by Tao Wong
“We don’t even know where they are!” Mel says bitterly.
“We can buy their location from the Shop,” I say. “It’d be expensive and probably take most of our savings, but we can do it.”
“You’d be leaving the city undefended! It’s only a few hours’ drive from Vancouver. If those Advanced Class members or a few groups come, we’ll lose everything,” Benjamin says, shaking his head. “I can’t agree to a risk like that.”
“And you’re talking about hitting at least two, if not three, groups. We don’t have the people,” Mel adds.
“We’ve still got the Hakarta here. And that’s the other reason I left. You see, I’ve got this Skill now,” I say with a smile.
It doesn’t take long to fill them in on Portal. Mel grasps the advantages first, the others requiring a little more prodding before they understand. I don’t mind. It took me a bit to really grasp what Portal can do. In the end, it comes down to a simple thing—mobility.
“I’ll admit, you’ll be able to reinforce us quickly, especially if we use Skills and technology to keep you informed but…” Ben says, doubt in his tone. “It’s still a risk. The Sect has a lot of Advanced Classers out there.”
“That’s why we asked some friends to visit,” Lana says with a smile. “They can’t leave their homes for long, but for a quick strike, they’d be happy to help.”
“Friends?” Mel says, something glimmering in his eyes as his gaze sweeps over my team. “I take it they’re tough.”
“Some of the toughest we know,” I say, smiling.
“When were you thinking of doing this?” Ben says, worry on his face.
“Well, today,” I say, looking up as Ali signals me that we’ve gotten a reply.
***
As the council streams out unhappily after being railroaded, I find Lana standing beside me, waiting. It’s only when they’ve left that she speaks.
“Why did you bother?” she says, her tone filled with curiosity.
“Bother?” I repeat.
“Giving them an option. You knew you were doing this anyway,” Lana says.
“Ah… I was told that as a leader, you should at least try to explain your reasoning to others.”
Lana stares at me, her eyes widening incredulously before she giggles. I frown, a bit annoyed by the giggling. Fine. I’m not exactly used to leading. At least not like this. Hell, even pre-System, I mostly just did my own thing in the jobs I worked.
When the giggling comes to an end, Lana says, “I’m sorry. But next time, maybe you can work on giving people more time to get used to the idea before insisting on your way.”
I consider what I’ve seen of her skillsets then nod. A glance at the time shows I’ve still got a bit of time before I should open the Portal.
“John?” Lana draws my attention back to her. “Why are you still the owner of the town?”
“Hmmm?” I say, tilting my head.
“Why haven’t you just given it back to the townspeople?” Lana says. “Set up some democratic elections or something? Keeping it isn’t really your style.”
“Tired of me giving you all the hard work?” I say, teasing her.
“Actually, yes,” Lana says huffily before she relents slightly. “People do like to know what the hell is happening. You keep things too close to your chest sometimes.”
I pause before nodding. “Sorry. And you’re right. I’ve gotten a little more paranoid since the System. It’s just that since everything said can be purchased…”
“You’re worried someone might learn what you’re doing?” Lana says.
I nod. “It’s stupid really. All-encompassing surveillance might be great in theory, but it doesn’t help if you don’t look. And we’re so insignificant…” We really are, in the greater scheme of things. “But I can’t shake the feeling that I shouldn’t talk about my future plans.”
Lana stays silent while I grapple with the practical and the emotional considerations. At times, I open my mouth then shut it, finally giving in to the practical.
“Do you know much about how the Galactic Council operates?” At her denial, I continue. “Think of it like the UN. Each world gets a representative on the general Galactic Council. Within the Council itself, there’s an inner circle, a smaller group that makes all the decisions, like the UN Security Council. Except these guys actually have a lot of power and get things done. They’re the ones who made Earth a Dungeon World, for example.
