"I'm sorry for asking you three to do this, but you are probably the only three who could possibly complete this mission with the utmost level of subtly." The Doctor started seeing the three people in front of them. "An international case such as this NEEDS to go off without drawing too much international attention."

"What would my part be in this? I may have just passed the combat readiness test, but I'm still untrained for combat."

"There may be some legal quagmires that may hinder whatever may occur. Especially since the nature of this relates to inheritance of some kind. Even though it is related to the Sarkaz, and their way of doing things isn't recorded in any uniform law and order, I'd want your insight there to help Penance. I also read that you have some profiency with Sargonese, which very key as well. I also don't expect much in terms of combat if we're lucky, so I'd like to think it'd be a good starting mission for you as well!"

"Very well, I'll do my best."

"That is all we ever ask for. If conflict of some kind is to be expected, which hopefully won't be the case but you can never be too careful, you'll be heading this operation Mlynar. I know that the girls had just returned two days ago-"

"That is alright. If you need me to head this mission, I have no qualms."

"Fiametta, I think you've stated you've also had some experience in that area of Sargon, so you'll be taking second point. This was also requested for you to help by, uh, pious friend."

"Pious frie-, oh you've got to be kidding me. Ha… Very well, I accept."

"As for you two, Ezell and Cecilia, I do hope that whatever this Uncle's message and talk of inheritance is about, it will help you on your own journeys."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Ooh, if you can, you should see if any of the local Sargon markets have any sw-"

"Alright that's enough out of you Doctor, good luck on your mission. Rhode Island wishes you well!"

-L&L-

Penance found herself a little nervous sitting in the car. It had been perhaps five hours after they had left the Rhode Island landship, three hours since they left the outpost for direction to Arcadia, but she still found herself with butterflies in her stomach. She was out in the field, sooner than she thought, only a week after she had passed her fitness qualification, but now she was one of five people packed into one of Rhode Island's lightly armored transports. She knew the Doctor believed in her, why else would they send her on this mission. But she did not think she was ready yet, she had barely even begun to learn HOW to conduct herself in the field.

She knew that even though Deszcz had joined up earlier than her, her combat readiness scores were not up to standard to allow her for active field missions in potential hostile territory. Especially missions with limited oversight and people involved. She also doubted much of her own judicial practices could help in regards to Sarkaz OR Sargonian law. But a mission is a mission, even if perhaps one of the only things that helped her get this approval was her intermediate understanding of Sargonese. However, experience in the field was valuable, and she felt the need to prove herself.

Although as she looked at the people around her, she was probably the only person save perhaps one other person, who needed the experience. Though the people themselves were quite interesting, she found herself thinking. The first being Cecilia, the little girl who had the exhibited traits of a Sankta. From the glowing halo to the faint light of wings, to even the rather impressive firearm which she held, like most children a teddy bear. She was the person of focus on the mission, someone had called for her in relation to her father, a Sarkaz of yet unknown reputation and prestige. The "Uncle" stated to have information in regards to finding her father as well as an inheritance for her, whatever that meant. If it was anything involving Sarkaz, even Penance knew that the Doctor took it very seriously.

Currently though, Cecilia was doing her best to read through a book Penance herself had brought initially for her own leisure reading. Perhaps fittingly, it was a collection of memoirs from a Sarkaz living in Sargon. Collected, reprinted, and sold as "Musings of Madness". She would think that such complex and dour material would be too much for the girl, but she seemed to read with the joyful attitude most Sankta shared, her guardian angel aiding her along as well.

Said guardian angel Ezel, his alias Enforcer, was much the same as his companion. A pleasant smile on his face as he encouraged Cecilia in her attempts to sound out different words. They both shared a strange sort of joy when Cecilia was able to pronounce "despondence".

Undoubtedly, he was perhaps as nice as the red headed Sankta Penance had gotten to know through Celina's company, Exusiai. The large gun resting in the compartment of his seat, however, was a testament to his job as one of Laterno's external arms. His entire bearing was, much like talking to any Sankta, an odd one. Penance had met his coworker before, Federico, in order to learn of Laterno based laws. He and Ezel were like night and day.

