Chapter 247. Station Chaos.
The train ride continued at a steady, but monotonous pace. In the distance, I could see a large forest spread out before us. The thin thread of the train tracks cut through it, and I could only wonder how it was that the elves, who were supposed to care for the forests, allowed the goblins to clearcut a line through their pristine wilderness.
The forest started with a few stunted trees and grew denser the further we rolled into it. It was truly a beautiful sight, and I thought I could see a few log cabins scattered here and there. Each of the cabins had a small patch of farmland cut from the forest around them.
Small figures moved about the farms, laboring hard to bring forth whatever crops they were growing. The size of each cabin and farm was almost uniform, and from the thin tendrils of woodsmoke rising from the stone chimneys, I believed it was someone other than elves that lived there.
I wasn’t sure what type of abodes goblins preferred to live in, but the cabins reminded me more of something a human would build. As we drew deeper into the forest, the small clearings with cabins and farms disappeared. The forest became almost oppressive, and it became harder to see more than a few feet into it front of the train car.
The branches of the giant trees grew over the rail line, cutting off much of the light and making the journey feel like we were traveling at dusk rather than the actual mid-afternoon that it was. Our train began to slow, we were still rolling along, but I heard the screech of the train’s brakes more than once. The rail line seemed to cut straight through the forest, so I had no idea why we were slowing, it wasn’t like there was a sharp curve or anything in front of us.
“All right, chumps. We’re heading into the station. Like I mentioned before, keep on your best behavior. The last thing we need is to stir up trouble with the elves. They’re a touchy lot, and most of them would rather gut a goblin than do business with one. Luckily, we got something they need, and as long as we keep things strictly professional-like, it’s all going to be smooth sailing.
When we stop, keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. If you think you’ve spotted something, don’t act on your own, let the guards inside your cars know, and they’ll tell you what to do. Follow their orders and we’ll be good,” Gorma announced.
I could see the thin tendril of mana connecting me to the summoner stretch and fray, as small strands began to flow down into the car below us. It looked like I was now bound to the guards below. Hopefully they wouldn’t cause me any major hassles. The last thing I wanted was some stupid order from a goblin guard to mess up my ranking for this summoning.
According to the mana gauge, I should be heading home after this summoning, and I was excited to get back into training with Major Finley and the team. Brakes began to screech in earnest as they fought against the immense mass of the train. It looked for a moment like we were stopping in the middle of the forest with nobody around.
A brightly painted building hove into view as we finally rolled to a stop. It was then that I noticed a loading platform that blended almost perfectly with the trees around us. Figures moved about the trees above us, and looking closer, I could see elves coming and going from buildings that had been grown from the trunk and branches of the trees.
The blue and red painted building stood out in stark contrast to the organic, tree-grown structures that blended into the forest. Looking like it was made of scrap metal and fresh lumber, the doors of the building slid open, disgorging an unhappy-looking batch of goblin laborers.
Large wooden crates were rolled out from the building, and elves began to descend from the trees, carrying large bundles wrapped in leaves and tied with vines. The bundles were carefully stacked up next to the crates the goblins were pulling from the building. I didn’t know what the two sides were trading with each other, and despite my curiosity, I was pretty sure neither the goblins, nor the elves were in the mood to discuss it with me.
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The guards stationed in each train car unlocked and opened the sliding doors, allowing the goblin laborers to enter and begin unloading metal barrels that they carefully rolled out to the elves who had delivered the bundles. As our cargo was unloaded, the laborers replaced the barrels with the piles of goods that were out on the loading dock.
Everything was going smoothly, but I kept to my orders and continued to scan the area for threats. My minions did the same, and it was Blieek who pulled on my armor and pointed at one of the bundles. I saw it for only a moment, a small green hand had stuck out from the leaves then pulled back in.
Looking down at the cargo doors of the train car, I could see our pair of guards slacking off and shooting the breeze with the goblin leading the work party for our section of the train. Maybe the hand in the bundle was part of what was expected, but I couldn’t take that chance. Leaning over, I threw a copper coin at one of the guards to get his attention.
My aim was better than usual, the copper coin pinging off the guard’s shoulder armor. He looked up at me annoyed, but I motioned to the hatch leading down into the car. With a shrug, the guard entered the train car as I opened the hatch.
“Yeah, what do you want? I was just about to close a deal with that foreman,” the guard said with annoyance.
“Look, I don’t know if this is anything, but I spotted a green hand sticking out of one of those leaf bundles. Tell me, were you expecting goblins to be wrapped up in those things?” I asked.
“You’re not playing me for a kobold are you?” the guard said, turning his gaze to the growing pile of goods being loaded into the car.
“No, check for yourself if you want, it’s that one, the third from the crate on the right,” I said, giving him directions to the bundle I’d spotted the hand in. While he climbed down the ladder to check, I ordered my drone to go invisible and the others to get ready for trouble, just in case.
“Hey, I need to do a spot check, open that bundle. If there’s anything other than smoke leaves in there, we’ve got a problem,” the guard ordered the foreman.
“I ain’t got time for no spot inspection. We’ve got a schedule to keep,” the foreman complained loudly. Around him the other goblin laborers stopped to watch the argument as the foreman got in the guard’s face.
“Just open the one bundle, it’s no big deal. I’ll tell you what, if you don’t want to have your people do it, I can send one of mine,” the guard said motioning for me to send a minion down to check. The foreman didn’t respond, at least not verbally. Instead, he drew a knife from his belt and before I could do anything, slit the guard’s throat.
“It’s Etvart’s Boys!” the other guard shouted as he tried to come to his stricken comrade’s aid. He made it only three steps before other goblin laborers swarmed over him, stabbing and smashing at the guard with various tools. From the leafy bundles, other goblins emerged. Unlike the laborers, these guys were armed with real weapons and wore leather armor.
Given the number of bundles out there, at least fifty hostiles were arrayed against our guards, not counting all the laborers joining the fight. Some of the attackers had already been carried inside the train cars, making them a type of plant-based Trojan Horse. My minions responded immediately, with Blieek slamming the hatch to the top of the train closed, and Khurr with Glurk firing at the attackers with their bows.
I made it to the MPL turret and began to seek out targets. The weapon had a limited amount of depression, but several targets were still far enough from the train for me to hit. As I cranked the firing handle, magic bolts began to pepper the hostile goblins, cutting down a whole swath of them before they could reach the car.
“This is it, everyone, Etvart’s making his move! Seal them cars up tight, the reaction teams are moving in to secure things. Keep fighting, this is Etvart’s last chance. We beat them here, and his takeover attempt is done for,” Gorma ordered.
Other turrets began to open fire, and in the train car behind me, the orc roared a war cry, drawing his axe and dropping into the car to deal with the attackers in a more direct manner. I was content to pelt them with magic bolts of death, while my minions kept me safe.
Several of the goblin laborers charged the train, trying to boost each other up onto the car. My minions cut them down easily, but as my turret ran out of juice and I prepared for a reload, I could see the hatch on our car starting to spin open. By now most of the enemy had already reached close enough to the train car where I was unable hit them with the turret, so I made ready for a more direct approach.
I prepared my Commander’s Pilum, intending to skewer the first attacker to stick his head up through the hatch. The sounds of combat roared around the train and sparing a quick glance around. I could see goblins tearing each other, and the summoned beings, apart.
For now, the elves seemed content to watch, but I could see the glares of hatred they had for both sides of the goblin conflict. How long would it be before the dozens of elves in the trees around us decided to pitch in and shower everyone with deadly arrows?