Chapter 34

MadJaeger 00- Yeah, you're not alone in that. Unfortunately.

Skaven Underground Network

A trio of Skaven soldiers was guarding a tunnel network leading to their city when they suddenly heard some loud rumblings coming from the tunnel. Curious, the three rats looked at the tunnel, curious about what was causing the noise. They eventually found out when a flood of arcane energy came straight toward them. Panicking, the Skaven tried to move out of the way, but were unable to and were burned alive when the arcane energy washed over them. This occurred more and more as the arcane energies flooded the tunnel systems of the Skaven, killing any and all Skaven it came across. And it's source was the group of Nightborne over one of the large holes that swallowed the original Horde and Alliance camps.

"Hot damn." Said Courier as he watched the Nightborne combine their magic together to form a ball of magical energy that created a waterfall of arcane energy to flood the tunnel and making things easier for them to collapse the Skaven tunnels by killing their defenders, thinning the numbers for the assault team to collapse their tunnels.

Though the feat of magic looked impressive, Courier noted many of them were becoming increasingly exhausted from the amount of magic they were using. Some were close to losing consciousness. Upon seeing one flutter a bit, Courier went over to Chief and spoke to him.

"Chief, we should probably have them stop now." Said Courier. "I think they're using up too much of their energy now." Chief nodded in agreement at that, having spotted the same things as Courier did with the Nightborne. He then looked over at Thalyssra, who was performing the same thing as her people were, before speaking up.

"First Arcanist, you can stop your people now." Said Chief as he placed a hand on her. "There's no need to risk the safety and health of your people any more than they already did. We should be able to handle things now." Upon hearing that, Thalyssra gave a sigh of relief before ordering her people to stop. One by one, the Nightborne mages began to stop casting the spell needed to keep the ball active until eventually the ball died out and its energies fell down towards the hole.

With the exhausting task now over, some Nightborne went to the ground in exhaustion, too tired to even think of how the dirt was dirtying their clothes. Those that remained standing were doing so barely to the point that even a breeze can make them fall over to the ground. Even Thalyssra was exhausted to the point that she was panting, ears drooping low.

"Are you fine, First Arcanist?" Asked Chief as he looked at Thalyssra, ready to catch her if needed. Looking at Chief, she gave him a tired smile before speaking.

"Yes. I just need a moment to rest." Said Thalyssra as she took a deep breath. "I should be fine to travel with you in dealing with the Skaven. Don't worry." Though Chief was doubtful at that and wasn't thrilled with going into battle with someone so exhausted, he had to. The magical prowess of Thalyssra was too invaluable if they want to assault the Skaven. That being said, he wasn't going to do it if one of his members was exhausted to the point that they were a liability. That was just a good way to get people killed for no good reason.

"We can give you a short break along with an energy drink if you need it. I'm not doing this mission until you've recovered enough to not be a liability." Said Master Chief after a few seconds of thought, causing Thalyssra to look at him with a smile.

"Thank you." Said Thalyssra, relieved that he was giving her a break. "You are too kind." Master Chief just stayed silent as the rest of his team helped the Nightborne.

"Courier, escort the Nightborne to the Pelican and have Cortana pilot it back to the Alliance and Horde. Once they're clear and Thalyssra recovered enough, we'll commence our assault." Said Chief, causing Courier to nod.

"Got it." Said Courier before leaving to do his task, leaving the Nightborne lady and the Spartan alone. With that done, Master Chief looked at Thalyssra and offered to give her an energy drink, saying it'll help restore some of her energy.

"You are kind to offer. Please do." Said Thalyssra. With that, Chief helped Thalyssra walk to another Pelican, this one with various crates full of weapons and supplies. After searching through a few of them, Chief found one full of military energy drinks and energy gum. After opening an energy drink canister, Chief handed it to Thalyssra, warning her of the taste. Cautiously looking at the green liquid inside the canister before drinking it. Upon doing do, she instantly regurgitated the foul-tasting drink.

"That…that was." Said Thalyssra, trying to find the words for what she just tasted, but couldn't.

"I know." Said Master Chief as he took the canister away and gave her a new one. "They're not made for taste at all. They're just to give you energy. Nothing more. I'm sorry we don't have something that has better tastes, but this is all we have." Thalyssra frowned at that before taking the new canister and opening it herself before drinking it down. She nearly gagged on the taste again, but this time she held it together and drank the whole canister. Upon finishing the whole thing, she gave a sigh of relief and handed the Master Chief the empty canister, which he took while also giving her some energy gum.

"This should be better. Just chew it and it'll release the energy into your mouth." Said Master Chief as he handed Thalyssra two pieces of gum.

"Is this better tasting at least?" Asked Thalyssra as she did what Master Chief instructed.