The other companion that Penance had just met on this mission, Fiametta, kept to herself. The redheaded Liberi only spoke in a clipped businesslike tone, but was a friend of Celina's coworker as well, Mostima. Much like Ezel, Fiametta was also from Laterno but whereas he was from their Notarial Hall, Fiametta had said her position was "classified". From what Penance remembered of the meeting with the Doctor and Amiya, she was under the handling of some high ranking Laterno official of some kind.

Penance kept that information on a need to know basis, but she eyed the large explosive launcher in the woman's lap and knew that she, like Ezel, could handle herself in a fight. Even now, there was a level of familiarity with this situation that seemed to ease Fiametta to a degree. It may have looked like she was simply staring boredly out the window, Penance could see her eyes flick towards the movements of assorted beasts and wingedbeasts in the distance of the rocky wastelands.

The last person was Mlynar. White he was certainly less of a stranger than the other three, she had shared breakfast with him amongst their friends, he still remained enigmatic. The recent tension between himself and Deszcz was also spoken of to her, and she knew she had to deliver a message to him from Deszcz but found little time to approach him or when to broach the topic. No time after the meeting, no time during their preparation, and even with him sitting besides her in the driver's seat, she still felt like there was no time or way to talk to him.

His eyes staring unblinkingly at times towards an endless expansive horizon. Only ever speaking in a clipped businesslike tone if they were still maintaining their current heading. She was given the maps and navigation, and so her only words spoken to him for now had been directional. The moments between them was shared in silence, only softly punctuated by Cecilia's reading and Ezel's encouragement. Eventually the need to deliver Deszcz' message outweighed any potential awkwardness that would result in her speaking of it.

"Deszcz wanted to apologize to you,"she said quietly. Quiet enough that the car's engine and road noise muffled her words from the others, but it was still loud enough that she knew he'd heard her. But if he did, the only indication of such was when she saw one of his upper ears twitch. His eyes meanwhile remained on the road, focused entirely on the bright sunny horizon. Penance decided to continue, awkwardness be damned.

"It took a bit for her to realize what she'd said. And she initially thought you were just being a, uh I'm not going to repeat her words, but she was mad at you for "ghosting" her. I think eventually after she spoke to Maria and Margaret, she sort of understood what she might've said during breakfast that time." Again, Mlynar said nothing, his gaze was kept forward, but his mouth formed a firm line against his face.

"She wanted to apologize, but it seemed that you weren't taking any calls from her, or Margaret, or Maria, or even Miss Zofia. But she wanted to apologize to you, it wasn't intentional. She hopes this "distance" will be over. She issues her "venting buddy" so to speak." Again silence stretched out between them and Penance thought she made the air perhaps awkward with her sudden longwindedness. She caught the look of Fiametta in the reflection of a side mirror, but the other woman turned back around and stared at the side. Ezel and Cecilia most likely didn't hear as they were still reading throughout the one sided conversation.

"It's… The fault does not lie with her. So she should not need to apologize." Mlynar's voice eventually responded. He spoke slowly, as if measuring each word as he spoke it. "The fault lies with me. I have no right to judge Deszcz as much as she does me. She is a product of a Kazimierz of when the dust settled, and I am a product of my Kazimierz, dead and gone it is."

"What do you mean… a Kazimierz of when the dust settled?" At this Mlynar spared a quick glance at Penance. An emotion aside from passive brooding passing on his face, a strange flux of regret and… shame? He looked to speak of it before a curse interrupted them.

"Contact! Right side!" Fiametta shouted. "Four cars from behind the last hill, coming in fast!"

"Kurwa!" Mlynar saw the four speeding shapes and quickly slammed his foot on the brake, turning the car. A volley of crossbow bolts narrowly avoided impact when he did so, but the force violently shoved everyone in the car to one side. Hitting gas now, the tires pushed against the wasteland dirt, stalling briefly before moving forward.

