Episode Nine

Sewer Brawl

Between interrogations of the MJ12 Prisoners and the Map Tyler and Anna got from Damion, the Dragons were able to identify the area of the sewers beneath Gorinth City that MJ12 was basing their operations. Specifically, they were using an old, but quite extensive, bunker that had been used during a short-lived conflict many years ago. It had entry points all throughout the lower sewers. Tyler knew there would be no playing it subtle when the dragons descended into the sewers - not for long, anyway. So he replicated some heavy firepower for the task force that was going down in there. Suspecting he'd be up against shock troops and commandos, he also issued Energized Armor-Piercing ammunition for all the dragons using ballistic weapons. Emera knew, as Tyler did, that MJ12 would not waste time evacuating if they knew they had been found, so they had, as a contingency, a plan to kill any kind of power down in that bunker once the gig was up.

Anna was in tears, seeing Tyler leave for this campaign. Sure, she knew it was for the good of their world and home, not to mention their people, but she had grown very attached to Tyler. She loved him. She had even said so in the presence of family and friends - who were surprised to hear her say such things openly. She wanted him, and she did not want to lose him. But she knew he had to finish this fight - and she could not come with him. Adine kept assuring her Tyler would make it. Anna's mother, father and sister all assured her he'd survive. Even Maverick told her he'll come home victorious. They eased Anna's worries as Tyler left for war, but they did not erase them. She still knew, in the back of her mind, there was a possibility he wouldn't come home. And she dreaded it. So when Tyler stood at the door, she gave him one last passionate kiss, held him tight, tears flowing, as she told him she loved him and wished him luck. She broke down after the door closed.

But Tyler, as much as he wanted to hold Anna close and assure her he'd make it, he knew that he couldn't afford to be emotional as he set off for this operation. He had his BR77A2 loaded and ready, energy shield energized, armor cinched, and a mindset of a soldier marching off to war. And this time... he would finish what Majestic Twelve had started four centuries ago. He met Bryce and Sebastian at the transport, knowing they knew the risks. And with that, they boarded the transport and started for Gorinth City.

Upon arrival of Gorinth City, Tyler was greeted by the city Mayor, Gary. "Marshal Horgus, so good to finally meet you! Mayor Gay," the dragon - an Earth Dragon - introduced himself. "Can't tell you how relieved I am you're heading this operation."

"Don't tell me you don't trust Chief Bryant," Bryce requested.

"On the contrary; Bryant is a superb chief - but once we learned it was Majestic Twelve in that Bunker, Bryant was quick to advise me to seek you out, mister Horgus," Gary replied. "He openly admitted that without your aid, we would be woefully unprepared for a military engagement, which has been increasingly likely in recent weeks."

"What do you mean?" Tyler asked.

"Something has those jack-booted troops down there jumpy - recent surveillance feeds show them being on edge. Our resident hacker determined that an 'old nemesis' has them in their sights, and they feel they need to retreat and plan their response," came a much deeper accented voice. Bryce turned to his left and saw another Earth Dragon approaching.

"Bryant!" he greeted him. The two exchanged a hug before Tyler spoke,

"I imagine that Old Nemesis is me."

"That's the consensus we reached," Bryant answered. "So you became the logical choice to lead the assault to eliminate Majestic Twelve."

"Has anything else been gleaned from MJ12?" Tyler asked.

"We did catch wind of a 'Luna Base', but we can't figure out what that is, let alone where it is - but we did learn that was their fallback point if the Sewer base is ever attacked," Bryant responded.

"Luna Base... Luna Base... now why does that sound familiar?" Tyler mused aloud.

"Could you have come across something regarding it before your tenure here?" Bryce queried.

"Possibly - but I cannot remember presently. Main priority right now is getting down there and keeping them from escaping," Tyler stated.

"Speaking of which, the equipment you replicated arrived ahead of you; the task force is donning the gear as we speak," Gary said.

"Good; tell me about the bunker," Tyler requested. "What can I expect from it? Choke points, bottle necks, defenses?"

