Gwen came galloping up on Johnston when Delta got to the bottom of the stairs. The Lieutenant had been laid out, and the troops were clustered around her looking mournful. Delta turned to Gwen, “Did you tell? Are they sending an officer?”

“They say you now officer”, said Gwen. Delta’s eyes opened wide. “They give orders. Get to gold street. Riot starting there. Stop looting.”

Delta bit her lips and sighed. “Troops”, she called out. “New orders. Form up.” She picked a trooper at random and detailed them to stay behind and guard the prisoner and Jamil’s body. “Let’s head down main”, she ordered. “Gwen, go scout. See what we’re walking into.”

Gwen saluted and Johnston loped off.

Delta moved to the front and kept them walking briskly. Zipper caught up with her. “I told you command suits you”, she teased.

“Not something I asked for”, Delta said, shaking her head.

Zipper hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “No one’s questioning it. If that’s not worth a bonus, I don’t know what is.”

“Get in line”, growled Delta. Zipper laughed and fell back. She could see commotion ahead. Abandoned carts had been turned over, and some people were using broken barrels to smash at the shutters on store fronts. Delta put the orcs in front and got them to beat on their shields, with the regular shields to either side. “We don’t’ want to have to stab civilians”, she cautioned. “But make them think we will.” So, they advanced slowly, but as loudly as possible. They took the hint and ran off.

Gwen came back. “Gold street mess. Big barricade at this end. But lane down by tavern not blocked.”

“Got it”, said Delta. They had spent a night drinking in that area, and she remembered it. If they cut to the left up here, they could get to that lane and onto Gold Street. “Right troops. We have to move quickly. Loose formation. Zipper, Gwen, to the front. You know the way to go. Everyone else, follow as fast as you can. Secure the entrance of the lane into Gold street.”

She jogged along last. Her breath came hard as she was still winded from running up and down the staircase. The orc, at least, seemed to have his head back together. They were strong and quickly outpaced all but the dwarf. Delta shepherded the rear, reminding the laggers how many flights of stairs she had gone up and down and questioning why she was faster than them.

When she reached the lane, they had a solid row of shields across the front. There was a full-blown riot taking place. People had taken advantage of the situation to smash things up and cause chaos. Gold street was where the money changers, goldsmiths, and other handlers of precious metals did their work. There were scattered troops about, but they were mostly pinned down.

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“Here’s the maneuver”, shouted Delta. “We go up the near side towards main street. Standard shields at the front, staggered, like a wedge. The two large ones cover our flanks. Scream, shout, beat on anything. Make a lot of noise and let them know we’re serious. Poles: beat on anyone who gets close. Use the hafts unless someone decides to harass one of the shields. Then give them the full blade. Gwen, stick close, and Masami, cover the rear and stop us getting flanked. Don’t go gentle on anyone coming up from behind.”

They moved out, and people took notice. The advancing wedge separated looters from shops as they scraped their way up the street. Disgruntled rioters yelled back at them and threw things at them. One of the orcs stepped out of line and brought his club down hard on an upturned cart someone was hiding behind while pelting them with torn up cobbles. They high tailed it quickly away.

At the top of the street, they crossed over and prepared to come down the other side. A few tried to cross back to the side they had just cleared, but Gwen sent some arrows in their direction and they changed their mind. A few brave ones worked up the mob for a rush. Delta could see it coming from a mile off and called a brace to the troops just before they hit, and they bounced off like hail. She and the other poles stepped in and winded several, driving the buts of their weapons into their unarmored midriffs. They then continued their advance, stepping over any of those who were downed.

The others lost their stomach for fighting at that point and fled. Reinforcement had arrived at the wall end of the street and headed them off. Some surrendered, others escaped into alleys. Overall, the street was quiet again.

Delta moved the troops back to Main and started them clearing the barricades. As soon as there was a gap, she sent Gwen off to report the situation to where they were coordinating things on the docks. The orders back were to hold firm. Negotiations were taking place with the King at the castle.

Things were quiet for another two hours. Citizens were told to keep indoors, although Delta was called on when people begged for exceptions. For injuries, lost children, or distressed people, she dispatched escorts to get them to where they needed to be.

An hour before noon, trumpets sounded a “stand down” order. Clarification was sent out telling troops to stand by. Most were to be ordered back to camp, and a rotation was to be set up to replace the city guard and keep order. Criers strode up and down the city proclaiming the King had acknowledged the reformed Empire. He now swore loyalty to them and encouraged all citizens to do likewise and offer them no impediment. By the time the bells were striking noon, they were marching out the beautiful, impregnable front gatehouse to the city, and back to camp.

“That was… remarkable”, said Zipper. Falling in again, next to Delta.

Delta looked to the orc she had talked back from killing the archer. And to the front, where four troopers bore the Lieutenant’s body on her shield. “It wasn’t without it’s casualties. But it isn’t something we would have come up with in a million nights plotting with Lady Exentine.”

Gwen was with them as well, looking a little shell shocked. “All human battle like that?” she asked.

“No”, said Delta. “I don’t think the world has ever seen a battle like that.”

“What do we do now?” asked Zipper.

“The orders I was given say we go to quarters first”, said Delta. “Stow our arms and armor. Then we have the rest of the day off. It’s been strongly encouraged we visit the beach.”