Chapter 13
It wasn't really the distance that made the trip to Fort Daggerpoint so long but rather that they had to escort the pack Tauros. The giant bull Pokemon were docile to a fault which made them less likely to stampede when things got rough but it also meant they ambled slowly along and everyone had to match their pace.
Dee, Helios and GR-0-WL found themselves assigned to what could be called "pest control", fighting any mutant Pokemon that were dangerous to the Tauros but not enough to spend ammunition on: RadParas, RadSkorupi, BloatFlygon and unmutated but still aggressive wild Houndour.
Raiders attacked as well, mostly the Dark-type Survivalists but also the predominantly Fighting-type group that Jameson identified as the "Vault Vikings", mostly Machoke, Croagunk, Scraggy and Primeape. The Vikings were mainly armed with homemade axes and shields, when they didn't just try to charge with their bare fists, and charged the convoy only to be met with hails of gunfire and a grenade or two; the few who got through were finished off by Dee, Lauren, Helios and GR-0-WL.
Unfortunately, one of the Vault Vikings managed to break the leg of the Flaffy-man and Gertrude determined that, even after she splinted it, he'd need to return to Trovitopolis to let it heal properly. The Flaffy-woman volunteered to help him get back even though that would leave them short by two people; what made this even harder was that the Flaffy-man had been the medic assigned to them which meant Gertrude was now handling all of their injuries on her own. Nevertheless, they carried on.
When they stopped for the evenings Dee would train with Lauren, trying to figure out Blaze Kick but so far only producing a few embers with each attempt.
After two weeks, Dee was feeling dejected as she sat down to eat with the rest of the squad, while the three Lycanroc (who were siblings) tended and fed the Tauros.
"I just can't figure it out," Dee helped herself to a ration bar, stale but filling food for long marches like this.
Lauren clapped her on the back, "You'll get it, probably in the middle of a fight when you really need to. That's just how it works sometimes."
Helios curled his tail around Dee's back, "I know you can, Dee."
Dee smiled, "Thanks, Helios," the two shared a kiss.
"Would you mind keeping it down tonight? I'd like to get some sleep when I'm not on nightwatch duty." the annoyed voice came from Lieutenant Zade, the Jolteon-man and the grumpiest member of the squad.
No one really blamed Zade for his attitude, as he was only to eager to share he'd been a valedictorian graduate from the NKR military academy and had planned to get married and celebrate with his family before his first assignment. Sadly, the current crisis in this pass (that the NKR wanted to name the "New Orange Pass") meant he had been shipped out the very same day he graduated which left him barely enough time to run home, bid farewell to his family and give his boyfriend a goodbye kiss without even proposing before he marched out here. That would have made things bad enough but he was in the unenviable position of being Captain Jameson's second-in-command and being skilled at logistics, which often meant he was stuck with most of the paperwork.
"I do most of the watching," GR-0-WL barked.
"And I'm grateful for that," Zade replied, "but I wish I didn't have to hear the two lovers screwing in the night."
"Not every night," one of the Raticate-women shot back. Zade just grunted and went back to his food.
Gertrude moved to join them, "You should probably tone it down a bit. The rate you're going you'll be expecting an egg before we reach the fort."
"Surprised she isn't already," Zade grumbled again. Everyone ignored him.
Dee touched her belly, "Maybe we should tone it down, unless I'm already pregnant. How long does the egg carrying last?"
"About three months for everyone, give or take a couple days," Gertrude looked at Dee, "have you been feeling any different lately? Nauseous? Hungrier? Sleepier?"
Dee shook her head, "No, I feel the same as ever."
Gertrude gave her a sideways look, "Odd. I should give you a more thorough exam when we finish this mission."
"I am curious, what does make you Poke-people so resilient out here?" Annai's voice made them all jump. The human's capacity for stealth never ceased to surprise them.
Gertrude put a hand on her chest to slow her heartbeat, "We've combined the best of both species: the strength and special powers of Pokemon with the intelligence and stamina of humans. Without the effects of the Final War this never would have come to pass which is why we need to take advantage of this to be better than either species was before."
"And woe betide those who failed to adapt," Annai looked at the group then went to sit by herself as she did most nights.
Melany had been doing maintenance on the group's gear with the nervous Furret-man, Frank, while keeping an ear on the conversation. Now that the daily repairs were done she joined her friends, "I still don't know how she creeps up on people like that. But so far she's been trustworthy, as much as any of us have been."
"You've all been fine," Lauren laughed, "Things are a hell of a lot better than they would have been without you, and not just by helping us save ammo."