"Two more! Left side! They're gonna try and ram us! " Ezel shouted. Penance gripped the rail of the car as Mlyar hit the brake once more, trying to angle the car to avoid hitting both of the oncoming cars. He was barely able to twist in time, one of the cars clipping their rear causing them to spin wildly, but still on their wheels. The small spin, however, disorientated everyone in the car, and it took a bit before their vision righted. By then Penance looked up to see they had been surrounded.

On a wide-open flat plane, the previously six counted cars now numbered fifteen vehicles. The other nine being composed of smaller personal vehicles housing one or two people per. There was a silent standoff as the only noise heard was the revving of engines as the Rhode Island operators stared at the vehicles surrounding them. None of the vehicles themselves had closed tops or windshields, so those who had their heavy crossbows stood over their drivers and aimed in at them.

"I count at least 40," Penance muttered. Eyes flicking around, counting the dust-stained men and women. Their pointed horns and some with barbed tails speaking of WHO were they were. "Sarkaz. Bandits?"

"Too well supplied and well organized for bandits," Fiametta noted. She had pulled her launcher from her side and had begun to load ammunition in it. Her eyes were steely as she held back a snarl. "They must be mercenaries. But why?"

"If I were to guess, it's to stop us from meeting Cecilia's Uncle," Ezell answered. He too had pulled his gun from his side and loaded shells into the chamber. Both of the active-duty operators looked at Mlynar with expecting look in their eyes, even a look of scared determination showed on Cecilia's eyes as she tried in vain to hold up the large gun.

Penance had begun to unroll her own mace before her eyes spotted an approaching figure. He was a large one. A mountain of a Sarkaz man wearing dusty rags but on his back was a huge cleaver.

"Come on out half-breed! If your handlers give you to us, we promise to only kill half of them! Otherwise, we'll kill all of you and feast on your bodies!" A chorus of laughter came from the other Sarkaz as the large Sarkaz, their apparent leader, drew his cleaver and slammed it into the dirt. Cecilia looked up towards Penance and Mlynar, but their leader only scoffed.

"I'll not let something like this bar our way, I assure you," Mlynar declared.

"Do you have a plan? The numbers alone isn't something I'm comfortable fighting along with keeping the little one safe," Fiametta stated. Gesturing to Cecilia, who now looked back at Mlynar with eyes of defiance and resolve.

"Mmm, no. I have a plan, but this will need us to act fast-"

"Rhode Island? A Pharmaceutical company?! What a riot!"

"Penance, can you drive?" The woman looked to Mlynar at his question. A short bite of indecision gripped her, before she shook her head. No, she would not be a passive observer. Not again.

"I can." A small relieved smile graced Mlynar features before his face returned to a cold stare.

"Then, first I'll draw attention to myself…"

-L&L-

The Sarkaz leader smiled when he saw the figure that stepped out of the vehicle. He didn't know why the client wanted this half-Sarkaz girl, but they paid well. And that was all the encouragement he needed. He had forgone the call to arms by the regent, he ignored the call from the Regent, the allure of LGD was stronger.

Clad in black with hair of gold, there was an air of unease that the Sarkaz leader felt staring at this person. When the wind buffeted the figure, his coat flickered open to reveal the pommel and handle of a blade. Yet the blade remained in its scabbard.

As the figure got closer, the Sarkaz leader saw it was a Kuranta. Gold eyes narrowing on him with a look of cold indifference. It made his blood boil, but he kept it cool. The others were liable to shoot the vehicle full of holes and likely kill their target. Can't have that.

"Where's the half-breed little bitch?" the leader asked. Mlynar didn't answer him initially. Instead, his eyes casted out to the surrounding cars, darting left to right before he mumbled something to himself. The wind was too loud, and the leader didn't pick up on it.

"What was that you damn pack-mule?" The Sarkaz leader lifted his cleave from the ground and leveled it at Mlynar. He for his part did not seem phased, but instead remained just out of reach.

