Don't-Tell Motel.

The base of operations for the agency in Somewhere was abuzz with activity as the group of agents prepared to receive the influx of aid they and the town were soon to come.

Monitors showed the two dimly lit roads that entered and left Somewhere while more showed the railyard, busy even during the night with the constant activity of the dwarves as they worked and worked until their jobs were done in a satisfactory manner.

Radios crackled as reports came in from all around the town. From the field agents giving reports every few minutes of persons of interest to just general well-being of the townsfolk, new arrivals, or the agents themselves depending on the attitude of their handlers.

"Arrival estimate?" O'Doyle asked one of the radio operators.

"ETA 12 minutes, Sir."

"Good. And the train?"

"Any moment now."

"Sounds like we should be going then. Come along, Agent Doe." Smith declared as he left the HQ with the rookie agent hurrying not far behind as Agent O'Doyle remained behind to observe the monitors and radios.

Smith nodded to the plain clothes agents that loitered outside as guards as well as to the two heavily armored, trident wielding, and ever grim looking Delta Guard that eyeballed and tensed whenever anyone left the room right next door to the Duchess.

Despite the fact that Smith and them had been there for some time the seafoam green guards never seemed to relax in the slightest. At least they didn't skewer anyone that was going to any of the adjoining rooms, Smith thought as him and Doe went down the creaky steps and got into their car before driving away towards the railyard.

As they neared they encountered the dwarven guards at the gates. Their dwarvish plate making them look just as grim as the Delta Guards. Two of the guards out front shouted in Dwarvish and leveled their blunderbusses at the black car as they neared while a third stayed behind the chain-link fence.

Agent Smith rolled down the window and waved at them as one drew near.

"Hello, Sir! We are here to receive a shipment coming to your trainyard."

The dwarf, whose face was covered save for a opening allowing his thick and semi-armored beard to poke through, rumbled as he could just see Smith and Doe over the door and through the thin slits on the helmet he wore. He turned towards the other two and barked out something in Dwarvish.

The guard behind the fence nodded and shuffled off towards a building Smith and Doe could just barely see past the trees to their right. After waiting under the intense glare of the two dwarves, the third guard arrived with another dwarf that was gilded in gold. Robe of golden thread with a white furred collar covered the finely stitched tunic and trousers the dwarf wore underneath. Though they were barely shown under the golden hair of the dwarf's bejeweled beard. He stomped over on fine boots with silver buckles as the gate opened and he marched over to the two agents.

"What is yer business, manlin'?" The dwarf rumbled in a deep voice as he stroked his beard with an equally adorned hand.

"We are expecting a train shipment to arrive sometime within the next few minutes and are on our way to receive it." Smith replied as Doe looked nervously as the two other guards came over and were eyeballing the car and the two agents.

The gilded dwarf rumbled.

"We have received no notice o' arrival nor payment fer such a shipment."

"That's because it isn't supposed to be noticed." Smith stated.

The dwarf grunted disapprovingly.

"Mah business will have no part in mischief and ill-solicited goods!"

"This shipment is neither I assure you. We merely prefer to operate with a measure of discretion than most."

"If so, then you will have no issue with payment nor mah men checkin' ta make sure." The dwarf stated. It was not a suggestion.

Smith, however, didn't hesitate to smile at the dwarf's challenging look.

"Not at all! If anything, we would like to continue to use your railyard as the main focal point of transit for our shipments."

"We'll see manlin'. We'll see." The bejeweled dwarf stated as he rumbled an order and the dwarves let the agents pass, slowly, by.

Smith and Doe parked not far in and got out and made for the train station, while also being quickly accompanied by the gilded dwarf and several more guards that were heavily armored, and armed, Smith noted as he saw several of them wielding what looked like bulkier versions of M-16s and even a couple of SPAS-12s. He also noted a few on what looked like recently built watchtowers carrying long barreled rifles with scopes.

"Expecting trouble?" Smith asked as they continued towards the station.

"Only a fool doesn't expect trouble." The dwarf rumbled.

"Wise words to live by."

"I intend to."

A shot rang out that made the dwarves, and the agents, tense for a moment until a call was heard in the harsh Dwarvish Tongue. Then the dwarves resumed their easy pace. The agents weren't sure what it was until they saw several human laborers dragging away what looked like a goblin. But this one was more wild and haggard looking than the ones at the Duval Estate and even the ones that infested the alleys of the town.

They must be the ones roughing it out in the wilderness, Smith thought as the goblin was dragged over to a fire pit and tossed in with little affair before the laborers went back to work.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Are they a regular problem?" Smith asked.

"They're goblins." The gilded dwarf grunted as if that was all the confirmation they needed. Given how much of a hassle they've been not just to the locals but what they've seen and been reported to by their field agents, Smith wasn't going to argue otherwise.

