Tim barked orders for his squad, to don their armor and grab their weapons, preparing to sally forth upon whoever approached the perimeter, He can sense the nervousness radiating from his men, losing access to their greatest assets, Due to Lorraine’s recent instructions all modern assets are to be deposited and rationed for grave emergencies.

Pondering within himself, contemplating, imagining what could be at the gates, paranoia grips inside of him as the pressure that came with his role as squad leader. The remorse began to seep, thinking whether or not he bears the shame if anything would have happened to his men. This is real life now, to be afraid of death is a natural response of man.

Peering towards his men as they marched towards the gate. Looking back on the days where the normal routine would be to dick around right before briefing, a few shits and giggles around the squad, yet now imagined dying so much it terrifies him, like the shadow of death looms over every single one of them. It is only a matter of when, in one’s sleep perhaps? Or maybe charging straight at him. And when the time comes would it be fight or flight in such a setting. All this pent up frustration building up inside, being expelled through some breathing exercises.

To his surprise someone tapped him over the shoulder, it was Harper; his second in command as he matched his pace. He strikes up a conversation.

Harper: Hey man, you alright? You seem pretty pale over there.

Tim: I am fine corporal, just keep moving.

Harper: No you’re not, I can tell sarge…

Tim: Oh yeah smart guy? Do tell.

Harper: Easy, your trigger hand has been shaky for a while, well in this case that would be your sword holding hand. So you're going to tell me what’s up?

Tim: Okay, fine you got me. And I’ll tell you all about it after this

Harper: You better… can’t have you with your head up your ass.

Tim: Alright, alright you nosy-bastard.

As the two continue to pester one another, the rest of the squad now stand in disbelief on what’s ahead of them. They were people, bloodied and mangled, one would mistake them for walking corpses. At the beat of a drum, everyone got to work. Jhuan sprinted back to the house, reporting the situation to Lorraine and Roland, Labrys began stabilizing the injured as Tosh and Harper headed for the storage to grab some stretchers.

His uneasiness from before began to lighten up. Realizing that like a well-tuned engine it needed cohesion and that everyone’s got a part to do. Without the need of micromanaging it. All he needed was just a little more faith in everyone’s ability. After He has regained his bearing, he rejoins the rest of the team providing aid whenever he can. As the team headed back to the manor, Roland just finished setting up a first aid station. Labrys’ Personal Aid Kit (PAK) as well as Roland’s brewed potions at the ready. Setting the wounded down on improvised beds, Labrys started his diagnosis.

Labrys: Three men, probably in their mid-thirties, various injuries all over, I’ve stabilized them to the best of my ability, it has been a long time since I’ve relied on the healing arts, so I did it the old fashioned way, some field dressing, a surgical kit, and a soldier’s best friend morphine.

Patient 1, is in casualty state T3 or Minor, encountered some fractured bones at his forearms, a number of contusions around his upper thorax, and lastly a few minor cuts all over. Good news, he is conscious, his heart rate and blood pressure seems stable. After a HP potion or two he will be good to go.

Meanwhile Patient 2, is at casualty state T2 or delayed, subject is incapacitated, puncture wounds on the left abdomen, a couple of lacerations all around, lost a substantial amount of blood so I’ve hooked him up to 1000 ml (2 pints) worth of Saline to raise his blood pressure. His heart rate shot up back to normal levels. Needs a couple of stitches and a buttload of morphine.

Lastly, number 3 over there has the worst of it all, suffering an avulsion on his left forearm, missing a few fingers, besides that the rest of his injuries are that similar to the first two. His heart rate and blood pressure is dangerously low so he will also be issued a saline pouch. He would have been dead a day later, fortune smiles on this one.

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

After Labrys finishes his diagnosis report, he picks up a basin filled with water, a rag and some disinfectant, cleaning his surgical tools, and looks over the rest of the force.

Labrys: Thanks for the leg work guys, I’ll take over from here.

Jhuan: Holy shit man, were you studying to become a doctor in the real world?

Labrys: Uhh… no, I took up computer science for college.

Jhuan: But damn dude, usually it is but a click of a button to heal people, it is a whole different thing performing the act itself.