"I want your assurance. If we hand you the child, you'll let the rest of us go?" He spoke loud enough for the Sarkaz leader and his band to hear. The others behind let out barbaric barks of laughter while the leader simply smiled behind the dirty rags obscuring his face.

"Of course. A Sarkaz keeps his word!" More laughter, but Mlynar didn't bother responding, nor care about that at all.

"How were you able to find us?" The Sarkaz leader shrugged at the question. Might as well indulge in this foolish man's attempt at staving off death.

"We've been patrolling this area for months. You just happened to FINALLY have the girl if the scent in the air is any indication." As if to prove his point, the Sarkaz licked the air, a long fleshy tongue tasting it. "And a Sankta and something else that stinks of Sankta filth." Mlynar muttered to himself again. The wind was dying just a bit for the Sarkaz leader to hear that last bit of a word.

"—nal." The Mercenary leader snarled, the gall of this Kuranta. Not giving him any sort of respect or attention, when he held his life in his hands. He pulled his blade back in a threat, but then thought against it. Instead a cruel smile played on his lips, the contractor never said anything about the other occupants.

"Bah, who cares about that, I'll just kill you now!" The cleaver flashed towards Mlynar intent on chopping the man down the middle. "Who cares about whatever you're saying!"

"I said, wait for my signal." Mlynar's reply was cold and he reacted faster than the Sarkaz thought he could, Mlynar's sword was still sheathed in his scabbard but was gripped in his hand to block the cleaver. He kept it in place despite the effort and strength the Sarkaz leader pushed against. Mlynar's armored left arm bracing the blade for more leverage, but he had not taken a single step back. His feet planted and held firm as he leveled a cold stare at the Sarkaz leader's hidden eyes.

"What?!"

"And you've outgrown your usefulness for information." Stepping forward into the Sarkaz leader's guard, Mlynar pushed the large cleaver out of the way before slamming his forehead into the other man's face. The sound of nose shattering garbled the Sarkaz leader's cries of pain before a shin shot out to kick out his leg, bringing him to his knee.

At the same time, there were two noises that followed. A low "thunk" before two projectiles flew through the air and hit two trucks. A fiery explosion decimated the vehicles, enflaming those inside and the impact causing several to be sent flying.

Hiding under the sound of the explosions caused by Fiametta, Ezel took careful shots at the Sarkaz mercenaries wielding crossbows and disabling car tires. Steady deliberate shots from his rifle taking down and hindering Sarkaz mercenaries.

As soon as the two started firing, Penance who had slid into the driver's seat gunned the car's engine. The tires kicked up dust before shooting forward towards Mlynar and the Sarkaz leader. Penance didn't hesitate as she floored it forward. Mlynar expected as such from his plan and he deftly avoided being struck by the car. The Sarkaz leader wasn't as fortunate, the front bumper struck him hard, and he was sent careening away, back towards the other mercenariesand crashing through the front of one their cars. Mlynar quickly grabbed onto the side of the Rhode Island vehicle.

"Through the gap, now!" Penance did not need to be told twice. Gunning the gas, the vehicle roared as it barreled towards the smoking wreckage of the burning vehicles. Mlynar drew his blade now, it glowed brightly before he sent a single slash, bisecting the destroyed vehicle, it did not impede Penance's driving as she barreled through the two halves.

"GET! THEM!" Rising up from the front of the crashed car, the Sarkaz leader's face was a bloody mess, his screaming and mouth screaming for bloody murder. "TEAR THEM APART!" The other mercenaries reacted fast, jumping into the remaining vehicles they had, they began to give chase.

Mlynar lifted himself up from the side of the car to atop of it, staying low and holding onto the upper cargo rails for dear life. His sword in his, he had to narrowly avoid a bolt being sent his way.