The agents and their dwarven host and guards arrived to the train house where they would receive the train sent by the agency from their facility. Smith looked to his watch unworried as Doe fidgeted under the glares of the dwarves. The gilded dwarf rumbled towards Smith.

"When is it to arrive?"

"Right. About. Now." Smith stated as they all watched as a sleek black tinted train rolled silently down the tracks. Barely making a sound even as it neared, the 12 cars it pulled were slick and streamlined save for a couple of beds that carried a cement truck and a bulldozer.

The train hummed as it pulled to a stop just beside the awestruck dwarves. Even Doe looked in awe at the sleek futuristic train. A door opened up by the engine and a dark skinned man in a fine black suit got out and marched over to the agents and dwarves. He gave a crisp salute to Agent Smith.

"Agent Smith. Transport has arrived on schedule as requested, Sir."

Smith returned the salute.

"Much appreciated Quartermaster Jackson. You can tell the men to begin offload."

Before Jackson could begin offload, however, the gilded dwarf rumbled once more.

"Oh, please allow Ulrin, son of Alrin, son of Elrin, head of the Olrin Banking Clan that has purchased ownership of the trainyard to inspect the shipments."

Jackson saluted even as the dwarf cast a wary eye towards Smith. But the dwarf did nothing more than grumble before barking an order to the contingent of guards that had arrived when the sleek train had pulled in. They shuffled towards the various cars and machines with weapons drawn. Some had blunderbusses, some modern guns, others held mauls and battleaxes and some had maces, axes, and shields.

The car doors were opened when ordered to and the dwarves inspected the contents as Smith listed off what was there as he and Ulrin followed along car by car. Lumber, cement mix, rebar, copper wire, piping, everything needed to build housing for the new arrivals and then some.

As well as an entire car full of dollar bills and plenty of change. Which may or may not have been procured "illicitly" depending on where and how Langley got it. But as far as the dwarves were concerned it was legitimate and the agency wasn't going to say otherwise.

"All is as you say it is." Ulrin grunted as ramps were placed to allow offload.

"Thank you. Now for payment-"

"We will not accept yer promissory notes! We will only accept hard, and real, coin!" Ulrin declared.

"Of course." Smith said without a hint of hesitation as he gestured to the car that held the money. Two large pallets were carefully wheeled down.

"These are silver and gold dollars. I trust they will meet your standards of currency?" Smith asked.

Ulrin grunted as he produced a ornate knife and tore away at the plastic wrap and pulled out a couple brown rolls that contained the heavy coins. He cut them both open and mentally weighted the shining coins in his bejeweled hand. He glanced at the little brown rolls and seemed to be adding up just how much was there.

After long minutes, most of which was just Ulrin letting the agents, more Doe than Smith, sweat. He grunted affirmatively and sheathed his knife and stuck out his hand.

"I accept yer offer o' payment."

Smith shook it with a smile.

"I trust we can continue to do business then?"

"Aye. As long as you keep yer goods fair and yer coin fairer. You may do business at tha Ulrin Railyard." Ulrin declared as the large pallets of precious metal coins were wheeled away by Ulrin laborers to be properly accounted.

"Ulrin? Not Olrin?" Smith asked.

"Nay. Tha Olrin Clan was a clan o' bankers and investors. It died when Daele was lost. Our claim ta tha clan will have no doubt been struck from tha Dwarvish Clan Records in tha Capitol when they hear, if they haven't already, o' Daele's downfall. It will either be described as lost or given ta some halfwit with tha barest o' claim ta it. So, we are now tha Ulrin Mercantile Clan!" Ulrin declared with pride.

"Oh? May I ask what the difference is between a banking clan and a mercantile clan?"

"Little. Ta declare yer clan's trade is more fer tha Clan Records than anythin' specific. We will continue ta invest and loan as we have always done. We will just now officially branch into trading and other mercantile pursuits."

"Did you not do that before?"

"Aye, we did. But it was always with a light hand and as nothin' more than investors. We got a percentage o' wealth from those businesses and ventures. But now we are takin' a direct approach."

"Would it be rude to wish you good fortune?"

"Not at all! Though before I leave you I would have yer name since you know mine."

"Agent William Smith. And I wish you good fortune in your ventures, present and future!" Smith declared as Ulrin and a couple guards left and followed after the pallets of coins.

Smith and Doe stayed and watched the offload for a time just to make sure there weren't any hiccups. But Jackson seemed to have everything in hand, so the two agents left and returned to the motel.

As the two entered, they were greeted by the sight of Agent Mason, Dr. Zhu, and Dr. Obermann. Agent O'Doyle looked up as the two entered.

"Good. You're just in time. Our men are setting up at the roads into and out of town."

Dr. Zhu looked at the monitors with annoyance.

"When is my tent going to arrive?"

"Soon. They should be arriving not long after security." O'Doyle stated.

"Good. My current medical tent is inadequate with the number of subjects I will have to be overseeing." Dr. Zhu stated in a clipped tone.

