Galactic High

“I’M DETECTING OGREACTIVITY IN SECTOR 8, WHAT’S GOING ON?” the voice of the Laird boomed through the comms.

“Spotted a group nearby sir, they look like residents trying to run away but they’re not responding to our hails,” a voice responded professionally. “They’re heading to Sector 9 so maybe if you make an appearance you can scare them into going back home?”

“MUST I DO EVERYTHING!? I’M OGRESTRESSED AS IT IS!” The Laird sighed.

“We’re sorry sir but we can’t get to the island they’re at quickly from here,” the voice replied. “I understand if you just want to let this lot go…”

“NO! I CAN’T LOSE MORE PEOPLE! THE JAIL IS OGREFILLED AS IT IS! I’M ON MAH WAY! MAINTAIN OGREWATCH!”

Hearing the thudding footsteps, the group stayed low and still as the hulking green figure ran down the street towards Sector 9. Staying silent for several moments, Jack called it into the Lizta.

“Yep, that got him to shift, nicely done Mr Ashtail!” He grinned.

“Good,” Vetch Ashtail replied, sounding satisfied on his end. “The way should be clear for you. My Operatives will call it in if they see anything that might be a problem. We have the first group of outside hostiles heading to that area now, but I can’t guarantee how long they will delay the Laird for.”

“Understood. Moving now,” Jack confirmed.

Are you sure we can trust these people? Chiyo asked. We’ve been betrayed before.

“I trust Kritch,” Sephy pointed out, and Jack nodded in agreement. “And Clan Ashtail helped us out before when they didn’t need to when The Redeemer showed up at the Tea Garden.”

“The Redeemer? Isn’t he an Inquisitor of Siros?” Zayle asked in confusion. “Pretty sure I’ve seen him on television before. But yes, I trust Kritch too!”

This was a different Redeemer that was trying to ride off the reputation of the one you’re thinking of, Chiyo confirmed. He is dead now.

“They might not have told us everything, but if they were aligned with our enemies, they’ve had multiple chances to take us out,” Jack pointed out. “They’ve served us drinks several times after all, even on the way here. Let’s play this out and see where this goes, but keep your wits about you.”

Very well. Chiyo nodded in agreement, understanding Jack’s logic.

“Let’s go, I don’t see anyone on drones,” Sephy pointed out. “Best not waste any time.”

Jack led the way, getting to his feet from where they were hidden behind an abandoned sunken shed on the outskirts of the settlement that surrounded the Laird’s home, a crooked two-storey structure that enveloped a large rotten tree stump surrounded by a moat with a single secured bridge and gate access, with Zayle pointing out that it was built to accommodate the large form of the Laird when he first came to control the area in the first place.

As they snuck up to the front gate of the property, they heard the sounds of locks and bolts closing from a few of the nearby homes with lights on, but Jack was surprised that many of these homes seemed to be abandoned, a fact that Zayle was quick to agree with when he asked them.

“Most of the people of the district live closer to the Laird for the security he provides,” the Squa’Kaar pointed out. “They’ve either fled or…”

“Or they’re being held captive,” Nika pointed out over comms as they took cover by the large stone slabs that served as a door to the Laird’s Lair. “The Laird did say the jail was overfilled, so you’d better hurry up and bust them out!”

Do we have a plan for getting in? Chiyo asked nobody in particular, motioning to the chunky locking system that secured the doors firmly closed.

“I’ll let you know in a moment,” Sephy distractedly replied as they sliced into the local network. “Ah hell, this is patchy as hell, I can see why the Lizta wants direct access to the Laird’s System!”

“Sephy, I barely understood technobabble before I got isekai’d.” Jack sighed. “English?”

“What’s English?” Sephy asked before shrugging. “Basically imagine trying to climb a wall with no handholds whatsoever, and that’s what I’m facing with this closed network - there’s no tech around that I can piggyback off to access-”

“Still don’t get it,” Jack deadpanned.

