There were nineteen people in the pub. Nine locals. Ten Kinmore Reclaimers. They didn’t fill the pub but this one corner of the building was getting crowded.

Heinz counted 13 heavily armed individuals.

That many stressed strangers in a small space should have been a powder keg. But it wasn’t. Before silent tension had time to build, before Innishannon’s leaders noticed the number of weapons facing them, before gut reactions and instinct poked their heads, Aisling took control.

“Great!” Aisling said as she turned back to the eight Innishannon leaders. She nodded her head at Heinz’s team. “They will be a great help figuring this out. I’ll do the introductions - if you don’t mind.”

Most of the leaders, who were studying Heinz’s group, blinked. One at the front, a balding man with tired eyes, nodded. The others were still coming to terms with the fact they had gone from outnumbering the Kinmore Reclaimers to being outnumbered .

Aisling waved behind her. “This is the main group of the Lizard team.”

Heinz felt his eye twitch. Goddamn it Rosa. “Actual-”

Aisling continued like he hadn’t tried to interject, matching eyes with the balding man. “They’ve been a group since the third day of this. All five of them are past their fourth threshold and are approaching the fifth.”

There was no disguising the intakes of breath as the Innishannon leaders’ inspection was redoubled. Even the balding man who was trying to concentrate on Aisling, flicked his eyes at Heinz’s group. A few of the leaders started to shift nervously. Others stiffened. It seemed the majority realised how difficult reaching that was.

Heinz tried not to shift under the extra attention. He didn't like being stared at by strangers but more importantly, how did Aisling know all of that?

“I pointed this out William, because it brings us to our largest problem.” Aisling said and gestured at the table. “Nothing we’ve discussed means anything if we can’t clear out Bandon.”

“It’s also one of the most complicated problems.” The balding man, William, refuted.

“One I’m sure that three towns can fix.” Aisling countered immediately. She indicated to her team, not Heinz's. “We are very capable.”

That statement seemed to press a nerve with the Innishannon leaders. Before any of them could object, William clicked his tongue and shook his head. He looked over Aisling at Heinz’s group.

“You might as well grab a seat. We had to talk about this eventually.”

Heinz turned to do exactly that. Robert reached the bar first and passed over a few chairs. When they were all sitting down, William began to rehash the story that Robert had told them earlier. William included a few more details than Robert though.

“A total 63 deaths to those creatures so far. The pack has replaced their losses and grown. Some of them have evolved. No one goes into their territory anymore. Every three days we send a team of fourth and third thresholds into the area but they can’t pin them down.” William tapped the table. “Respectfully, If you haven’t seen them-” He paused to confirm with Aisling, “- then don’t talk about it.”

“What have you tried?” Louise asked before Aisling could respond.

William looked at her. “After they started to flee, we tried ambushes. Both on the ground and street. It worked at a cost but they became wary of anywhere we could gather large numbers. After that we tried to herd them with numbers. We brought ladders and sent people up on the roofs. Others stayed on the streets. About 400 Reclaimers joined. Again it worked but the cost was too much. They pushed people off the roof, jumped on the heads of those on the street and broke out. It was a mess. We lost good people.“

A hum of agreement went around the room.

“There are more of the big ones now.” Robert added. “They don’t act much. Just stay back, watch and wait.”

“Commander archetype.” Phil said, jotting a note down on a copybook he’d pulled out.

“What?” William asked.

“It’s a type of Swarm that controls others. They are usually weaker than other kinds but that doesn't seem to be the case here.” Phil explained. He held up the copybook. "I’m working on a guide on swarm and how to fight them."

“It’s pretty good.” Robert admitted from beside Phil.

“He works on it with the help of another one of our teams. Another fourth threshold team.” Aisling jumped in, trying to steer the conversation back. “Numbers is the answer but only part of it. If we pool our best fighters..”

Aisling continued her pitch of a combined clearing effort but it was clear the Innishannon leaders weren’t buying it. After a minute, William interrupted her.

“Better to clear the zones along the river. We can use the back road between the zones.”

“That’s two Zones that neither of us have started to clear. It could take days and it won’t fix the problem.” Aisling argued.

“But not lives.” William stated. The grim nods beside him showed that Innishannon stood united behind him.

“Burn them out.” Louise said, a look of frustration on her face.

The growing argument stopped in its tracks.

“What?” William and Aisling asked. Both turning to Louise in a disgruntled shock.

“If you’re giving up on Bandon anyway, burn it down. Fire can kill the swarm just as well as a knife.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“We can’t burn down the town.” Aisling said aghast and staring at Louise with a glint of horrified suspicion.

“Then don’t.” Louise said simply. “Burn only some of it down. Make a fire break around an area. Force them in there and set it all on fire.”

Silence.

Everyone, including Heinz, Phil, Shane and Tara stared at Louise.

She didn’t flinch.

All of the stares were stocked but.. but enough were understanding. Once everyone overcame their horror at the idea, something that took the Kinmore Reclaimers longer, they began to contemplate it.

“It could work.” Phil said slowly.

Robert and William nodded.

“At the least, we can trim down the numbers.” William said darkly. He ran his tongue along his teeth and focused on Aisling. “We have fuel but if we want to pull this off we will need numbers.”

Aisling seemed a little bewildered at where the conversation had gone but she nodded automatically. “We can help.”

William pushed his seat back. “Alright. We shall start preparing. I will get a map of Bandon and we can start again in ten minutes. Anything else before we break?”

“We won’t be here. Timer.” Shane stated gruffly.

Heinz pulled his message up and winced. They hadn’t spent all that long in Bandon before rushing here.

William nodded his acceptance and moved to stand.