Helios grinned, "Thanks." He and Dee put arms around each other and leaned close, sharing in small talk until it was time to sleep. In the morning they resumed their walk.
OoOoO
It took just over two weeks to arrive at their destination and they were able to see the crumbling but still thick stone outer walls of Fort Daggerpoint in the distance for three days before they would arrive.
Two nights before they were to arrive, Captain Jameson called everyone around the small campfire they had set up and addressed them. "Alright, people, we're almost there. We don't know what's waiting inside yet but we can assume they're hostile. Lieutenant Zade, Sergeant Frank," the Jolteon-man and Furret-man stood up, "I want both of you to run ahead and scout the place. Don't engage and report back in a day."
"Yes sir," both saluted then turned and left the camp.
Captain Jameson turned back to the rest of the group, "No campfire tomorrow night, can't risk anyone holed up there seeing us. Until then, get some sleep and march in silence tomorrow and keep quiet in the night," he glanced at Dee and Helios who both averted their gazes.
The next day they set off in silence, weapons at the ready just in case.
It was right after setting up camp for the night that Zade and Frank returned. Both saluted to Jameson before they gave their report.
"The city part's crawling with robots, just those old protectobots," Frank said.
"The Survivalists are hunkered down in the main base, don't think there's many of them left though," Zade added, "They might be waiting for us."
Jameson nodded, "Protectrons won't be big problem, electrocute them or punch them to save ammo. The Raiders will be a bigger threat. Did you see what kind of arsenal they have?"
Zade shook his head, "No, Sir, couldn't risk getting closer."
"I wanted to get closer, Sir," Frank piped up.
"Better you didn't risk getting spotted," Jameson said. "Alright everyone hit the sack, we're moving out at dawn to try and break through before sunrise. Once we're through it's time to raid the fort."
"Finally," Melany lay down to sleep.
They marched faster the next day, save for the Lycanroc siblings who stayed with the Tauros far back enough to keep guard on the pack-Pokemon. Once they were past the front gate of the town they found themselves in a small ruined city, with debris strewn everywhere and the stomping noise of machines echoing off the buildings. The source of some of the noise was visible nearby: a chunky humanoid-ish robot with short clawed arms and a bright light where its "head" would be.
"What's that thing?" One of the Raticate-women asked.
"Protectron, Sergeant Mary," Jameson's body sparked with electricity, "Old security and maintenance robots, not too dangerous so not worth wasting ammo on but don't ignore them."
As if in response, the protectron turned towards the group and let out some electronic words they were too far away to hear. It fired a laser at the group but missed and a moment later Lieutenant Zade fried it with a Thundershock.
"Robots are weak to electrical attacks, also pulse weapons," Zade eyed the pulse grenades on Dee's belt, "But don't waste them on protectrons."
"Alright, people, let's move!" Jameson's shout galvanized them to move, with him, Zade, Lauren, Dee and GR-0-WL out in front.
Dee found herself swept up in the advance and was the next to encounter a protectron. She didn't even slow down and swiped at the machine with the spike on the back of her hand, the Metal Claw slicing the machine open which allowed her to kick its top off before it could shoot. She didn't have time to congratulate herself before another started firing at her, a laser striking her in the back which left a burn on her clothes, before GR-0-WL charged, its teeth crushing its CPU before it could do any more damage.
It took an hour to scour the city ruins of protectrons, about 30 in total, as they didn't want anything behind them when they reached the inner fort wall, with Melany stopping to strip every downed robot of their energy cells. Thankfully the ruins created many places to hide on the approach as everyone, except the Lycanroc siblings and the Tauros, crouched behind building debris to get a better look at the walls. The midday sun made it easy to see the four figures atop the secondary walls that separated the city from the fort itself.
Captain Jameson pulled out a pair of binoculars to scan the wall top, "Mightyena, two Houndoom and an Absol with a missile launcher," he sounded grim, "we need to take them out before they see us. Should have brought a sniper or two."
Melany drew her now scoped plasma defender, "Leave them to me, just be ready to rush in in case he fires off that missile first."
"What about the guys inside?" Frank whispered, "they'll just be waiting for us when their sentries drop dead!"
"We don't have anything that can get over those walls," the other Raticate-woman, Allison, checked her grenade belt. "We can't throw that far."
Helios and Dee shared a look and grinned, "Oh I think Dee can." Helios said.
Dee pulled out one of her frag grenades and held it up as a Vacuum Wave formed in her hand, "A trick I learned: a Vacuum Wave can carry the grenade farther than a normal throw."