Sephy gave him an unamused look and rolled her eyes. “Now you’re just fucking with me. Basically, I just need to get closer and I should be able to slice into his network. It looks simple from what I can see from here, but it’s hard to reach.”

That still doesn’t get us through the doors, and my powers won’t work on something that heavy. Jack, can you do anything? Chiyo asked with a hopeful expression.

“Hmmm,” Jack considered as he looked at the doors, before Zayle perked up.

“We don’t need to use the gate! My water spirit could freeze the moat, or maybe my earth spirit can create a land bridge?” the Squa’Karr excitedly offered.

“Sure,” Jack hesitantly agreed. “How long?”

“It will take a few minutes if we want to be subtle.”

“Do it.”

Jack, Sephy and Chiyo could feel the tension rise as they stood there exposed in silence while Zayle directed their elemental spirits to work in tandem, churning the earth of the moat to rise up as the water spirit hardened it enough to be worked on. Any minute they expected some kind of response, be it from a wandering patrol or the Laird themselves returning to his home.

But nothing came.

“Okay, it should be strong enough,” Zayle whispered. “Let’s hurry!”

Jack had to fight to keep himself calm as he went last along the thin, impromptu land-bridge, careful not to slip as he fully expected to hear the sound of an angry ogre coming for him.

“All Operatives, be advised that the Bitter Winds are heading towards Sector 8 now, they’re not getting any resistance as planned until they’re in a spot to trap the Laird,” Vetch Ashtail called out. “Several more groups are on the move and will likely encounter the patrols soon. What’s the status on the system access, Miss Hawker?”

“Still working on it, crossing the moat now,” Sephy replied. “Will let you know once I have it. The Laird has a lot of mundane security we need to get past.”

“Understood. We need that system under our control before the alarm gets raised. We don’t want the Laird or his militia knowing they’re under attack just yet. Let the scum thin themselves down and make sure they can’t easily fall back.”

“We’ll get it done,” Jack replied, trying to sound confident and cool under the pressure.

“I am pretty sure the Laird has laid mines in his garden!” Zayle whispered. “My earth spirit has detected them in the ground, so please be careful!”

“I should be able to disable them but they might be linked to an alarm,” Sephy warned. “I would need to get closer to the house to make sure.”

Perhaps we can make it past without having to turn them off? Chiyo reasoned. Surely he wouldn’t lay them on the main path to his home?

“He hasn’t,” Zayle confirmed. “But it’s still a little far. I could try and get my earth spirit to move them?”

“I think that would set them off,” Sephy pointed out before she looked to Jack. “Could you fling me up into the air again? I could fly down and get to the door.”

“Alright.” Jack nodded. “Are your wings still hurt?

“I should be fine, I’m just going to glide down.” Sephy grinned as Jack interlocked his fingers, placing her foot on the platform, before he tossed her upwards without any shenanigans. They both knew the stakes at play here and weren’t going to joke around this time. Gliding down she quickly landed gently at the front gate.

“Okay, I see the system, but it’s all old-school and manual.” The Skritta groaned as she peered through the keyhole. “It’s just a few levers and wires that I can disable, I just need to get through the door! Mechanism is weak, but it’s oversized!”

We might need to force the door open, Chiyo reasoned. I would normally suggest Jack does it, but I can’t levitate him for long, and even if he can make the jump it’s risky.

“What about you or Zayle?” Jack asked. “Could one of you help Sephy out with your abilities?”

I can just levitate above the mines and Zayle is small enough that I can take her with me. Let’s take a look! the Ilithii replied optimistically as she levitated the pair of them across the minefield, with Zayle looking quite nervous as they gazed down at the perilous ground below.

“Careful where you step!” Sephy whispered as they made it to the other side. “See those metal pins over there, Chiyo? Are you able to move them?”

Urgh! Chiyo exclaimed in disgust. I would be able to move it if it wasn’t so filthy! I can see mould and muck in the keyhole that’s fastened it shut! How is a system so shit so effective at the same time?