Agent Doe stared at the Chinese woman with a bit of unease. Despite her dressed like a regular scientist. Lab coat, turtleneck, thick pants for the weather and fine pointed shoes. She had a coldness to her eye that Doe didn't like. Dr. Obermann wasn't much different. He hunched and glared at the assembled agents with stormy eyes filled with disdain. He favored his right leg as he leaned on a worn wolves head cane with hands gloved in black leather. He looked middle-aged, but given the age he thought Smith actually was compared to how he looked, he wasn't going to assume. He had thin black hair that drooped down that reminded Doe of a wilted plant. He wore a dark gray trench coat that was heavily buckled and which he held close. His pants were dark and seemed to border the line between functional and stylish. His shoes were crisp black that wouldn't look out of place at a military parade.

Agent Mason on the other hand was nothing like the other two! He wore the signature agent suit loosely. The black coat was undone and hung loosely over his white shirt that had the top two buttons and tie undone as well as a couple of ketchup stains. His pants were stained navy blue cargos and worn sneakers that were a faded red. While he ate a messy burger he would regularly adjust his Yankee's cap. He didn't really seem to care one way or another and was content to simply eat his messy meal and wait for his orders.

Quite the diverse group, Johnathan thought as he looked around at said group. Dr. Obermann hissed.

"When will I be getting my research tent?! It is too important to be wasting such precious time!"

"I have been informed by HQ that that they are sending the most important and needed things first." O'Doyle stated tiredly.

"Good. I will return to my team then." Dr. Obermann declared and brushed past Agents Smith and Doe and left the room in a huff, taking a thick tension and the odd smell of lilac and formaldehyde with him.

"Thank God." O'Doyle muttered as Herr Doctor left.

The remaining agents watched the monitors as the security team rolled to a stop up the road and began to set up roadblocks and checkpoints along both roads as well as surveillance along the train tracks. The radios crackled to life now and then to inform them of developments.

"So is R&D happy about the ettin and trolls?" Mason asked as he took a swig of a soft drink.

"They are. They also appreciate the goblin specimens your boys got for 'em." O'Doyle said as his eyes remained on the monitors.

Dr. Zhu clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Why do you get a plethora of biological diversity and I get stuck with small bloated locusts?"

"Because I'm nice and HQ loves me?" Mason said as he batted his eyes at Dr. Zhu, who rolled her eyes and snorted with disgust before leaving when she heard that her tent had arrived.

"See, that's why I get the fun assignments and she doesn't. No people skills." Mason declared around a mouthful of burger.

O'Doyle made to say something when one of the radio operators called him over. He bent down and listened as she whispered to him before he took the headset and listened in himself. He returned the headset with a curse.

"Fuck! We have a problem!"

"What?" Smith asked with furrowed brows.

"Guess who pulled some under the table favors and is getting ready to head up here?"

"The Major General?"

"Yup. We don't know entirely how. HQ is screaming on one headset while the other is Comms trying to fix it somehow."

"What's his ETA?"

"HQ is using their influence in the DOD as well as the state office to slow him down. But it looks like he's not taking no for an answer. Comms are piecing together that he and the National Guard will be here within days, a week tops." O'Doyle stated as he zoomed between headsets and radios.

"Damn. That's all we need is the National Guard showing up and escalating things." Smith cursed.

Doe still wasn't sure what the problem was. Sure it was in his training that they didn't want the local military or even law enforcement to get involved in their business, but this seemed a little much for him.

"Why-"

"Why don't we want the National Guard to show up? Because the last two times the National Guard was deployed on its own citizens in West Virginia it ended in bloodshed. Battle for Blair Mountain ring a bell? That and Somewhere itself would rather not end up as a staging ground of yet another blood feud between the hillfolk and the National Guard." Smith stated.

"So suffice it to say, the LAST thing we want is the locals showing up wanting to restore order and open up old wounds at the same time! Not to mention how they'll affect our agreement with APL-1!" O'Doyle said.

That... made alot more sense, Johnathan thought. But still.

"Could-"

"Couldn't we just keep them separate and limit their interaction? Sure, if it was just the two of them. No problem. But it isn't just the two of them. It's APL-1, it's the new arrivals, it's the Duval, the giant, the eldritch spawn, the growing criminal influence! We're already straining just to keep things as is contained and tightlipped without a Major General showing up like he's MacArthur in the Goddamn Philippines!" Smith cursed as he paced.

He breathed for a moment to calm himself.

"We can't stop him?"

"Not unless we want to take out a serving general we can't." O'Doyle declared.

"And that would lead to questions and a bigger headache down the road." Smith said.

"We'll just have to get ready and hope for the best." O'Doyle said as he directed the agents through the various headsets.

Smith continued to pace as Doe watched the whole thing unfold. Mason, meanwhile, still looked unconcerned as he continued his meal.