“To get a seat on the general council, you’ve got to be in control of your world—or at least the majority of it. Sort of like the way you can get a city, you’ve got to do the same thing with your world. Of course, owning that much of a world can be impossible, so in those cases, you’d have to enact voting of some sort,” I say, looking at Lana to see if she gets it. “It’s worth noting that no Dungeon World has ever had a seat on the Galactic Council. Too many interests fighting for control, so no one gets a seat.”
“And you want to change that,” Lana says quietly, staring at me. I nod slowly, and she grimaces. “That’s ambitious.”
“Just a little. But you’ve seen the Yerick. They lost their world. I don’t want us to be like them. But to get involved in the voting process, to start the ball rolling even, we need—I need—a stake in it.” I wave my hand around us, encompassing the city.
“You don’t ever think small, do you?” Lana says, giving me a hug.
“No. But it’s what we need. As a race,” I say softly.
I won’t let us become like the poor Yerick, just another race forcefully added to the System. Now they don’t even control their own home planet, forced to drift through the Galactic System as adventurers and transients. They do well—for third-class citizens—but it’s not what I want for humanity. Maybe it’s insane to think that I can make a difference, but it’s better than sitting around adding Levels for the hell of it.
“Speaking of the Yerick…” Ali says leadingly, tapping his wrist.
Nodding at the Spirit, I detach myself from Lana. Time to get back to work.
***
For the first time, I get a chance to marvel at the Portal I can conjure. It’s the third Portal I’ve cast, but it’s the first time I’ve done so when I’m not being shot at or hiding in a lake. Neither of which is particularly conducive to admiring your work. The Portal itself is a gaping hole in space bordered with shimmering golden light. The center is nothing but a stygian blackness, one that neither reflects light nor provides any clue of what lies behind. If I wasn’t the one who had summoned it, I probably would have found it difficult to transit through. Luckily, my friends are more trusting and less paranoid than I am.
The first to exit is a giant Yerick. Just under ten feet tall, the leader of the Yerick in Whitehorse is broad-shouldered, ripped, and bull-headed. Literally. The Yerick are what we knew as minotaurs, creatures of great strength and an infallible sense of direction. Of course, the reality is that they’re just Adventurers who hit dungeons a lot, but that’s Mana Bleed for you. Behind him, a shorter female Minotaur in a simple armored jumpsuit follows, her eyes dancing with amusement as she looks around.
“First Fist. Nelia!” I greet both of my friends/ex-teammates with a smile and a handshake.
Capstan takes my hand with care, not crushing it, as does Nelia.
“It is good to see you, Redeemer. I see you have Leveled again,” Capstan rumbles, his voice low and gravelly.
“And you. Thank you for coming,” I say.
“No thanks needed. Just payment.” Capstan flashes me a smile.
I know he’s mostly joking. Even knowing that he’s a friend, I find the smile intimidating. Leaving Lana to continue greeting the pair, I turn to the next individual to enter. “Mike?”
“No need to sound so surprised.” Mike Gadsby, the Level 8 Regional Guardian, smiles at me. I return his smile, taking in his new Advanced Class and the gunmetal-and-chrome arm. “And yes, I upgraded it.” Mike flexes his left arm, grinning at me, his mustach
e waggling as he does so.
“Sorry, just surprised. I figured—”
“Jason would come? Not a chance. Rachel isn’t letting him out of her sight, not with her so close to giving birth,” Mike says with a smile. Before I can ask about their health, Mike grows serious. “Anyway, protecting the citizens of Canada is my job. Gave my oath long before the System.”
“We both did,” Amelia, the stocky ex-RCMP officer, says as she exits the Portal. She is once again dressed in her old uniform, this one adjusted slightly to cover her armored jumpsuit. After she clears the entryway, she shudders as she stares at the Portal. “That thing is so creepy.”
“Hmmm?” I’m curious to hear what she has to say. Transportation is instantaneous and doesn’t even feel like anything, at least to me.
“Just the entire teleportation thing. So weird…”
I nod in understanding. Amelia’s not gotten her Advanced Class yet, though she’s only a couple of Levels away. No surprise there. Since Jason has been on guard duty, Mike has been forced to take on more active roles in Carcross, resulting in his Level jumping up. Amelia, on the other hand, has been in town, dealing with the day-to-day policing issues.