“Zayle? Is there anything your spirits can do?” Jack asked.

Wait, yes! Chiyo perked up, thinking of something. Zayle, can you direct your water spirit to completely fill the keyhole and hinges with water, keep it there, then freeze it?

“Sure,” Zayle confusedly replied. “Why?”

Because when the water freezes, it expands, Chiyo explained. So when you force the water into the lock and freeze it, the pressure should blow it off!

“She’s right!” Jack confirmed from where he was awkwardly sitting on the Laird’s garden wall. “Just make sure you’re out of the way when that happens! If it’s as poorly maintained as you say, then it won’t last long. ”

“Alright.” Zayle nodded, unconvinced, as they gave the orders to their water spirit, allowing it to do its thing while the trio moved further up the path.

*POP* *POP* *POP*

The sound of the rusted metal being torn apart wasn’t as loud as Jack thought, but as the large door tumbled backwards it smashed through the paper-thin wall behind with a crash loud enough to wake the dead, as it rattled down the set of stone steps behind it.

“Well the good news is that we’ve found the secret passage,” Sephy quipped.

“Turn the mines off then get the Lizta what they need!” Jack hissed back in a panic as several people up the street leaned out of their windows to take a closer look.

“What’s going on?” someone shouted in the distance as Sephy quickly pulled several levers.

“Mines are off!” she called as she dashed over to some nearby computer equipment. Jack barely had time to steel himself as he dashed across the garden to the house, more clearly seeing the results of their handiwork. The secret entrance to the vault had been behind a hidden shelf in the next room, but the Laird clearly hadn’t taken into account the structural integrity of his own home.

“Alarms disabled!” Sephy called back. “I need a minute to get full access to the network!”

“Better make it quick!” Jack warned as he looked back down the way they had come. Though the fog obscured much of the street ahead, he could still see residents pointing their way. “Don’t let them get a call out! Last thing we need is the cops coming for us!”

I don’t understand what a ‘cop’ is, but I can understand the context! Chiyo warned. Hurry up, Sephy!

“Working on it!” Sephy distractedly replied as she hopped into a chair in front of a monitor in the next room. “Why don’t you get your lazy ass over here and help me, Chiyo!?”

“Perhaps we could do something else while Sephy slices in?” Zayle nervously interjected. “Maybe clear the rest of the rooms?”

“Alright, but someone keep watch,” Jack reluctantly agreed. “And look out for traps. I wouldn’t put it past this crazy asshole to set some in his house if he’s mined his own garden.”

Zayle can keep watch with their spirits and direct some spares to check the ground floor, Chiyo reasoned.

“Alright, let’s go up, but be prepared to run down if anything goes wrong.”

While splitting the group was normally a poor idea in many cases, the rooms Jack could see were quite spacious, sized for the megafauna Laird, and leaving little opportunity for any potential ambush or trap. Even if there were any more traps lying in wait for any intruders, they were more likely to be downstairs than up, and Zayle’s spirits could just remanifest if hit.

Well this just looks unhinged, Chiyo pointed out as Jack finally made it up the oversized steps, catching up to the levitating Ilithii as she pointed out the scene around them.

With the exception of the large, dirty-looking and horrid-smelling bed, with chest of drawers, the upstairs part of the complex had clearly possessed more individual rooms; however, it looked like the walls up here had been completely smashed apart by a hammer, though Jack’s mind immediately travelled to an image of a rampaging ogre running right through them judging by the mess and debris left behind.

“And recent too,” Jack finally pointed out, allowing his mouth to catch up to his mind as he walked to a strange device near one of the windows, and recognised it as one of many oversized telescopes. “I can’t reach that high, where is it pointing?”

One moment. Chiyo floated up and looked through the peephole. This is pointed directly at a cluster of houses that look inhabited, the vision on this thing seems to cut through the fog.

“Are they all like that? Has the Laird turned this whole floor into an observation deck?” Jack asked, and Chiyo took a few quick moments to confirm his suspicions.

