Misdirection at Monins

The opulent throne room of the governor’s palace was silent as Baron Ironblood sat deep in contemplation.  The inquisition was digging too deep into his business interests.  If they continued with their investigations, it would not be long before they started to uncover some of his more serious transgressions and that was something that he could not allow.  The inquisition was not infallible, though, their obsession with the ruinous powers could be used against them.

The baron smiled to himself as he ran through the plan in his mind, he would allow the Volkstan tribes to acquire the ruinous sword that Red Jackal had recently brought to him and through it the tribes would be slowly corrupted.  The inquisition would then turn their attention towards the Volkstan tribes and destroy that thorn in his side.

Black Major felt a cold shiver run up her spine as she instructed her patrol to advance through the plains of Monins.  She been given an assignment that reeked of subterfuge, to escort a research-tech and his research through the lands of the Volkstan people, it was madness.  Why weren`t they using an atmospheric transport?  What had she done to fall out of favour?  Still, she could not go against the wishes of the Baron.  Her troops could take the lead they were expendable after all.    

As the Red Shadows cautiously advanced through the plain Red Laser spotted a group of tribesmen up ahead.  Without waiting to find out what the tribesmen wanted Red Laser ordered his men to open fire.  The sounds of the auto-guns shattered the silence on the plain as their deadly munitions shattered the bodies of three of the Volkstan people.

The survivors of the unprovoked attacked could not contain their rage and charged the Red Shadows.  The Volkstan warriors fought valiantly but the red mist that engulfed them was more of a hinderance than an aid and they were quickly chased down and slaughtered by the Red Shadows.

Tears ran down the faces of the second group of the Volkstan as they saw their friends being killed, but they held their fired  Taking careful aim with their muskets the tribes men opened fire into the unsuspecting backs of the Red Shadows killing two of their number.

The sounds of gunfire had alerted the tribesmen in the vicinity and as the Red Shadows engaged one group in a firefight a third group of Volkstan warriors arrived on the scene. 

The newly arrived warriors did not wait to assess the situation they let out a terrifying war cry and ran headlong towards Black Major and her charge.

The Volkstan warriors were temporarily held in check by Black Major as she fought like a fury.  Her power sword lashed out parrying blows from one warrior, then stabbing at another, finally cutting one of the warriors in twain, but slowly she was pushed away from her charge.  The research-tech looked back at the major his eyes wide with fear but before he could drop to his knees to surrender one of the Volkstan warriors smashed him in the temple with the butt of his musket knocking him unconscious. 

Black Major quickly surveyed the situation her forces were depleted, and the enemy would soon be reinforced.  Shaking her head, she ordered the retreat; she did not know how she would explain her failure, but she had no intention of dying on a fool’s errand.

The guttural voices of the Volkstan warriors sang a lament as they carried the unconscious research-tech and his research off the field of battle.  The elders would be able to determine what it was these men of the city had been trying to smuggle through their lands and whether it was worth the price that had been paid in blood for it.