I blink as Vir, Amelia’s Truinnar partner, steps out behind her, hands clasped behind his back, wearing his silver-grey uniform. Among other things, Vir is Lord Roxley’s right hand and what I believe to be his spymaster as well as Amelia’s on-off partner while she works the streets of Whitehorse. Of course, considering how high Vir’s Level is, I’m not likely to turn him down. Still, I can’t say I’m happy to see him or what he represents.
The black-skinned, pointy-eared humanoid greets me with a tight-lipped smile. “Mr. Lee.”
“Why are you here?” I frown.
“John…” Lana chides me, walking forward to greet Vir.
“Mr. Lee’s reaction is expected, Ms. Pearson.” Vir kisses Lana’s hand as he bows over it. “He is, as always, predictable. My lord has requested I provide what I am able to in your most recent endeavor.”
“And of course, report what is going on,” I say with a bite.
“Of course,” Vir says, refusing to be ashamed of his secondary goals.
“Well, you’re here.” I close the Portal after I ascertain no one else is coming. “Let’s get started.”
***
Hours later. First, greeting and introducing everyone, then explaining the roles I had planned for them. Then, there’re all the questions I have to answer about potential problems, all the contingencies I’ve made or all the ones that we need to make.
In the end, the plan boils down to what we’ve discussed already. By shifting a few of my people and the Hakarta platoon in-house, we’ll be able to send my team, the Yukoners, and the hunting groups to hit the other areas. Of course, there was quite a bit of discussion on whether to split or attack sequentially. In the end, the fact that we feel we have enough people to launch simultaneous attacks tipped the balance in that direction.
It’s mid-afternoon by the time we’re done, and between lunch and needing to brief everyone involved, there’s no way to get going until tomorrow. As it stands, the unlucky few who have to stay behind have to familiarize themselves with the city.
“Tomorrow then,” I say, looking around the group.
“Still don’t see why I have to guard the city,” Amelia says grumpily to Mike and Lana.
“Well, Guardian, your Skills fare better on the defense. Buying time is the entire point of those left behind,” Lana explains patiently.
“Mike gets to go!” Amelia protests.
“My Skills let me boost those around me, along with dishing out the pain. You’re geared toward individual fighting and wide-range defense. I’m the better choice for an attack, especially if that Bone Monster or Sect Enforcer is out there,” Mike says patiently.
Amelia makes a face but falls silent.
Capstan finds me at that point, looming over me. “I am uncomfortable with leaving Nelia behind.”
Nelia snorts quietly by his side.
“Sorry. We need a Healer back here to help drag things out. The hunter groups out here are a lot more healing intensive than Whitehorse, so the attacking teams should be fine,” I say.
“Aye. Still, I have a suggestion…” Capstan is cut off by the blaring of alarms and the flashing notification that appears in front of us.
“What…?” I exclaim before staring at the newly populated map.
Red and green dots everywhere. Even as I’m reacting in surprise, another notification shows up, indicating a sudden drain on the settlement’s shield.
DECLARATION OF WAR
AS THE OWNER OF KAMLOOPS, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT A STATE OF WAR NOW EXISTS BETWEEN THE THIRTEEN MOON SECT AND THE VILLAGE OF KAMLOOPS (OWNER JOHN LEE).
ALL WAR PROVISIONS ARE ENACTED AND WILL BE ENFORCED UNTIL A MUTUAL STATE OF PEACE HAS BEEN ADOPTED, THE DESTRUCTION OF ONE PARTY, OR A PERIOD OF ONE GALACTIC YEAR HAS PASSED.
The System notification window—this time a giant blue screen, all in block letters—appears. I blink, reading through it quickly before dismissing the note.
Ali announces, “We’re under attack.”
Chapter 19
Everyone in the meeting is a veteran. Whether we chose it or not, we understand that speed at certain times is essential. The only order I give is to hold my team back as a reserve, allowing everyone else to rush to the walls where we have been attacked. Even as the Yukoners run, Mel’s barking out orders to slot them into his plans.