"Neat trick," Zade scoffed, "You won't know what you're throwing at though."
"Who cares," Lauren elbowed Zade, who just glared at her, "When the fireworks start going off they'll be too freaked to think straight!"
Jameson nodded, "Lauren's correct, random grenades going off in their base will disorient them and keep them from organizing before we rush in."
"A prudent strategy," Annai's voice didn't surprise anyone this time, as she had followed with them during the city scouring."
"More than that, alright people spread out and wait until Melany eliminates the guards and Dee has thrown at least half a dozen grenades over the wall, then rush in and sanitise the area of all Survivalists. No prisoners, can't risk any of them shooting us in the back and we don't have enough people to keep them under guard. Dee, Melany, wait for my signal to start," he made a hand symbol they would recognize, "Move out!" They all scattered across the area behind the debris, except for Melany who held her plasma defender up to her eyes, keeping her scope on the guards.
Dee stopped halfway down the way, just across from where the Absol-man on the wall was patrolling, and held the first frag grenade ready to throw. She held her breath until she saw Jameson give the signal. She prepared a vacuum wave then hurled the grenade which sent it flying over the wall right as Melany started shooting. Green bolts of plasma zipped up at the wall, missing the Absol-man as he whipped around at the rush of air that accompanied the frag grenade then dropping flat as it exploded behind the walls.
Dee hurled five more grenades with Vacuum Waves and Melany fired until she had to swap out her defender's energy cell. Then they all broke cover and charged right as the Absol-man stood back up and fired his missile. Thankfully the snap shot was aimed at where they had been and it exploded in the now empty cover which still showered the area with debris.
"Up the car!" Lauren ran alongside Dee as they charged straight at the wall.
Dee saw the derelict car stuck at angle that made it a perfect ramp and charged up it and leapt at the wall with all her strength. The Absol-man was loading another missile when Dee jumped up over the edge of the wall. He pulled the missile launcher in front of himself to try and block her but Dee's High Jump Kick plowed through the weapon, smashing it in half, and right through his skull as she landed on the wall-top with a crunch. Lauren landed right next to her.
Dee's grenades had done their job, there weren't many injuries but the Survivalist Dark-types inside had been scattered and unable to reorganize by the time the rest of the squad and her friends breached the wall. Gunfire rang out and plasma bolts from Melany streaked across the courtyard strewn with broken down vehicles. Dee saw a group of the raiders gathering to try and mount a defense in a nearby watch tower and she hurled one of her grenades into the tower, carried by a Vacuum Wave. Two of the raiders were fast enough to jump out of the tower while the rest were caught in the explosion as Dee and Lauren dove into the fray.
Both raiders that had jumped saw the two and began shooting. Dee took a couple hits but kept going until she was too close for gunfire. One pulled a knife and tried to stab her but Dee swung a kick at him concentrating as hard as she could, and her foot burst into flame as she struck him in the face. He screamed in pain as his head caught fire and he fell down.
Lauren dodged around the second who swung at her then kicked him off his feet and slammed her taloned foot into his chest before shooting him twice in the head.
"I got it, Blaze Kick!" Dee swung a kick at the fallen raider and her foot blazed into fire again as she finished him off.
"Great! But celebrate later let's move!" Lauren took off to catch up with the rest of the group, Dee right behind her.
The Lycanroc-people arrived a few minutes after the fight had concluded with the Tauros in tow. They also took no chances as they checked each of the raiders and double-tapped them to make sure they were dead. They joined the rest while Gertrude administered to their injuries and carefully extracted bullets or patched holes that had gone all the way through.
Dee stood still as Gertrude treated her injuries, "Being part steel must be a big help," the Zigzagoon-woman mused, "Sorry, out of bandages but I can't leave those in right now."
"I'll manage," Dee took a deep breath from the sting of the antiseptic.
"You did great!" Lauren clapped an arm around Dee's back, "Dee just perfected Blaze Kick!"
"Congratulations!" Helios gave Dee a quick kiss then turned to Jameson, "so now what?"
"Now you see if her passkey is worth all this trouble," Captain Jameson indicated Annai who stood nearby, having not taking any hits.
"It will," Annai pointed to the entrance.
Fort Daggerpoint had been built into a canyon wall with the entrance being a massive door at the bottom of a shallow slope. To the left there was a computer terminal with a broken keyboard but an open slow for a card. Helios approached the computer, which was still operational, and slid the passkey into the slot. The computer beeped a few times, then motors whirred to life as the massive double doors slid open.
"Well, let's see what's inside," Dee strode out at the head of the group as they entered Fort Daggerpoint.