"Our hacker got a good look at their defensive setup up to the inner core of the bunker, where we believe the MJ12 Command Staff is located; the Bunker was designed for a few to defend it against many; we have a tactical plan in planning, but we can really use your expertise - our staff awaits at the command post," Bryant said. He motioned with his arm, and lead Tyler, Bryce and Sebastian to a tent some distance away. On entering, Tyler got a good look at the Dragons' tactical plan. He had to admit, they did an admirable job - except for one detail.

They opted for a direct, brute-force frontal assault. The casualties from that would be extreme. Tyler explained what the dragons were up against - a trained, paramilitary fighting force skilled in both offensive and defensive combat scenarios - and the Dragons admitted they held off to let Tyler give his own input. For starters, there were choke points and confined spaces all the way to the command center of that bunker - and every choke point was defended by remote turrets. Next, there were laser tripwires tied to plastic explosives that would cause cave-ins in that bunker if they went off. Those had to be powered down. Finally, the Majestic Twelve troops outnumbered the task force by a good three-to-one margin, which was both bad and good; while the dragons were outnumbered, those narrow corridors meant there was little cover for MJ12 outside the barricades they'd set up around the remote turrets; and Tyler sent along grenades that were nowhere near powerful enough to cause cave-ins in the bunker. Tyler agreed that a frontal assault would break Majestic Twelve's defensive lines - if their electronic defenses could be disrupted or disabled. So, he proposed taking a small team to infiltrate the base and deactivate the enemy defenses, then signal the other dragons to begin the assault.

"... once Majestic Twelve's lines have been breached, we march straight into the command center, and capture the Command Staff - alive, if at all possible," Tyler concluded. "Hackers up here will remotely slice into MJ12's network, and disable any way for them to escape, and find ways to further disrupt their defense. All goes well, we'll be one step closer to bringing Majestic Twelve down for good. Any questions?" Tyler looked over the dragon faces there. Not one of them uttered a single word. They understood perfectly. "Then let's get to it. Majestic Twelve is on the run; they're scared, they're worried. They know we're coming. They know we can fight them. They know I'm fighting alongside you. They know they're running out of places to run. And that gives them fear. We will cut into the heart of this infestation, capture the commanders, and burn any MJ12 troops that stand in our way! We will find their Luna Base, and when we do, we'll know just what to do!" The dragons roared their agreements. They were ready. And so was Tyler.

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The schematic of the sewer system showed an abandoned water duct that ran from its entry point all the way to just shy of MJ12's command center. Using it would allow Tyler and his team to bypass most of the enemy defensive lines. Surveillance saw the other end as unguarded - apparently, they didn't think that point would be found. So, while the other dragons got in position for the assault, Tyler, Sebastian, and two other Runners moved for the water duct. Tyler was surprised Sebastian had volunteered for this op. But he was happy to have him, regardless. One more dragon watching his back. They quietly descended into the sewers, keeping each other clear and keeping their heads on a swivel. Tyler led them to a grate, and using the Force, was able to quietly remove the cover. Tyler was first in, made sure the area was clear, before signaling the other three to jump down. Tyler moved slowly through the duct, taking care to listen to the environment around him - something he learned to do long ago. The duct, like the sewers, was eerily quiet, with only a hollow booming to disturb the otherwise perfect silence. A stark contrast to the environment outside, where the sounds of the city provided a constant flow of sound. In here, Tyler could hear a pin drop - so he'd hear soldiers if he came across any. One particular turn brought a surprise - a duo of bored MJ12 troops.

"Something creeps me out about Hela - I don't know," one said.

"She's from High Command - they're all like that," responded the other.

"I think she really gets off being down here," the first stated. "Have you seen the little nest she put together in the room with the pillars? The Command Post?"

"She does seem to be in her element," the other agreed.

"... curling up in her nest like a harpy..." the first muttered.

"Man, I'll be glad to get out of here," the second chuckled nervously.

"Me, too - I don't like tunnels. Always feels like someone's creeping up on you," the first agreed. Tyler looked to his cohort, taking note of their claws. He clenched his hand twice, then drew his thumb across his throat then indicated the troopers in the passage. Sebastian nodded, and he and one of the runners silently approached the two chatty soldiers. Without a sound, they both grabbed the soldiers, one hand over their mouth, and the other drawing a claw across their throats and killing them quietly. They quietly set the soldiers on the floor, then unslung their rifles, and continued the trek through the water duct.