Yes! These telescopes are locked onto different houses on different islands. The Laird must have spent a lot of time aligning these!

“What do you think the chances are that he’s spotted us or the Lizta?” Jack asked the Ilithii, suddenly very paranoid. “Could this be him baiting us into a trap?”

It’s possible but unlikely, Chiyo calmly reasoned. It would have required the Laird to put on a convincing act over their comms and willingly let us into their home. Given what we know of them, I think our cover is intact. Not everything has to go to shit, you know?

“Things going to shit seems to be my life now.” Jack shrugged. “But yeah, I thought it was unlikely but I had to make sure. I’m going to let the Lizta know though.”

Sounds good. I can already detect nothing of value here, though perhaps Clan Ashtail will find a use for all these telescopes.

“Hey, you guys should have remote access now!” Sephy called out on the comms as the two of them made it down the stairs. “Hope you can boost the signal on your end since the system here sucks!”

“Thank you, Miss Hawker,” Vetch Ashtail replied steadily. “We will be running further interference on our end. Have you encountered any prisoners yet?”

“No, we haven’t,” Jack replied. “Covered the ground and upper levels. Looks like the Laird has been keeping a close eye on his tenants, but we don’t think it changes much.”

“The ground floor is quite bare,” Zayle added. “I think maybe the Laird was ready to flee the moment trouble came knocking.”

“He may still try and make that attempt, so remain cautious,” the elderly Lizta pointed out. “However, thanks to our coverage we will let you know if the Laird makes a run for it or if we lose sight of him. Even if he is a fool he is still dangerous, and despite our extensive planning, there is always room for surprise.”

“No plan survives contact with the enemy,” Jack agreed. “Unless you found anything important on the ground floor, Zayle, I think we should head downstairs.”

“Bleh, every time we head underground things turn to shit,” Sephy playfully groaned as the group made their way down the wet, muddy stairs that were far too soft under their feet. “Maybe this will be the one underground experience that turns out well for us?”

We are literally heading down to a prison and gods know what else, Chiyo amusedly replied. And this rock and soil looks incredibly weak!

“Hey, a girl can dream.” Sephy grinned before she got serious as she led the way. “But no, this will be trapped to shit. Watch your step and keep your eyes open for any tripwires or pressure pads.”

“I see one at the bottom!” Zayle pointed with a shaky finger. A line of thin rope, easy enough to see was hidden behind the bottom step. To a large person like the Laird it would not look too conspicuous, however, for smaller species it was simpler to spot.

“Sephy? Are you able to disable it?” Jack asked. “It’s easy to spot, but if we’re bailing multiple prisoners out it becomes much harder to keep them away from it if we need to take them this way. What’s it even connected to?”

“Oh shit…” Sephy muttered. “I think he’s got explosives down here!”

Are you sure? Chiyo asked. Any explosives going off underground could risk collapsing the entire structure! The Laird hasn’t put up proper supports, and if he wants to get to the vault and escape he won’t be able to if it’s all buried among the rubble!

“Perhaps his plan is to blow it up on his way out?” Zayle nervously suggested. “I wouldn’t put it past him even before tonight. My Greater Earth Spirit can secure the rock around us and let me know where the vulnerable parts are, but it won’t be able to hold it all together if it collapses. It’ll keep us safe, but…”

“But it’ll bury the prisoners alive.” Jack nodded. “Sephy, disable the trap if you can. Chiyo, can you detect lifesigns? If we focus on those that are the furthest away that gives us a smaller area to work with if the worst should happen.”

“I’ll have my water spirit ice the stairs in case the Laird comes back,” Zayle shyly replied, much more out of their depth compared to the others. “A trap of our own that we can more easily disarm.”

I detect several signs, but they’re very weak, Chiyo noted. Most are stationary.

“Any guards?” Jack asked.

Unsure. If there are any, they’re not moving.

“Alright.” Jack sighed, steeling himself for what was to come. “Let’s free who we can and see what we’re dealing with.”

