So Far

Herr Germans

"The buildings are made of ceresteel sections of wall generally used in field fortifications patched together with a hardbond resin.  The snow is hard and crunchy underfoot.  An occasional wind blows the snow around and sets some scaly patches to sliding and crackling on their own.  It's extremely cold, about minus twenty F to minus thirty-five F without the wind chill factor of that wind that keeps picking up.

"To the north two Ulti-Max sweep the area visually.  In the dark they use Infrared whose beams can be spotted easily by mercs like me.  On the roof of the Building 1 are two Predators watching to the east and to the west. They have their radar on full. Two more Predators are patrolling the south, ranging a half mile out in each direction.  The huge robot is nowhere to be seen.

"To the east side are several large ceresteel boxes.  Each has a complex electronic lock and a hardened mechanical lock.  I cannot get a read of what is inside but I'm sure that Rick can breach them by his own personal means.  On the west is a room with a simple keypad lock.  There is computer equipment and a long range radio set up in there.

"Inside Building 2 are another two Predators and a second Ulti-Max.  Both are offline and neither is stocked with ammo.  The building is otherwise empty.  Building 3 is the barracks. there are thirty beds. Twenty of them are filled.  They are standard barracks beds except for the one in the southeast corner.  It is the Commanding Officer's bed with him in it.  The box with the Moebius is either under one of the beds, I'd bet on the C.O.'s or in one of the boxes I can't read."

"Good work Joe.  Can you tell if the Moebius is around here?  I'm just afraid it's off with the large unidentified robot."

"I can't really tell.  I got a really clear read off of R.C. about the Moebius.  It was written all over his face.  It's tainted his aura.  I have to tell you Max, I'm more than a little worried about dealing with this Moebius things."

"I'm telling you this and only you Joe.  This can't go any further than us.    I think getting this thing is a bad idea.  I'd actually rather let the Coalition keep it.  They'll stare at it for a while and then stick it in the vault forever.  That creature, the ball with all the limbs is one scary customer.  I know our dragon is just a baby but that ball did a real number on all of us including G'lishi.  And that mount or ally that it had was nothing short of frightening.  Archer put three or four shots into it's back end and it never even slowed.  It shifted in the direction of the shot and that was it.  We are involved in something more than a war on this count."

"I get a bad feeling on this.  But orders are orders."

"Yes, orders are orders, so let's hit these Germans."

Inside is a complex computer running a full radar system and uploading data across a high powered laser communication system.  R.C. touches the machine and his voice takes on a far away tone as he says, "The laser system is transmitting to the large robot which is acting as a relay.  The robot is 70 miles out towards C.S. territory.  The data is encrypted and otherwise unintelligible without lengthy analysis.  I can't read the raw data.  It is being sent from yet another location.  There is no data in this system on the Moebius nor it's location."

He removes his hand from the machine and tells the others in normal voice, "We have to search the camp.  As Max said our best bet is probably the barracks."

Joe says, "Okay we are full stealth on my end.  Bronson's spell is good for another ten minutes.

...They run across the distance between Building 1 and the barracks leaving footprints which are swallowed within the minute by the flying snow.  Archer maintains his position waiting for the signal not knowing if anything has happened.  The Ley Line Walker from the second string approaches him.  He makes no sound at all and the howl of the wind disappears around him.  He lays a hand on Archer's shoulder quickly and steps back.  Archer turns and grabs him invisible or not and then the wind shrieks instantly and he whispers, "It's me, Bronson.  I thought you would like to know what is going on."

"Thanks."

"Everything is progressing as planned.  The first building is in need of your skills as well."

"Okay, I'll get it set up now.  I do need help for a moment.  I can no longer see my equipment."

"Sorry, I will recast the spell so you can finish."

...They quickly go through the barracks looking under beds and sensing the contents of foot lockers.  At the far end is the C.O.'s bed and under it is a lockbox.  R.C. opens the lock and inside is the Moebius box.  Joe signals him it is time to leave, immediately.  R.C. grabs the box and they exit.

The fireworks begin as the explosive gift Archer left the first Ulti-Max blows the legs right out from under it.  It is followed quickly by the second unit as it turns to see what happened.  R.C. is running with his hand on Joe's shoulder, Rick's on his, and then Archer and Bronson join the chain.

Building 2 falls open and an Ulti-max runs off into the snow.  It's companion Predators are twisted into junk.  The two active Predators on recon come whizzing back into camp as Building 1 erupts into flame and sprays its roof everywhere.  One of the Predators sucks a flying piece of debris into it's turbine and drops to the ground in a fireball.  The other one lands and enters the barracks to warn them their building may be next to detonate.

The two teams link up with the others and they make their way to the extraction point.  The bomber is waiting for them, one of the banned Castle Bombers.  They board and it takes off.  It looks like a clean get away.  R.C. opens the Moebius and finds it empty.  Someone beat them to it.  The Germans probably didn't even know that it was missing.  Except that now the box is missing.

Klaxons roar to life in the cargo area of the plane.  The pilot, Sam, reports that the large German robot is on their tail within missile range.  An explosion rocks the plane.  Bronson begins casting a spell at Max's request even as the next missile slams into the craft.  There is smoke and flame everywhere.  G'lishi sticks his head in through the roof loading hatch at Chris' request. "We need to borrow some of you magic to get us out of here, may we?"

G'lishi agrees and Bronson opens a mystical portal to the ground.  Everyone moves through it, Sam and Max taking up the rear.  The bomber plummets from the sky in a spray of debris as the German robot makes sure there will be no survivors.  Everyone is accounted for and Sam and Max have with them Max's liberated Ulti-Max.  "I gotta get something out of this disaster.  Probably have to sell it to help pay for the plane though."