"Bryce to Tyler - teams are in position," Bryce reported over the radio in Tyler's ear.

"Good - stand by; we're halfway through the duct," Tyler responded. The team continued through the duct until they came to the target exit point. There was, however, a snag - the ladder going up had been severed halfway up.

"Great," Sebastian grumbled. Tyler didn't verbally respond, but instead leapt up, grabbed hold of the ladder, and waited as it rattled quietly. Strangely, no one came to investigate. Tyler ascended the ladder and then called up a grappling hook with a thousand-pound test cable tied to it. He tied it to a pipe outside, then looked down at Sebastian and the team. He held up one finger, then made an upward motion with his thumb. They got the message, and as soon as Tyler was clear, Sebastian ascended next, and the dragons one by one climbed up the rope. The command room was far from empty, but none of the personnel seemed to notice them. Their attention was focused outward. Tyler and his team quietly moved through the rooms, and found the command center. There, Tyler saw that man with the silvery facial tattoos get onto a transporter pad and beam out. Then the room was empty.

Tyler, Sebastian and the team moved in, and found the computer powering the defenses. Tyler was quick to connect his wrist computer, hack the computer, and shut down the defenses. A female agent in black then came on the team. She looked surprised to see them, but before she could even react, one of the runners raised a BR77A3 and put a burst into her skull. The gunshots resonated through the halls, and the troops went nuts.

"Tyler to Bryce - enemy defenses are down! Commence the assault! We'll hold out here as long as we can!" Tyler barked.

"Give 'em hell, Dragonborn," Bryce said. Tyler, Sebastian, and the two other runners took cover behind metal crates. Sebastian was armed with a modded MA5D; the runners both had BR77A3s. Tyler had his BR77A2. All of those weapons were automatic. So when MJ12 troops showed up at the command post, they got a fusillade of energized armor-piercing bullets. First wave was dropped as they came in. Second wave tried to throw grenades - which were promptly sent back at them. Getting killed with their own explosives persuaded them to abandon grenade use. There was a brief, two-minute gap between the second and third waves, during which, the distant sounds of battle could be heard. MJ12 didn't seem to be having an easy time with the dragons. Third wave was a pain in the ass - the MJ12 troops seemed intent on getting to the transporter pad, and Tyler and his team barely held them off. It was after the third wave that Tyler got word that the transporter had been remotely disabled - temporarily. Tyler acknowledged the report, then made ready to hold off the fourth wave - that never came. He heard footsteps outside, but no one entered the command post. Finally, a voice cried out, "Thunder!"

"Flash!" Tyler called back. It was then that dragons came inside. One of them, wearing a NCO logo on his armor, approached Tyler as he said, "Damn good thing you guys got here - we were running out of ammo here. What's the report?"

"We have the enemy on the run - but we lost a few runners," the NCO reported. "Let's hope enemy data in here makes their sacrifice worthwhile."

"It still would have been a lot worse if the Dragonborn and his team not infiltrated the enemy lines and shut down their defenses," another of the runners commented.

"That it would," the NCO agreed.

"Enemy commanders?" Tyler asked. The NCO hitched a thumb over his shoulder.

"KIA back that-a-way," he said. "They didn't even bother to try and surrender." Tyler hummed to himself as he looked to the computer, then at the transporter. He accessed the computer, and was able to access the transporter system. It spat out some encrypted data, and what looked to be a series of coordinates. He downloaded the data, then started for the sewer exit. Sebastian followed.

"Hell of a fight," he said.

"No shit - you good?" Tyler asked.

"Considering I just got out of combat - I'm alright," Sebastian responded.

"Good to hear," Tyler sighed. "Dunno about you, but I could use a shower." He handed a data storage device to Sebastian once they emerged from the sewer. "Get this to command - see if they can make something out of the data." Sebastian nodded, and hurried off. Tyler heaved a big sigh. This was a great victory - but Simons had evaded his grasp once again. Where did he go this time? Luna Base? Maybe. And that name - it seemed familiar, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember where he'd heard it before. He decided not to ponder it, and went to the hotel, checked in, and took a shower, then laid in bed to sleep...

