Hilda
The strike teams moved throughout the small compound hidden in the wilds on one of the moons which were in orbit of Halesworth.
Scans of the small moons had shown nothing when they first arrived in the system, but Commander Glass had sent scouts to the moon anyways. None lived on the moon but it did have a habitable environment. The scouts had found nothing on that moon, and standard patrols from ‘The Jade Grip’s’ starfighter compliment also revealed nothing.
It had been the old lord of Halesworth, Qinn Sunfist who had informed Hilda that the moon had abandoned bases. Built long ago by Furse invaders during the times of the Great Savage Host of the Children of Rothgar almost three hundred years ago.
The lord had provided them with several old maps of the moon, and strike teams had found several small holdings hidden away in old caves, underground, or hidden in deep overgrown forests. Old ruins which had been abandoned long before any on ‘The Jade Grip’ had been born.
It was the eighth compound that had revealed signs of life, and where the strike teams had run into contact and resistance. That resistance had come to an end before Hilda could arrive on her own shuttle. Surrounded by her own guards long after the all clear was given.
Hilda had wanted to be the first inspect those bases, but she had been convinced otherwise by most of the staff of ‘The Jade Grip’. Captain Atwood, her XO had told her that her place was on the Command Deck of the ship, while Commander Urban, the head of her personal security teams had agreed.
Even Commander Ironstorm had agreed. The Commander of the five thousand marine and ground ground detachment had pointed out that any or all the abandoned bases could have been rigged to blow.
Hilda hadn’t liked that, but she had given in and allowed the Commander to lead two of his infantry battalions to the surface of the moon to secure the bases while the remaining infantry battalion, armoured battalion and support battalion remained on ship with cover from the Starfighter command and ‘The Jade Grip’ itself.
Hilda had listened as most the bases were cleared at the same time until contact was made at the eighth compound. Three marines were killed by the time the all clear was made, and as soon as it was, Hilda was on her shuttle to reach that compound and see it for herself.
Reports didn’t reveal anything. A couple dozen prisoners were taken, but resistance had been little, and sweep over quickly.
The moon was unimpressive, and Hilda understood why no one had made their home there. The atmosphere was thin but breathable. The compound had been lodged into the side of a mountain, it’s large vault doors hidden through the long winding cavern which a company of marines stood guard next to.
Throughout the cavern destroyed automatic turrets lay shattered, and several still smoked. The marines had made their way through the cavern quickly taking out most of the turrets before they were able to activate. Once through the cavern, it led to a large open cave entrance and tunnel system which the massive armored vault door lay hidden and flanked by another pair of smoking and ruined turrets.
Several more marines stood guard next to the blown hole in the armored door. They saluted Hilda as she made her way into the base compound where she saw several bodies on the ground where they had been shot dead by the marines.
“Captain,” Commander Ironstorm greeted her with a salute. “I have teams going through the computer banks as we speak, but we have a prisoner you are going to want to see.”
“Prisoner?” Hilda asked.
“Yes ser,” the marine said. “This way,” he said and jester-ed with his hand. “She is the leader of this base.”
Hilda smiled. “So we are going to get some answers.”
“I don’t know about that ser,” Commander Ironstorm said as they walked through the old dust covered corridors which had splattered blood in spots next to more dead bodies.
Hilda frowned at the Commander. “Care to explain?”
The Commander was silent for a moment before he started. “She isn’t saying much, just that she will only talk to whoever is in charge or the king himself.”
Hilda stopped and stared at the Commander. “The king?” she repeated in shock.
“Yes ser, that’s what she says. But…” he was silent for a moment before he shook his head. “It is best you see, we have her in a storage room under guard.” The Commander reached to his side and pulled out his Datapad before he tapped the screen and handed it over to Hilda.
Hilda took the small Datapad and looked at the video it displayed of a figure that stood in a room with two marines. Her clothes were unmistakable to identify. She looked back to the Commander in shook.
“Yes Ser,” the Commander said when he saw the look on her face.
“A Bishop? Your telling me that a Fabian Bishop is in command of this compound with ties to the pirate cruiser that has been hunting ships in the sector?” Hilda asked stunned.
“I don’t know Ser. It’s above my pay grade, but it would appear that way,” the Commander told her.
“Fuck me,” Hilda hissed. “I want to see her now. What the fuck is going on?”
