbert should also have some ideas. That man is not someone I would want to make angry." Tom added as he shuddered slightly thinking about the new weapons he was working on.
They continued talking for about twenty more minutes before Bobby showed up to the office.
"You called?" Bobby asked as he entered.
"You were a combat engineer in the military?" Tom asked.
"I was, why?" Bobby asked.
"We want to set up some traps around the walls of the base and I want you to head up the project. Got any ideas?" Tom explained.
"I'd need a little time to think, but I can come up with some ideas. I found some fun little toys at the JRB that I made sure came back with us." Bobby said, smiling at the thought.
"Perfect. I want you on it ASAP. We have another goblin problem, and we think drawing them here is the best option, so we are fighting on familiar turf." Tom continued.
"Got it. I'll go get started now. Unless you need me for something else?" Bobby asked.
"No, go to it. Godspeed, my friend, and take a team with you to set things up faster." Tom said putting his full confidence in the man's ability.
Bobby turned and left back out the door, not seeing any reason to continue and wishing to get started.
"Have we scouted out the area where they are currently?" Tom asked.
"Of course, we have. What kind of amateur do you take me for?" Jay replied. "Sean and I have had teams going out to keep an eye on their movements and the jets have been flying periodically for practice as well as reconnaissance," Jay replied.
"Sorry, I don't, I'm just making sure because no one mentioned it yet. How many are we talking about?" Tom asked.
"Last check was over five hundred. More coming each day as they gather together." Jay replied, sitting in a chair, and inspecting his nails as if he wasn't concerned.
"That's a lot," Tom said in shock.
"There's still more of us, and we have bigger guns. Much bigger." Jay replied nonchalantly.
"Well, I'm not going to underestimate any threats. I want them exterminated. And any XP we get in the process is gravy." Tom said firmly. "We don't need any more accidents."
The room was quiet at this pronouncement.
"Now, let's get to it. Jay keep your team on the goblins, Derek get the pilots briefed, Brian help coordinate teams to get the extra work done, and Chris have the fighters prepped and ready. Get them rested so they aren't tired when the battle comes." Tom gave out orders as he thought about what needed to be done.
Everyone agreed and began to move to prepare for their part. Tom stood there momentarily as he watched them begin their assigned tasks.
"And what will you do?" Maria asked.
"I'm going to try to rest as well. I'll check in with the teams a little later, but we've been non-stop go for too long. Time for a break." Tom replied as he left the security office.
"That DeeDee lady scared me too, so good idea," Maria replied.
When Tom reached his room, he cleaned off from the dungeon runs and laid in bed, Jerky already having fallen asleep while he was showering. He stared at the ceiling for a long time as he contemplated the situation. It seemed straightforward enough, but he couldn't shake the feeling they were missing something.
"Why is this happening again? Bob's explanation makes sense, but this seems like it might be an eternal issue." Tom thought to himself as he lay there trying to sleep. "Maybe it is? Monsters spawn randomly, so they will always come back. Hopefully, the chief issue is temporary."
When he finally fell asleep, it was a dreamless sleep. He opened his eyes what seemed a moment later and Jerky was already awake and waiting.
"How long was I out?" Tom asked.
"About twelve hours, I think," Jerky replied.
"Shit. I didn't mean to sleep for so long." Tom said as he sat up in bed.
"You needed it. I made sure no one disturbed you. What do you want to do today?" Jerky asked.
"I want to start with checking on Bobby," Tom replied as he got up and put his clothes and gear on.
"Okay, I'll go too," Jerky said smiling as he stood up as well.
On their way down the elevator, Kiera got on the elevator as well.
"Hey there, where are you off to?" Tom asked.
"Breakfast. Care to join me?" Kiera asked smiling warmly at him.
"Of course!" Tom replied feeling his stomach grumble at the mention of food.
They didn't speak again as they got their food and sat at a table near the back of the cafeteria together.
"How are you feeling?" Tom asked.
"Fine," Kiera replied.
"You know you can talk to me about anything right? Any of us, really." Tom pressed.
"I know. It's tough though. I'm not used to sharing. Hell, I'm not used to feeling anymore." Kiera replied.
"That's totally understandable. You seemed to have the worst of it in the dungeon. I just want to be sure you're okay. You're important to us." Tom said.
"I know that now. I didn't before. I still have some trust issues. But I'll keep working on it. Just give me some more time." Kiera replied now pushing her food around on the plate with her fork.
"Take all the time you need. We aren't going anywhere." Tom said smiling at her.
They continued to eat as Tom filled her in on what they had discussed about the goblins yesterday. When they had finished eating, they bussed their trays to the cleaning station.
"You wanna come check out the walls with me? Bobby should have made some progress by now." Tom asked her.
"I'll meet you there. I need to check on something else first." Kiera replied as he moved to walk past him.
She paused and put a hand on his shoulder.