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Tyler was jolted from his dreams of his love back home by a knock on the door. Then another. "Tyler? Tyler, we have to talk!" Sebastian proclaimed. "The data's been deciphered, and you are not gonna believe it!" Tyler leapt out of bed and hurried into his gear, grabbing his assault rifle on the way to the door. He swung the door open to see Sebastian and Bryce.

"Sorry to wake you, pal," Bryce apologized.

"Never mind that, what do you have?" Tyler asked gruffly.

"We know where that Simons character went," Sebastian answered. "Come with us - we'll show you." Tyler followed Sebastian and Bryce to the command center, where the Dragon Command Staff was already present. Their composure, stance, facial expressions - Tyler could tell: They were nervous.

"Johnny, punch up the data," Bryce requested. "Johnny" tapped in a few commands to his console, and brought up a profile of Simons. "I imagine you know Walter Simons - he's the top agent in Majestic Twelve, and the right hand of Robert Page, MJ12's head honcho. MJ12 computers contained a wealth of tactical data. Among those are personnel reports - MJ12 has had seriously reduced manpower after the Forest raid and the battle in the Gorinth sewers. What's left has drawn back to the alleged 'Luna Base'," Bryce said.

"Tell me you have something on it," Tyler requested.

"We do," Sebastian responded. "Like I said at the hotel, we were able to decipher the encrypted data you downloaded. Turns out, Majestic Twelve have a massive base... on the Moon." Tyler looked shocked. He remembered something he came across in an MJ12 Outpost - a prefabricated base, placed on the moon by an unknown entity, then abandoned for reasons unknown.

"Luna base..." Tyler said. "That's what it is - a Lunar Outpost! I remember coming across documentation of it back on Earth - they never had the means to get up there! But how did they get there from here?"

"Records recovered from MJ12's systems indicated initial occupation was via a starship that had been stored some ways away - they took a task force up there and secured that base... and discovered a cannon. One they think can cause massive devastation," Sebastian responded. "They also discovered a teleportation system that allowed them to transport men and materials between the moon and the surface here." Johnny brought up a render of the Lunar Outpost. "From what we've been able to gather, most of their personnel they have left have retreated to Luna Base, and we believe they are preparing to activate that cannon - and rain hell on us."

"Data indicates they've taken a number of our people for indoctrination - most of which have resisted, and are being kept in a brig sector," Bryant added. "Getting them out is one priority. Primary concern is getting up there and taking down what's left of Majestic Twelve. Simons will be up there, and so will Page."

"And I imagine they have nowhere else to go," Tyler surmised.

"Damn right," Gary affirmed. "They know that if we find a way up there, it's gonna turn into a last stand."

"So they're gonna fight like cornered rats," Tyler sighed. "But there is no discussion - we have Majestic Twelve cornered. They have nowhere to run." He looked to Sebastian. "Is there a way up there?"

"There is," Sebastian answered. "That transporter pad Simons used. It can only transport one person, so you'll be on your own up there - but there is a mass transporter not far from your entry point - you can start beaming up reinforcements there, and we can take the outpost."

"Very well - I go up there. I'll signal you before transport, so be ready at a moment's notice; those slime balls won't waste time trying to drive us out once we get up there, so do not hold back. I'll try to beam up as many as I can on the first go, but once the initial strike force is up, someone else will have to man the controls, keep bringing our people up," Tyler said.

"We got a bit of an unexpected surprise with this, too," Bryce said. "Remember those troops we captured in the Forest Raid? They volunteered to aid us in the assault. Turns out, there are a lot of dissident voices in MJ12, only kept silent by the officers."

"Between them and the prisoners up there, we have a real chance at completely taking over the station," Sebastian suggested. Tyler pondered this, then nodded.

"Arm them with everything we lifted from MJ12. Have them ready to go when I signal," he said.

"I'd wish you luck, Dragonborn, but as I've seen... you don't need it," Gary said.

"Nope. I've been fighting Majestic Twelve for over four centuries," Tyler said. "Now that we have them cornered, with nowhere left to run... it's high time we finish this." He looked to Sebastian. "Bring that transporter online - I'm going in. Be ready when I signal."

Sebastian nodded. "Roger that," he said heartily. As he headed for the transporter, Tyler reached out with the Force.

Anna... if I don't make it, know that I will always love you, he thought. And as he stepped onto the transporter pad, he could swear he heard Anna respond,

I love you, too...