(During Issue 10: WITCH enters portal with Vathek)
'OPERATION HEGIRA IS A GO'
Eric haggardly reads the text from Martin as it flashes on the screen of his phone. He displays the message to Ray. "Looks like we're on to phase two." Eric says as gets up from his chair and on front of the chosen rebels.
Soon as the legionates woke the rebels up after Vathek left, they had breakfast and announced on the unanticipated and sudden raid. The whole morning, Eric and Ray chose the forty of the best and suitable rebels and instructed their roles in the operation. They displayed the routes indicated as directing arrows on the floor plan, on how to get in by surprise and save the prisoners and how to get out of it without making a single sound of disturbance, as they wait for Martin's call.
"Right then, we better start." Ray says as he rubs his eyes with his wrist and drinks from his tumbler for the fifteenth time and proceeds inside the portal.
"Ten-hut!" Eric calls before his men as the rebels leave what they were doing and stands and forms into three lines across along the horizontal axis of the barn.
Eric walks parallel along their lines before them.
"I know you guys were surprised to my announcement earlier for we were too when the message arrived, complain all we want but it'll never lead us to anywhere!" Eric gruff calls, though his voice clatters to tiredness. "Take this as an opportunity to sharpen your mind and skills, because the real fight has not yet begun! What we're going to do today is only but the tip of the sword and not the blade itself! Just recall your trainings these past few weeks, the plan and your functions to this operation and always remember to…!"
"We pillage them right back!" the rebels cry in unison.
"What?! I can't hear you? We should what?" Eric sarcastically yells them back at them as he places his hand behind his ear.
"We pillage them right back!" the rebels cry out once more to enliven their motivation and spirit within them.
Eric nods as he places his hands on his waist in satisfaction. "Now ready yourselves and proceed to the portal on the double!" Eric commands as the rebels suddenly scramble to wear their improvised armors and large cloaks.
"Nice speech right there." Ray compliments as he claps his hands sarcastically and then drinks from his tumbler. "Last year you were all stutter and clatter with public speaking, that's a big improvement for you there."
"I guess so? Or maybe I think I drink too much caffeine since midnight?" Eric wonders blankly as he gathers the bows into the baskets. "How much did you drink, mine sixteen." He says as he places his tumbler on the table.
"Dang it, fifteen." He says as he bangs his tumbler on the nearby table.
"Uilly" Eric then calls for a standard build lizard looking creature that approaches him. "Cover the gathered weapons with the extra cloak we got as we load them up. We don't want any of the Meridianites to see those, do we?"
"Yes Atlas." He hisses.
As the rebels are ready to pack, they rush and hurry inside the portal where at the other side of the universe the inside of messy shelter in Meridian. Outside of it, are parked four-wheeled wagons, with bonnets to lay the covers on and are pulled by large rhinos that wait for their arrival. As planned earlier, they were sent from Vathek from Jolras' Corps, before he met Martin at the other side of the universe.
They go into the wagons discretely among the dense crowd of the market place. The weapons in baskets were also carried out as they covered it with a large cloth. They sit on the side benches of the wagon while the baskets are placed in between the middle of the wooden wagons. As the Eric and Ray, in their disguised long robes and being the last ones to ride on, the wagons start to roll out to their location.
"Nervous? Or praying?" Ray asks as he notices Eric's anxious gesture who bends his head down and hands close together after minutes of riding.
"Sleepy…while thinking the plan we had earlier, and still memorizing the floor plan in my head." Eric replies as his mind drifts to a flashback early morning…
Two-thirty in the morning,
Eric summarizes after he scribbled notes to a piece of paper after he, Ray and Vathek discussed the present conflicting conditions of the raid and the general phases of the plan. He takes a quick sip and continues…
"Alright in summary of what we have discussed…" he continues. "Dungeon Rock sits on high hill with its hillsides completely barren and treeless, with seven basements down and seven more floors up. Though the floor plan is a sure labyrinth, all the floors are similar down to the basement. The estimated population of the guards is less than two-hundred wherein, most of them skilled and armed in archery."