Labrys: After being immersed in a whole different world for a long while, it kind of becomes second nature. The skills we’ve all obtained, in terms of knowledge and application broadens your horizons, like a whole new persona within us.

Jhuan: Really puts things into perspective hehe. And people said that you don’t learn shit from video games.

Tim interjects between the two.

Tim: Hey Labrys, whenever they are ready to talk, give me or harper a call. And Jhuan you and the rest of the men follow me.

Yes sarge, the two exclaimed.

After rallying the rest of the men, he then proceeded to give out their assignments, two teams yet again, Jhuan, Kf and I will try to find some clues, any indication of a battle or an ambush of some sorts, everyone else will stay here to secure the perimeter, in the meantime Harper will be in charge of the property. Whoever or whatever caused this will be back to finish what it has started. Before departing, Harper you go request authorization from Lorraine to open up the armory. After being briefed everyone left for their quarters to prepare leaving Labrys alone to tend to his duties. After a couple of minutes Harper came

Kf splits up from Tim and Jhuan, needing time to load an entire drum’s worth of ammo for his 7.62x54 DP-28 light machine gun. Jhuan starts up a conversation.

Jhuan: So, what do you think happened to them?

Tim: My bet is either, something big out there swoops down on those unlucky bastards or probably an ambush, who knows it's going to be our job to find out anyway. So freshen up, we’re gonna need your scouting skills on this one.

Jhuan: Got it sarge.

As the duo walked past the briefing hall they ran into Harper, holding some documents.

Harper: Alright I’ve got some good news and some bad news, which one do you want to hear first?

Tim: I guess the good news first then.

Harper: Good news, Lorraine green-lit the armory, bad news is that only one large-caliber firearm may be withdrawn. The other two will be relying on side arms.

The dossier contains the list of weapons and equipment you three will be receiving. 1x DP 28 machine gun with three pan mags, including the one in the chamber at the request of Kf. 1x Colt 1911, issued three magazines as well, and a Webley model 1887 with 5 clips worth of ammo. In terms of equipment you all are issued with two large HP potions each, then you are free to choose between a one fragmentation grenade or a smoke one, one radio for communications, And lastly a memo from Lorraine,

Rules of Engagement, If the hostiles are humans or any of the other races they are to be dealt with traditional methods, make sure that if guns will be used, no one is left alive to tell about it. And if they’re beasts of the forest then fire away.

And I guess that is all for equipment briefing, happy hunting gentlemen. I’m off to check on Labrys.

Jhuan: Let’s head off to the armory now Tim.

Tim: Right behind you Jhuan.

As they enter the armory, they spot Kf sitting on a bench, wrapping his gun with some cloth to conceal it, already wearing his armor consisting of chainmail shirt paired with padded gambeson layered right on top, a short sword hanging over his belt and still sporting his Altyn helmet from before.

Kf: Hey, you all ready to go?

Jhuan: Just need to grab our pistols and other equipment and we are good to go.

Kf: I’m already set, so I’ll see you guys outside.

Tim hands Jhuan the Webley, while he holsters the Colt and the radio in his pouch bag. After grabbing their advanced weapons and equipment they walked over to the weapon rack on the opposite end of the armory, lined with a variety of traditional weapons. Jhuan took a short spear and a hand axe while He went with a classic long sword.

After organizing their gear, they made their way back outside, Harper assembled those who remained, assigning shifts alternating from guard duty, maintenance work, and helping Labrys, Harper spots the trio on their way out.

Harper: Hey you three, make sure you guys come back in one piece. Make sure you bring back a souvenir for everyone, he jests

Tim: Sure, sure just remind me over the radio I guess.

He forms a cross to open up the player menu, going through his collection of mounts, He selects the one named wagon, as he pressed the translucent box, a large wooden wagon with a tarp covering the rear manifested in front of the group, being drawn by two chestnut thoroughbreds. As the mount finishes it’s summoning sequences the trio mounted up, Jhuan taking shotgun, Kf riding in the back. And lastly Tim is at the helm.

At the whip of the reins, the horses started to trot their way out of the estate, as he looked back towards the manor, the rest of the force waving out to them.