“People give energy.” Heinz spoke quickly. If they didn’t know already it was best to rip the bandage off. “Killing people blocks your system and you.. warp into something the System calls a Malignant. You need to get cultivators with Identify and post them on the bridge. Everywhere really and protect your Delegates.”

The Innishannon reclaimers froze, the eight stuck between eyeing Heinz’s group again and glancing at three of their own members.

“That.. is good to know.” William said slowly. “Excuse us.”

The Innishannon leaders and delegates seemed to flee the room.

Robert patted Heinz on the back and followed. Leaving the Kinmore Reclaimers alone in the pub.

Aisling’s shoulder sank. “Great.”

“Better out than in?” Tara joked weakly.

One of Aisling’s group let out a laugh. Aisling rubbed her forehead.

“There’s a time and a place and-”

“This was it.” Shane finished. He stood up and with a respectful nod to Aisling that didn’t line up with what he had just said, headed for the exit.

Aisling shook her head and focused on Louise. “I’ll smooth it over. Will you have time to help with the plan or..” She cut off when Louise shook her head regretfully. “.. Great.”

“How many fourth thresholds does Kinmore have?” Phil asked curiously.

Aisling stood. She didn’t wear the outdoor centre’s new armour. Instead she wore what looked like a hammered corrugated iron breastplate. Two panels of the same material covered the front of her legs, from her hips to her knees. Like Heinz’s group, it was clear that her protection had been shoddily crafted but where it differed was in appearance. While Heinz’s new armour made him look like a lumpy clown, Aisling’s was made to be seen.

“Never enough.” She answered curtly. “We’ll need your help with Bandon.”

She moved to the side of the pub to pick up a bag but stopped. She turned and focused on Heinz.

“Stay back a second.”

Phil gave him a questioning glance but Heinz waved him away. HE didn't know what Aisling wanted but he had a pretty good guess. One by one, both Heinz’s and Aisling’s groups left the pub.

Aisling spoke as soon as the door closed. “I’ll keep this short. The Innishannon delegates have bought town augments. Multiple system benefits that could be incredibly helpful.” She took a deep breath and when she spoke again she was furious. “So what are Maggie and the Delegates up to? What are they doing with the Credits?”

Heinz shook his head, confused himself. “I don’t know.”

Aisling’s hands formed fists at her side. “Really? Can’t you see how being able to manage groups could have helped? And healing! Why is Rosa protecting them?”

“I do and I don’t know.” Heinz said, holding up his hands. “Rosa doesn’t either.”

Aisling inhaled slowly and let her hands relax.

“It’s going to get out. I’ll do my best to keep it quiet but,” She eyed him unimpressed, “as you can see sometimes that doesn’t work. And your friend's new cult won’t save her. Let’s hope they stop whatever they are up to first.”

Outside the pub the world slid back into the mixed shades of grey and faint colour. Innishannon didn’t bother lighting up the street, but various workshops along the road illuminated patches of the town. Louise, Phil, Shane and Tara waited for him a little down the road. Aisling’s group were stretching and chatting off in the other direction.

“Shall we head back to Bandon?” Phil asked as he rejoined them.

“We could check out the side of the town.” Louise suggested with a look at Shane. “They’ve probably started to make their way to Cork.”

“I could do with some sleep.” Heinz admitted. They hadn’t really started any reclamation work but he was tired. The last few days had worn away at him and it was getting late.

Phil and Louise watched each other carefully. Clearly they both had different views on what the group should be doing but their new found truce was fragile. Neither wanted to be the one to break it.

To Heinz’s surprise it was Tara who broke the stalemate.

“I agree with Heinz.” Tara said and held her braced arm forward. “Are we even in condition to do anything?” She paused and looked around the town. “We should think about if we'll help tomorrow too.”

They took a moment to inspect each other. Tara was right. The new armour made them look sharper but it was only a mask. They weren’t tired as much as worn. Phil’s face was pallid and stretched. Shane hadn’t shaved in a few days and he was leaving scruffy behind for rundown. Stress had turned Louise rigid and stiff. Heinz found himself straightening his shoulders from a slump he hadn’t noticed.

“What’s everyone’s status?” Tara asked. “Health and injuries?”

Shane grunted and rubbed his splinted arm. “My arm is a little weak but no more pain.”

“My left leg gives a little when I walk.” Phil admitted. “I haven’t recovered from the Slashers yet.”

Heinz tried to lift his left arm above his head and winced. “My shoulder is still bad. Also from the Slashers.”

“I can’t really use my arm.” Tara said, waving her broken arm forward again. She turned to Louise expectantly.

Louise hesitated, opening her mouth to speak but relenting under a sharp look from Tara. “My.. stomach is still bad.” She didn’t move to test it like the rest of them. It seemed there might be another reason she was so tense.

“Let’s go back to Bandon. I’m sure there’ll be an Innishannon safe house in the zone where we can rest.” Tara said. She crossed her arms, leaving her splinted arm above the other. Her message was clear.

Phil nodded but he seemed a little unhappy. It seemed he had some other plan for Bandon. “Should we get augments here before we go? They’ve a full Shop and I’m sure we could find a cultivator?”

Heinz hesitated. He had 149 credits saved up. Nearly enough for the cheapest second threshold augment. More than enough for one of the first threshold ones that he had his eye on. But buying it here meant someone he didn’t know would get the credits. And the town tax.

Louise shrugged. “I bought one back in Kinmore.”

Phil scrambled to get his notebook out from his bag. “You did? What did you get?”

“Augments can be.. painful.“ Tara said, interrupting Phil. Her hands flexed at the memory of the experience. ”I don’t think I want to be incapacitated in a zone we haven’t cleared and we don’t have time to wait here.”

Shane nodded. He looked at Phil who was uncapping a pen.

“Talk and walk.”