"No." Said Master Chief simply, causing Thalyssra to sigh as she continued chewing.

Few minutes later

"I can't believe we're doing this again." Said High Elf Archer as team Sigma teleported down the Skaven-made hole via teleportation magic from Thalyssra, who was now energized enough to fight.

"Yeah, but this time we're a bit more prepared." Said Courier as he brandished a heavy-looking piece of equipment with various tanks on his back and around the barrel of the equipment. In place of his usual armor was a menacing look piece of heavy armor that nearly took up the entirety of the cave tunnel that they were taking right now. According to Courier, the armor he was wielding was T-51 power armor, one of the most mass-produced armor in his world, balancing productivity with quality protection. In his hands was a flame thrower modified heavily to produce more powerful flames. He said that it'll help them out significantly in the Skaven tunnels, something that both Jack and Master Chief agreed to. "Keep behind me and watch my back. I'll deal with the rats at our front."

"Understood." Said Master Chief before going back in order to cover their flank. "Thalyssra, do you have a spell that can detect life signs?"

"I do." Said Thalyssra before casting the spell she had in mind and increasing the range of it. Despite still feeling some slight exhaustion from everything she did recently, she was energized enough to provide assistance to her allies if only for a limited time.

Taking a deep breath, Thalyssra continued casting the spell before eventually finding a small congregation of life a fair distance from them. "I found some. I'll give instructions on where to proceed." Courier just nodded at that and was about to move forward when Chief stopped him.

"How many hostiles are there exactly?" Asked Master Chief, having a bad feeling about this. This all felt a little too easy. Thalyssra complied with the question and replied that there were around a few dozen left. However, she then told him that she immediately stopped the spell when she found them, so there could be more.

"Is the leader of these Skaven with them?" Asked Master Chief. According to Ikit, taking out their leader will cause the remaining Skaven to descend into infighting as they tried to grab power for themselves.

"I don't know." Said Thalyssra. "It's not that kind of spell. Those are more complex and require physical contact to be done. Or at least knowledge of who you are searching for. Neither of which I possess at the moment."

"Then I will help you find them. Yes-Yes." Said Ikit, causing Chief to look at Ikit Claw. When he asked if the rat was sure of that, Ikit just nodded with some insulting words.

"Good. That'll have to do for now." Said Master Chief before ordering everyone forward. As they moved, Thalyssra gave them instructions on where to go. As she did so, Master Chief spoke. "Given Thalyssra's exhaustion from before, We'll have to return later to exterminate them if they refuse to let up or negotiate. Or do what we did before."

"Can that even be attempted again?" Asked Jack as they continued walking in the tunnels of the Skaven. He was glad he was wearing a helmet because the scrunched-up looks of Thalyssra and High Elf Archer indicated just how badly the smell was in these tunnels.

"Yes." Said Thalyssra before casting a spell that protected her from the smell. Sighing in relief, Thalyssra spoke again. "It's merely gathering mana into one spot and having it dumped into one location. If it weren't for the fact that we just got out of an intense battle not too long ago that used up most of our energy, we would have been doing it longer." Jack just nodded at that in understanding.

"Got it." Said Jack as he looked at Chief in front of him. "So Chief, I'm thinking of taking Vereesa Windrunner to another date. You okay if I do that after this mess with the Skaven is resolved?"

Master Chief just stayed silent for a moment, contemplating this, before responding.

"Alright." Said Chief. "You deserve some R&R after today. If you want to spend it with her, then alright. Just be careful. She may have forgiven you for what you did, but that doesn't she won't put you ahead of her duty. Understood?"

"Understood." Said Jack, knowing that Vereesa would put her people over him any day. Same with him, though he had to admit he hoped that day will never come to pass. The woman suffered enough as it is, she didn't need to suffer more.

As they traversed through the Skaven tunnels, Thalyssra suddenly felt that something was off. Concerned, she silently traveled to the front to Master Chief, everyone giving her space to do so as best they could in the confines they were in, before speaking to the Spartan when she reached him.

"I have a sudden feeling that we're walking into a trap." Said Thalyssra as she looked at Chief as he walked. When he spoke, she was surprised by his answer.

"I know." Said Master Chief. "These tunnels are great kill zones and they're perfect for the Skaven as they made them. If they have any of the weapons they used during the assault on both the Horde and Alliance, they'll use them when they hear us coming. I was about to inform everyone when you spoke about it."

"So, what is the plan?" Asked Thalyssra, knowing that Chief must have a plan if he knew all this. Chief looked at the tunnel, noticing how long it was before speaking.