"Those in our priority list are the prisoners in the sixth and seventh floors level of the building, including rebel officials and skilled rebel warriors, except for Alborn and Miriadel, who are at the second floor of the building." Ray says as he reads from his own notes. "The only way to get in is by first, the entry doorway at the façade or, second, an underground under the basement which has no access whatsoever to the basements such as stairs or holes or third, through the series of window openings at the right side of the building which are guarded by archers."
"So after all the situations are determined, we proceed to the operation itself." Eric continues to summarize onto the plan as he turns the paper around and reads. "Operation Hegira: first phase. Vathek, with the help of Martin, must persuade the Guardians to come to Meridian while we announce and train the chosen thirty men, the phase is ends when they take their leave to the underground passageway."
"Second phase, we deploy the thirty men to the portal on two wagons provided by Caleb's Corps." Ray then continues. "The wagons will direct us on the foot of the hills behind the trees before hillsides, where the rebels could unload. The signal of the raid starts from the foothill to half-kilometer run towards Dungeon Rock, when the Guardians appearance distracts the soldiers. As our rebels reach the top we must climb over to the windows, especially at the sixth and seventh floors. Meanwhile Vathek and his men from behind must make a way to break in the basement and clear the seven basement floors above."
"Third and final phase, we rescue the prisoners in surprise but in silence." Eric explains. "Prioritize the prisoners on the top floors then down to each floor if possible, if not, then go down directly at the back stairs down to the underground where the Guardians entered. If possible, remaining rebels must join up with Vathek to provide a convenient escape route that connects the underground and the back stairs. The rebels and prisoners go down, they must exit at the rendezvous point abandoned underground and we make our escape."
"Is there anything else we missed?" Eric then asks
"Breathing properly." Ray replies jokingly as he sees Vathek taking a nap. "We were reading our notes too fast I bet Vathek didn't hear what we said!"
The convoy makes its way through the noisy and hearing and hustling and busy streets. "We're almost here." Rius points outsides from afar as Eric from the front, peeps and gazes to a large bulky structure with weird architecture covered in all black. It sits on top of a tall hill with a surrounding meadow hillside with only a few trees and shrubs. "Cadavigo Hill. It's the tallest hill here in Meridian and once an open public green park."
"And they would ruin such a place for a prison such as this we're looking at?" Ray confusingly asks.
"Atop of the hill, you could actually see everything from up there." Rius explains. "Phobos planned to create a wretched prison to those who defy him, at the same time a search tower to survey all of Meridian."
"So it's like the Big Brother of 1984, but a watchtower." Ray jokes and correlates an Orwellian novel.
"Big Brother?" Rius confusingly asks.
Eric annoyingly sighs as he places his palm on his face and continues to converse with Rius instead. "So this hill is the reason why it's easier for them to know the rebel movements and why the rebel bases are all underground or a lower and descending location, just like at the 'Sanctuary' where you have all been recruited, right?"
"Right." Rius affirms.
After long minutes later of pressured minutes waiting hoping they won't pass or be checked by soldiers, the convoy then finally makes a shortcut turn to a hiding dense tree cultivated area. The convoy then rides along the rocky and muddy provided pathway, along the bottom of the hill. They make a stop at a dead end of the path. The rebels get off from the wagons and bring out the weapons.
"Vathek's right, this is truly a great hiding spot, those guards from Dungeon Rock can't see what we are doing." Eric says as he surveys around the forestry area. Though the ground may be wet and gushy, the large tree canopies provided shadow and shade to their hidden location. He and Ray then remove their cloaks and places inside the parked wagons before they went back to the 'Old Ruins'.
As they arm themselves with the weapons from the container baskets, the small group of rebels approache to the other end of the group of trees before the open hill incline begins. They hide behind the trees as they wait for the signal.
"If we set foot on those open meadow and treeless hillsides we'll be exposed." Ray says as he gazes from the thick trees. He uses his Farsight at Dungeon Rock where guards who stand by at the windows, overlooks at the city from above. "It might be too late for a surprise attack if we were caught crossing from here to the prison."
"That's why we wait for the Guardians to make the distraction." Eric explains as he places his binoculars on his eyes. "And since Vathek isn't here as planned, means they're still in the underground. Just keep watch and if you notice a commotion, then we'll charge as planned."