“Whoever was hiding the attackers is still masking their Classes and Levels,” Ali sends to everyone via the city’s notification system. It’ll be confusing for those not involved in the defense, but it’s also the fastest way for us to get out essential information.
“Got it,” Mel says, his voice cackling over the radio. “I’m briefing the newcomers on the communication protocols. We’ll be able to talk properly soon. Hold all non-essential communication till then.”
“I’ve started the online process for the sentinels,” Sam says, his eyes half unfocused. “We’ve done a few upgrades to them since you’ve been here last, John. Got my drones in the air too. Give me a couple of minutes and I can feed us more detailed information.”
“Shields are holding, but they won’t hold for more than another two minutes,” Lana says.
Out of nowhere, Roland pops into existence next to me, nearly making me jump. Would have, if Ingrid didn’t do it all the time and made me slightly inured to friendly creatures trying to make me soil my pants.
My mind’s spinning. If they’re taking down the settlement shield this fast, it’s got to be because more than their original attack group is here. In fact, there’s got to be quite a few people. A glance at the icons on the map is enough to tell me that there’s at least one hundred twenty. Probably including a bunch of Advanced Class players. The question, of course, is what they’re doing here.
Actually, that isn’t the question. The question is what I intend to do about it. Without a word, I’m heading for the City Core.
“No point in keeping funds for figuring out where they are,” I mutter as I sprint down the corridor, closely followed by Lana riding her tiger. A part of me is curious if that’s a Skill or a skill.
“Hold your fire till I tell you to. Yes, you too!” Mel’s voice snaps over the radio, ordering the teams that gather.
“And that confirms that Sect Enforcer is here,” Ali says.
I note the drop of nearly a third of our shield’s rating from a single hit, the effects of the Enforcer’s attack.
“Kuso,” Mikito curses.
“Can we locate him?” I snap at Ali. We need him taken down. If we get into a fight and he’s out sniping, it will not go well.
“Nothing,” Ali says, shaking his head. “The System’s giving me nothing on these guys.”
“A pair of my drones got a good look on that shot. I’m trying to triangulate his position now. I’ll send some over in that direct
ion,” Sam says, speaking over the team’s radio channel.
Finally at the orb, I slap my hand on it while calling out, “Recommendations!”
“Three options. Mana field—it’ll increase Mana collection in the surroundings and up Mana regeneration for everyone in town. Get the upgrade and it can exclude the Sect members. It can be tied into an enchantment later that can boost its effectiveness, but I don’t think we can afford that right now. Tier IV Sentinels would be a nice addition. Can’t get many of them, but it’ll give us something that can potentially handle the lower Level Sect members. Last option, upgrade the Shield. Buy us more time,” Lana says, her eyes gleaming.
“I CONCUR WITH MS. PEARSON,” Kim says.
No surprise there, as Lana and Kim have been working together to keep the city secure. On that note…
“Kim, you’ve got control of the beam turrets. Target low-Level Sect members when you can, concentrate fire, and take them out. Switch to air suppression once you need to do so,” I order the AI. It’s only after I’ve done that that I realize I might be contradicting orders from Mel. Ah hell…
“UNDERSTOOD.”
I nod, thinking quickly. The last option is discarded immediately—might have been viable if the Sect Enforcer wasn’t around, but even with an upgraded shield, he’d cut through it eventually. Not worth the cost. I can also guess that’s why we weren’t going for things like artillery and even the beam weaponry—too likely to hit our own people when the fighting really started. That left either the Mana Regeneration module, which could give us a slight edge if things dragged on, or the Sentinels. Unsure, I pull up both stats.
Mana Collection Field
Using a mixture of symbols of enchantment and upgraded nanites, the Mana Collection Field increases total Mana flow within the settlement. Higher-grade fields increase regeneration rates by a higher amount. Note: in non-stable regions, this can lead to an increased spawning rate of monsters.