"That's where you come in, First Arcanist." Said Master Chief, causing Thalyssra to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

Later

Skaven

"Warlord, metal man-things approaching with purple elf-thing. Yes-yes." Said a Skaven assassin as he skittered towards the Warlord of the Skaven, the leader of the Skaven clan in the Blasted Lands. Upon hearing that, the Warlord roared out in anger before gathering the last of his Skaven around him, now no more than a few hundred slaves, a handful of Skaven weapon teams, and Stormvermin, the finest warriors in the Skaven horde.

"Good-good. Alliance-things and Horde-things will pay for attacking us while we're attacking them! Yes-yes!" Yelled the Warlord as he looked upon his ruined clan. Things used to go well for the Skaven in the Blasted Lands. They had inhabited the lands two years ago and have created a strong Under-city as a result, inhabited by thousands upon thousands of Skaven. They were in the process of being so large that neither the Alliance nor the Horde could defeat them because of their sheer numbers. With their superior technology and numbers, the Skaven were poised to fight the Alliance and Horde for control of this world but its all. Ruined! Their Under-city was in ruins and the force they sent to fight the Horde and Alliance was cut off from reinforcements. The Warlord's grand vision of being a critical component of his master's victory, thus gaining many rewards, was now gone. Gone! All because the Alliance and Horde didn't play fair. All they had to do was just stay in one place and let them attack. It wasn't fair.

His Skaven assassins were some of the finest when it came to gathering information and assassinating those that the Warlord wanted dead. They told him that the Alliance and Horde were only sitting around doing nothing. They saw it with their own eyes. They clearly weren't planning on making an attack on them yet So why were they attacking and using their magic to obliterate them? It wasn't fair!

What should have been a grand victory that would earn him much prestige from the other Skaven Warlords and their master ended in disaster for him? If he survived all this, he'll be the laughingstock for the Skaven people on Azeroth.

As he thought of how to redeem himself for this disaster and save face, he heard the sounds of an annoying, high-pitched voice.

"This place is absolutely disgusting!" Yelled High Elf Archer as her voice echoed through the Skaven tunnels. "How the hell do you rats live in these conditions!?"

"If you desire, I can weave a spell to protect you from the smell." Suggested Thalyssra as the group got closer and closer to the Skaven. Upon hearing them, the Skaven Warlord began to hatch a plan to, at the very least, appease his anger. Quickly, he ordered his remaining Skaven to prepare an ambush for those that were approaching them. As his Skaven were moving into position around the tunnel they knew the voices were coming from. Once they were all in position, the Skaven warlord put himself near several Skaven weapon teams, all equipped with long-barreled rifles that were supported by pavise shields that doubled as defensive shields for the two Skaven handling the rifle.

Laughing deviously, the Warlord thought of the faces of the things that went into his tunnels when his minions shot at them with their superior weapons and technology. He was imagining with glee at their screams of pain and agony that he'll soon hear. Watching as his minions readied themselves, he suddenly heard them scream out in rage before firing their Warpfire throwers and Ratling guns at the cave entrance where they all heard the voices. As they fired, the Warlord laughed out loud as he heard screams of agony and pain coming from the tunnel.

"Yes-yes! That teach filthy Horde-things and Alliance-things to fight fair-fair! Only superior Skaven can cheat-sneak!" Yelled the Warlord as his fellow Skaven kept blasting the tunnel as they kept hearing screams of pain coming from them, keeping them drunk on adrenaline as they thought of the many kills that they were gathering from their superior machinery. It was because of this, however, along with their undisciplined nature, the Skaven were unable to see that they fell for a trap and that their prey was actually taking another tunnel to reach them. Soon, they arrived and saw the Skaven were all too distracted with the shooting spectacle to realize they'd been duped.

Thalyssra, a master of the arcane, had created magical constructs of herself and Team Sigma and sent them forward the tunnel that Chief told her to send them while they took another tunnel, explaining to her that there were multiple hostiles gathering near the entranceway of that one, making travel there suicidal for them. Thus, they took an alternative route and a good thing as Thalyssra saw with how much firepower the Skaven had left.

"That's a lot of firepower they still have left." Said High Elf Archer, voicing what they all thought as they saw the Skaven still firing at the tunnel.

"There is leader." Said Ikit Claw as he pointed towards a more heavily armored Skaven than the rest with a large flag on his back, red beady eyes full of satisfaction at what was going on. On what he thought his people were doing. Master Chief, upon seeing the identification of the Skaven leader, began giving out orders.

"High Elf, find a hidden location where you can give covering fire. Jack goes with her. Courier takes point with me and Ikit. Thalyssra stay close. We're taking out their leader. That should disorganize the survivors enough that we can mop them up without too much difficulty." Said Chief as he looked at the remaining Skaven and their positions. "We'll attack once High Elf Archer starts her attack. Understood?"

