This now begins the next arc in the story, the Liberation Arc. I split this one in two and will update shortly. Hope you enjoy.
And if you're wondering, I'm dividing this stuff into arcs to make them feel more like individual missions. I did this because I decided updating more than five chapters was overkill. So no more of that. Probably.
The Crimson Raiders sat in the meeting room in Sanctuary, having assembled again. This time, Tina, Gaige and The Captain weren't there. The CEO's of their newest allegiances were though, all seated at the table.
Lilith smiled at the people before here. "Gentlemen, nice to see you again."
"Again? It was barely two days" reminded Stanton Dahl.
"I like comin' here" said Montgomery Jakobs. "Da people are friendly and dat diner sells sweet iced tea like my grandma used ta make."
"This city is interesting" murmured Nicholas Vladof, his hookah set up beside him. He took a breath and sighed. "So why are we here?"
"We need to wait for the rest" reminded the Siren.
One of the monitors to the side activated. "Vice Admiral Wolfenstein, reporting in."
They turned and saw The Captain on the monitor.
"Wolfenstein?" inquired Dion.
"Oh, you have never heard my name. Yes, I am Wolfenstein."
"Cool name."
"Thank you."
"Good to see you" said Lilith.
"To you as well."
A fiery redhead popped out beside the tall man on the monitor. "Gaige reporting, ya sexy babe!"
The Siren smirked. "Hey Gaige."
The eccentric schoolgirl glanced at Baldemar. "Hey Knight."
"Hello, my lady" replied the inventor.
"Take your stupid romance elsewhere" ordered The Captain.
"Yeah, it's rather annoying" agreed Nicholas.
"Ah fuck off all of you!" roared Gaige.
"Feisty little one" murmured Stanton smiling. "I like her."
"Don't get any ideas" warned Baldemar gritting his teeth.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Lilith rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, we have a few more we need."
"Already here" spoke Maya from another monitor.
"Right behind her" added Zero, who was indeed right behind her.
Another monitor flashed to life, revealing a screen filled with smoke.
"General Axton reporting" stated a voice through the smoke. They could make out a cigarette and an eye in the smoke, but that was it.
"Good to see you Axton, theoretically" joked Lilith.
"Yeah. I got addicted to nicotine. Sorry about that."
"Cigarettes. Such uncultured trash" muttered Nicholas. "I prefer a more filtered feel."
"Whoever that guy is, he's a douchebag."
"I run the Vladof corporation."
Axton paused, his eye registering shock. "Jesus, you look younger than I thought. A lot less passion in your voice too."
"That's for the commercials. I'm quite serene most of the time."
Montgomery sighed. "Bull. Where was dat serene mothafucker when ya impaled my men?"
"I got angry."
Axton chuckled. "That's awesome."
A fourth monitor activated, holding a drinking man. "Mordecai, reporting. What up?"
"Good to see you Mordy" stated Lilith.
"Ditto. Am I late?"
"No, you're right on time. And with you here, we can start the meeting."
"What up Tina and Krieg?" reminded Baskerville.
"Well Tina doesn't need to be confused with details, and Krieg…"
She sighed. "He's stable, but not good with planning."
The wereskag nodded. "True. I guess we're okay than."
"Right."
Lilith stood. "First of all, I'm glad we are all together. We can finally get some real strategy going on."
"Indeed" commented Nicholas. "What is going on? Have we been attacked?"
"Three of our outposts have been assaulted as of this hour. We're certain they can be defended, but we're going to have to support those areas against future attacks."
"What outposts?" asked Mordecai.
"Rocko's, Jessup's, and Cithara's."
"Shit. No wonder you're so confident. Those three are the best soldiers we got on the frontlines."
"Rocko? Wasn't he just a tool for Brick?" inquired Maya.
"He was, but there was a reason he was his second-in-command" reminded Mordecai.
"And Jessup. That was that private at the gate last time I was here" said Axton.
"He too is strong" stated Lilith.
"And Cithara?" questioned Zero.
"You don't know him. He's a professional."
Montgomery lit a cigarette. "Well, what areas are they in? Where are we sending reinforcements?"
"Thousand Cuts, Southern Shelf and Arid Nexus."
Stanton nodded. "I will gladly give my troops. There's no need for the others to sacrifice their men."
"Nonsense" spat Nicholas. "My men will take the Southern Shelf."
"My guys can go to da Cuts" stated Montgomery.
"Then that leaves me with the Nexus" said Stanton.
"Good. I'm glad you all agreed so easily."
"Same" added Mordecai. "I'm grateful they're all working so well together."
"I'm reasonable for the most part" explained Nicholas.
"Dat's debatable" murmured Montgomery.
"Are you ever going to let that go?" inquired the CEO of Vladof.
"No."
"Oh well."
Wolfenstein cleared his throat. "I must ask, what is our next move? I have found a replacement for my position, and I am willing to go back out to fight."
"That's good" said Lilith. "You're one of the best fighters we got."
"Oh, are you going out?" asked Gaige. "About time! You deserve a break from the boring-ass paperwork!"
"I was fine with the paperwork" he explained calmly. "But my services are needed. It would be wrong to not lend them."
"You're so loyal Captain" murmured the schoolgirl admirably batting her eyes. "I wish I could be just like you."
"No you don't" he said coldly.
"Yeah, I don't" she admitted. "If I was like you, I wouldn't have tits."
"That's not a subject you discuss with this kind of company" he reminded.
"Ah, fuck em!"
Nicholas chuckled. "How amusing."