CHAPTER 11

Lillith assembled her crew. They were heading in from the east. The entry for Friendship Gulag was above a small outcrop of jagged rocks in the Dust. Salvador was grinding his teeth in anticipation. Dion had already spotted a small band that would prove resistant, and they were all itching to get into action. They were positioned slightly uphill from the bandits, in a prime sniping position.

'You there Lil? We're in position here' Mordecai s voice sounded over her personal ECHO communicator.

'Sure thing bud. You heard from Maya.' She asked.

'Yeah guys, this is me. We're in position also.' Mayas voice came through. 'We have two small camps near us at the south. Neither is aware of our location' Maya informed them.

'We have one small camp too' Lillith said into her device. 'Doesn't look like any trouble though'

'We have nothing' Came Mordecais sullen tone 'You guys have fun. Meet you at the gate'

'Good luck Lillith' Maya responded.

'See you on the other side' Lillith replied positively. She faced her crew "everyone know what they're doing?'

'Sure do' Gaige flexed her bionic hand in readiness.

'It's been several minutes since I seen something explode. Not cool' Salvador grumbled.

'Lets do this then' Lillith said moments before disappearing in a swirl of hazy purple.

Dion took position, and once Lillith reappeared amongst the stunned bandits, he began firing at the unlucky few on the outskirts, sending them into a cluster. Gaige was already on her way down there. Salvador wasn't the fastest on his feet, but he soon caught up with the mechromancer, who had taken cover behind a stack of supply creates.

'Take em DT!' She yelled as she summoned her robot, appropriately named Death Trap.

Salvador stood then, and walked straight towards the firefight, blazing two guns simultaneously.

It took the team mere minutes to finish the camp off, and they began searching the bodies and camp for any loot. These were obviously low ranked bandits, if they were worthy of a rank at all, because they didn't carry much on them.

Mordecai stood atop the sandy knoll and peered down the scope of his rifle.

'Shit' He muttered as he withdrew down the bank. 'Lillith, do you copy?' He spoke into his ECHO.
'Brick whats your position?' He spoke again, more frantically.
'Maya, Gaige? anybody hearin me?' He spat angrily in the sand, and tweaked his goatee in thought. He adjusted his goggles and turned back towards the crew he had with him.

'Well this is how it is. We are here in the middle of nowhere, no cover. Sitting ducks. There are two bandit technicals heading our way'

'Wow champ, Dont sugar coat it or anything will ya' Axton replied.

'We should have about 2 minutes. I might be able to snipe out the drivers, anyone else got ideas?'

'Heh heh hah! Just leave me to it sonny, i'll need thirty seconds tops' Willy moved forward past Axton, slapping him on the shoulder as he passed. 'You just keep em off me for as long a possible you hear?' Willy shot back over his shoulder as he jogged over the dune.

'Where's he going?' Mordecai yelled, running to the top of the mound, dropping to his stomach and readying his corrosive Maliwan rifle. Axton was by his side in a moment, peering down the sight of his Naster KerBlaster Assault riffle. Montayva stayed back, the glassy expression on her face again. Axton glanced back over her should and breifly noticed.

'What is she doing?' He asked the hunter, nodding towards the siren. Mordecai let out a shot, but it fell short. They needed to be closer. The Bandit vehicals however, let fire, there rain of bullets not far from where Willy was setting his explosives.

'C'mon pops! You're bout to get rained on!' Axton bellowed, Mordecai let out another shot. One of the gunners went down. He was about to let another shot loose when the siren jumped over them, pistol in hand, sprinting towards the older man. The bullets were almost upon Willy when Montayva reached him. Her shield went up in a purpley haze. Willy turned, puffing as he set the last wire.

'I wont be able to hold this for long' She told him. He just smiled at her, and with out breaking his gaze, lifted a small plastic module, and pressed a black button.
Ka-BOOOOOM!
Shrapnel, tires and scraps of steel flew in every direction. Montayvas shield protected the two closest the explosion. Her shield finally depleted as the last few shards of tin fell to the sand.

'Woo hooooo! Good on you Pops!' Axton jumped up and punched his fist into the air as the two walked back up the slope. When they reached the top, the four stood spread along the pinnacle of the dune, watching the two bandit runners, or what remained of them, smolder away. Montayva stepped forward again as the boys enjoyed the small victory.

Their success was short lived.

'Watch out!' She jumped in front of Mordecai, her shield went up once more. She stumbled as a psycho came running from the wreckage, gun in hand. Axton quickly popped two slugs into him, and he crumpled to the ground.

'Thats was close!' Axton wiped his brow and stepped forward as Montayvas shield depleted. She glanced sideways at the soldier, and tossed him the health vile she had pulled from her belt.

'What do I do...' he began, but Montayva stumbled suddenly. As she fell backwards, Mordecai caught her before she hit the sand.