Everyone gave their own confirmation of his orders before complying with his instructions. As Jack and High Elf Archer went to find a good position to provide covering fire for their team, the rest of the team moved to flank the enemy on their left. In a few minutes, everyone was in position and ready to take the Skaven by surprise, who were still shooting at the other entrance, too enraptured in their attack to realize that they'd been flanked. Aiming at a Skaven weapon team, particularly one that held a gatling gun-like weapon, Master Chief gave the order to fire.

Firing a burst from his assault rifle, he killed the Skaven weapon team. At the same time, Jack and High Elf Archer snipped out a couple of Skaven wielding sniper rifles while Ikit fired his warpfire projector at a group of Skaven, burning them alive. Courier also did the same with his flamethrower while Thalyssra used her magic to imprison several Skaven in magical barriers and traps, causing them to squeak in surprise.

The sudden attack left the surviving Skaven reeling in shock at the sudden attack from behind them. The Skaven Warlord, in particular, was angry that he had been tricked again after recovering from the shock at being outflanked and attacked.

"Cheats! Liars!" Yelled the Skaven Warlord as he saw the Master Chief and his cohorts attacking and killing his remaining Skaven with ease. Even the Stormvermin were being killed with ease, precise shots killing them via headshots. "You all cheats and liars! Only Skaven can cheat! You all die for this! Yes-yes!" Bringing out two rusty swords, the Warlord charged at the group, swinging his swords madly and manically. At the same time, his Stormvermin were charging at Master Chief and his group, halberds, and swords ready to slice them up along with their claws and fangs.

Seeing this, Courier pointed his flame thrower at the approaching Skaven and fired, red flames dosing the incoming Skaven, burning them all alive. As the Stormvermin were being burned, screaming and running around in panic, the Warlord was charging at them, having come from a different side to the four. Jumping, the Warlord screeched out in rage as he aimed for Thalyssra.

Aiming a hand at the Warlord, Thalyssra was about to imprison him in a barrier when Ikit fired a shot from his halberd at the Warlord's head, killing him.

"Stupid rat!" Yelled Ikit as he pointed his halberd at the dead Warlord as his body dropped near Thalyssra. Ikit was about to comment more when Chief spoke.

"They're breaking." Said Master Chief as the Skaven, because of the death of their Warlord and the surprise attack, began to retreat and run away. To where Team Sigma had no idea. What they did know was that they succeeded in eliminating the Skaven threat.

"We did it." Said Jack as High Elf Archer fired off another arrow, killing another Skaven as it fled. "We beat an entire city full of rats."

"More like the Nightborne did it." Said Courier as he looked at Thalyssra as she brought the captured Skaven to her and Master Chief. In the meantime, Ikit was going over to the weapons that the Skaven left behind, eager to take some for his own use. "Their magic did all the work. We just eliminated the survivors."

"There could still be other survivors around. This was just the initial group we found." Said Master Chief as Thalyssra looked at her captured Skaven, which were six. As he did so, he saw that she was taking rapid breaths and was slightly swaying from side to side, indicating her exhaustion. Seeing this, he decided that enough was enough and that it was time to head back. "Much as I want to continue searching for them, we can't. Thalyssra is close to collapsing. We're heading back." Upon hearing that, Thalyssra tried to protest. To assure him that she can still keep going. But Master Chief wasn't having any of it.

"No, we've done more than enough for today. You especially." Said Master Chief as he looked at Thalyssra. "I'm not going to put this team nor you in any more unnecessary danger. We've taken out the Skaven leader and wiped out a good percentage of their forces. We don't need to do anymore. Not when we're too exhausted. And I think it'll be foolhardy to attack them more without additional scans of their tunnels. We'll place explosives around key locations around the tunnels we scanned so far and collapse them. After that, we'll resupply and get some rest. Is that understood?" As his team nodded in understanding, Thalyssra looked at Master Chief, sending the care that he held towards his people. Realizing this, Thalyssra bowed to his request.

"Very well." Said Thalyssra, silently thankful for his decision to go back. She doubted she can do much more. "Let's head back. I believe my people have enough energy to teleport us back to Suramar. Just us, I'm afraid. I doubt we can teleport you flying machines as well."

"I understand." Said Master Chief. "We'll have Cortana and a few Specters fly the transports back to base. Anyone object to this?" Upon seeing no one objecting, Chief spoke up. "Then let's head back." With that, everyone headed back to the sinkhole to go back to the surface, eager to rest up and relax. Especially those who did more than the others.

Unbeknownst to them, however, a single Necron machine was observing them. Cloaked with advanced Necron technology, the group of individuals could not sense or see the machine and that was what its master desired. After all, he very much liked to remain hidden until it was absolutely necessary to reveal himself to the greater part of Azeroth.

Recording everything that had happened, the machine quickly went away into another tunnel, ready to give a report to its one and true master, who would be interested in what happened while he was away, dealing with the Necron Silent King.