"Aye aye captain." Ray keeps on the watch.
Though only for only a few minutes, emotions slow down into hours once more as the rebels and the legionates feel the tension they are in as they wait for the signal to arrive. The rookie rebels anxiously feel the tensed pressure. While Eric and Ray, though did not slept that evening till now, feel the waking awareness upon them, until Ray noticed the ruckus as the guards left their position from the window.
(During Issue 10: WITCH enters dungeon)
"It's time, Atlas." Ray says as he continues on the lookout as he materializes his bow on the hand. "Seems the Guardians are creating the distraction we wanted."
"Alright guys," Eric calls to rebel army out as he ready his bow and arrow. "Just told what you're told to do, but in if there any other improvisations that you need to do, don't think twice! And don't make any sound as we pillage right them back!" Eric dashes out to the open and rushes his legs on the steep hill. 'Wait for us, Grantaire! We're coming!'
The rebels in fright loose themselves from it as they too bravely dash out to the open and cross a half-kilometer run along the risky bluish-green meadow towards the structure.
Ray, from the rear is the last one to dash out as he seeks unto the windows of the side of the building to see if any guards are on them. When he sees a guard overlooking outside the window, "Farsight First Technique: Snipe Shot!" he would instantly launch his arrow at the soldier hurting him before he could say another word.
Twenty-five hundred meters remaining as the rebels keep up their phase without being noticed at first, yet after five minutes of the charge the guards begin to realize the surprise and quiet rebel charge, only a number of soldiers begin to arm themselves with bows and arrows on the windows.
'It's a good thing we could keep up the phase with the help of the Guardians' distraction!' Eric thinks as he sees the soldiers as they are hold off one-by-one by Ray and the archer's flawless aims from the rear. 'If it weren't for them I bet countless of them would be barraging with arrows by now!'
After six struggling and tiring minutes, they finally reach the cold peak of the hill and adjacent to the tall and bulk prison walls as they hear cries and screams of the soldiers inside as they were offensively attacked by the powerful Guardians.
"Quick! Rope archers!" Eric commands as he, Uilly, Jehan and the five of the archers upfront take aim upwards. "Relax and steady your arrows and take aim! Ready when fire!" He says as he shoots his arrow tied with a rope, and it sticks to the ledge above of the fifth floor window. He wears his bow over his body then pulls himself up using the rope as he climbs the walls.
The rebels also shoot theirs as they were trained by Ray back at the barn. Four of the shots were successful while the other three didn't even make the cut. As the ropes were secured, the able rebel melee fighters climb up quickly as they get to the window.
"Don't let them!" calls a soldier of the guard with incoming soldiers from the other side of the building as they try to stop the rebels on front.
"Cover them!" Ray commands as Rius, and his seven-archer team from far behind shoots their arrows at the incoming soldiers to stop their advance while they also stop the incoming soldiers from the windows
As Eric reaches the window and climbs over it, he sees a dozen more soldiers who charge at him at both ends of the right and left wings of the hallway. He quickly takes out a fallen soldier's sword in a normal grip and he prepares to face them. The soldiers meet him with a quick flash of Eric's quick and nimble blows and take them out in a matter of seconds. 'I miss this old average weight of the sword, than the heavy Atlas broad sword!'
The rebels who already climbed over the window, also join the fray as they use their own weapons to fight off the incoming soldiers. The guards are also in confusion as they are met not swords, but different weapons such as axes and pitchforks. The others who still doubt their melee skills, also take out their shields from their backs and strap to their arm as they use it to push the shoulders to a retreat.
When the pursue of the soldiers stop, as the rest of them are still on the guard on a powerful opponent, the Guardians, twenty of the rebels finally reach over the sixth floor. As planned earlier, the rebels from above continue to help to those who can't climb over as they pull the ropes up.
"I'll go first with these men here, where Grantaire is." Eric says to Jehan as he drops the sword and arms himself with the bow. "You go to that right wing escape the rebel prisoners. Meet us at rendezvous point."
"Yes sir!" Jehan replies as he helps a fellow rebel to climb over.
"Scutums out front and we move out!" Eric commands as he leads the charge to the right wing and the rebels with the large shields called the scutums, move to the front as they display their shields.