Three lifesigns ahead on the left, Chiyo pointed out after about a minute of careful advancing down the single path. I think one of them is a child!

“Sephy? Any traps?”

“Not that I can see. No key, just a manual bolt,” the Skritta confirmed.

“Hey, anyone there?” Jack whispered through the thick bars, quickly snapping his head back as a hand reached out to try and grab him.

“Coward!” a weak voice called from within. “You want to lock us up to try and keep us here, but you won’t even feed us? At least give my son some food! He’s going to starve to death!”

“Hey, I’m not with the Laird!” Jack called back. “We’re here to get you out, but it’s dangerous!”

“Mock me all you like! Your petty kingdom is crashing around you!”

Jack grunted with the exertion as he lifted up the heavy, rusted bolt and undid the lock, tearing the door open and catching the frail man he had been trying to talk to. The reptilian man weighed almost nothing, with his entire skeletal structure clearly visible, along with an unnaturally swollen belly that heavily reminded Jack of Oxfam adverts that showed the effects of extreme malnutrition.

“Woah!” Jack reassured the man as he tried to get up and take a swing at him. “Take it easy mate, we’re gonna get you out!”

“P-please!” a woman faintly spoke up from within the cell. “Please help my son!”

“Here!” Jack propped the man against the wall and hurriedly moved to the boy laying on his mother’s lap, pulling out his canteen and gently allowing a slight trickle of liquid to enter the child’s mouth, pulling away as they began to cough slightly. Nika had insisted on mixing up a homemade concoction of ‘enhanced’ water for the group based on a few articles she had read earlier during the day, that mainly consisted of adding various hints of fruit juices and natural additives to the water, and it was this that Jack gave to the weakened reptile family, making sure to hold enough back to help out any others in the same situation.

“Chiyo?” Jack asked. “I know lifting people isn’t the easiest for you but…”

I can lift them but not for very long! They may be light as a feather, but several at once will strain me!

“Then we’ll need to secure them somewhere,” Jack acknowledged.

“What about the vault?” Sephy asked, as the others all turned to look at her. “Hear me out! Zayle, you said you know where it is right?”

“Directly underneath the centre of the tree stump,” they confirmed. “My Lesser Earth Spirit says it’s in the centre of these caverns as well!”

“Well, vaults are normally secure, right?” the Skritta asked, and Jack realised what she was getting at.”

“Store them in the vault until we’re done, then Zayle’s Earth Spirit makes a fresh tunnel.” Jack nodded. “Good idea, Sephy!”

Perhaps we should inform the Ashtails that we have starving people down here? Chiyo politely reminded Jack, who nodded and called it in as they carefully made their way towards the vault, with Sephy methodically clearing any traps.

“I see,” Vetch Ashtail replied calmly after a few moments. “I’ll notify the relief team to prepare some Morning Sun brew to sustain and energise them until we can help them recover. In the meantime, make sure you don’t overfeed the prisoners as that will cause them harm. Also, you should know that the fighting has started. We have successfully directed several of the militia patrols into the line of fire, but as of yet the Laird does not fully comprehend how doomed he is and hasn’t left the front line. Keep us updated.”

“Sure,” Jack acknowledged as Sephy waved them forward as the tunnel opened up into a larger chamber with several other paths branching out to where Chiyo confirmed there were other cells with occupants.

But in the middle dominating the room, there was a hollowed out section with metal parts heavily welded together in a mockery of a secure door. Thick and rusted iron bars that were fixed from the floor to the ceiling revealed several metal shelves within, moderately stacked with various crates and cases.

“Not bad…” Sephy grinned.

“I always like an easy payday…”

*****

“Mr Frost, this is Vetch Ashtail. My Operatives have informed me that the Laird is heading your way,” the Lizta informed him an hour later as they began going through several of the vault crates, after they had all carefully rescued the prisoners, disarmed the traps and stored everybody in the vault to keep them safe.

“Understood,” Jack replied with a scowl.

“I’ll deal with him.”