They recovered fast. Mlynar thought as he stayed low to avoid being hit by one of the bolts. Fiametta and Ezel were doing their best to return fire. A large plume of flame wound engulf a vehicle, a Sarkaz marksman trying to take aim would be shot by the Santka's bullet knocking him out of his car. Soon ten cars were whittled down to seven, but now each car was overstuffed with six to eight people.

Bolts and now even arts blasts were being sent towards them. Several of these bolts had chains attached, trying to rein them in, but Mlynar dealt with those. His sword flashing and shearing the steel. A stray arts ball, however, caught his shoulder and he let out a hiss, teeth gritting before the caster who hit him was taken out by Ezel. If they kept this heading, eventually they should out pace and attrition them down to manageable numbers.

"Mlynar, we have a cliff approaching us!" Penance's voice chimed into his earpiece. Turning around briefly, Mlynar saw the ground ended in a void. No clue how far down and with nothing in front, Mlynar swore.

"Hard break when I attack, but only when I do so!" Mlynar responded before he struggled to stand up on top of the car. The wind and dust buffeted him, dirt streaking past his eyes, but eventually he stood, his feet anchored to rails.

He deflected two bolts that came towards him with his scabbard before his sword lit up with his arts. With a mighty swing, he slashed the ground just behind the car. A plume of dust and dirt erupted into a thick brown smog. Quickly after his first strike, a second followed, a vertical slash that bisected whatever was in front of its warpath.

One car was one such receiptiant. The hard light cutting through metal and man with ease before it exploded. The ones nearest to it swerved out of the way to avoid sharing its fate.

"Don't lose them in the smoke!" the Sarkaz leader roared as he and the remaining cars pushed forward unflinchingly. He couldn't see anything, the cloud of dust and dirt too thick for visibility short of a single foot. Roaring the Sarkaz slashed with cleaver, clearing the smoke to reveal… The void.

He and the remaining cars were careening off the cliff. Scrambling to try and leap off the doomed vehicle, he was about to jump before a bright light cut through the cloud. A golden wave slashed through the stone of the cliff face, shearing it off. Any purchase the Sarkaz leader could have made would have crumbled into dust, and so all he could do was roar in indignation as the cold golden eyes stared down back at him before falling rocks rendered him gone.

Penance shut the car's engine before kicking open the door and rolling out. Coughing in the smoke but trying to get fresh cold air was a difficult task, and she ended up coughing out more dust than breathing in air. Mlynar slid off the roof before swinging his scabbard, the quick strikes in the air dissipating the cloud enough so Penance could breathe easier.

Fiametta, Ezel, and Cecelia likewise rolled out of the car. A biproduct of Fiametta's arts usage was her immediate vicinity heating up. It's not much of an issue when in the open air, but in the closed confines of the car, the inside of it grew exceedingly hot.

"Did. We. Get them?" Ezel asked, heaving. He had grabbed a bottle of water before dousing his head and grabbing a towel and dousing it before handing it to Cecelia to help cool her off.

"We got enough, the bulk are down there now," Mlynar repeated. He sheathed his blade once more. The light fading, now forcing everyone to realize that dusk was starting to settle.

"We'll need. To make the camp for the night here, huh?" Fiametta asked. Mlynar nodded and she groaned before she rolled to her feet. Unhooking her weapons, she shoved them in the car before shaking her shoulder loose.

"I'll take care of rations. I can hear the stomachs of everyone"

"I'll… Get the tents."

"I'll help with that too!" Cecilia and Ezel moved to the trunk. Penance finally got her cough under control and moved to look down towards the cliff but was stopped by Mlynar.

"No. Somethings are better left in the dark," he said. "Help me check out the perimeter, we need to make sure the stranglers aren't going to pick up the slack for their fallen." Penance considered his words, before nodding. Unfurling her flail, she carried it gingerly as she followed Mlynar.

This first mission was supposed to be easy, huh… Mlynar thought with a sigh before he instead took a look over the side. Blood, body, and steel lay in the cavern below. Already food for carrion. Nothing is ever easy... Then he turned back around to follow Penance, eyes once more staring at the horizon.