As they turn to the corner where the cells are on the left side of the wall, sudden flying arrow shots from the soldiers greet them but the large and rectangular shields defended their quick advance as they crawl behind in a continuous line along the hallway. Eric and the other rebel archers stand in the open and quickly shoot an arrow at them.
"Arrgh!" "Ugh!" the soldier-archers cry out as the arrows fly to their limbs while the others hide in the corner.
"Release the prisoners!" Eric commands as the disciplined rebel group advances quickly. For each prison cell they pass through. The jail breaker rebels break the prison locks as they hammer and smash it down until it breaks. The prison cells are then opened and the rebel prisoners are released. The weak and the tortured are carried by the rebels or the prisoners themselves.
The same procedure is also done as Jehan took the left wing of the building as he gather all the rebels to the sixth floor: Scutums on the front then archers, and lastly the jail breakers with the released prisoners through the torch-lighted and windowless labyrinth. As they advance further, more prisoners are released as they too volunteer to join arms.
"Uilly continue to lead these men down the floors as planned." Eric says as he shoots another soldier on front of them. "We meet rendezvous point."
"Roger that." He says as he shoots another arrow at the soldier from the stairs and crawls back behind the shields.
"Alright!" Eric calls out. "Those under me to the top floors! Follow me!"
The rebel group parted ways as make to the stairs. Eric ascends with a few skilled rebels behind him, while Uilly continues down the floors with the rescued prisoners. When they get to the next floor they were met with only a fewer guards who prepare to launch their arrows at them.
"Fire!" commands the outnumbered guards as arrows fly to them as they set foot on the next dark dungeon floor.
"Hide behind my back!" Eric instructs to his men for without the available scutums, he quickly deflects them using the sword as he maneuvers his sword around and cuts the arrows in to two.
As the soldiers seen that their arrows have been deflected, they run and retreat from their supposed powerful and great opponents.
"Take positions for we're the only ones here on this top floor! And start to jailbreak!" Eric calls out as the scutums take their position to protect the rear from sudden enemy attack from behind, while Eric on the front who leads the group as the once again break the locks to each of the advancing cells. 'According to Vathek this is the floor for the high ranking rebel officers!
As they continue on the cells, Eric continues to deflect arrow attacks on the front while the large Roman-look-a-like shields defend their back as archers in the next line shoot them back. As they advance further through the puzzling yet memorized maze, their size grow number in size as the prisoners take arms or help those who need assistance.
"Grantaire!" Eric says as he finally sees him lying battered and bleeding unconsciously on the cell floor with his lizard hands are in magically chained cups that prevents him from using his magic.
"The padlocks sealed with magic!" says Laigle as he tries to hammer down the lock.
"Let me do it!" Eric says as he deflects an arrow shot as one of the rebel scutums proceeds to the front to take care of Eric's position.
"Not so fast!" Suddenly a shining and whirling light appears before the advancing rebel group, a portal out of nowhere appears on front of them. It was a recognizable large lizard and hideous lizard figure with the long blond hair, green scales and large pointed teeth. "And this time you're not getting away!"
Eric then widens his eyes in shock as he familiarizes the creature in front of him.
"Cedric!"
Meanwhile from the hilltop proper, the last rebel is safely pulled up. Ray, Rius and his team of archers, then quickly approach the unguarded façade, where its large doors are opened. Together with them are the other two wounded rebels who were caught by the arrows during the charge and aren't able to climb over the walls.
"Rius! You alright?" Ray asks as he bends to his knees
"I-I'm alright." Rius replies as he tends to a scratch wound that an arrow scratches to him earlier during the charge. "Just got a scratch, that's all. We finished the second phase didn't we?" He says as he ties a piece of cloth over his wound.
"We did and that's why we better get going and join up with Vathek and his men inside to engineer the stairs—"Ray cuts as he sees something peculiar as he gazes all of Meridian from above. He uses his Farsight and examines the area. "No way!"
"What's wrong Raymondus?" Rius asks as he too gazes down below and sees a group of a hundred uniformed men in columns marching on the hill.
"Heck! Looks like a hundred reinforcements are coming this way." Ray irritatingly and fearfully says.
