Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Character Sheets:

MERCS:

Greenblade | The Hoffmeister | Pecs | Hubert | Fortune | Mental | Tree | Bletcher | Wynter | The Guvnah | Rake | Rosalind De Cheney | Seregin | Valnor Farsight | Oripione | Stiff

It hadn't been a difficult task for Valnor to relocate an army two thousand strong. Lothar was faced with more of a challenge—what in Gehenna to do about it.

Once he'd decided on the location to intercept the Sargassian army, his strategy began to fall into place. He and The Guvnah paid a visit to the Harris's farm.

"So you had a run in with these boys before?" Alfie asked him.

"Not personally. But this was the scene of one of my earliest missions. Dealing with cattle rustlers." He looked about the place. There were several buildings scattered about, surrounded by fields for grazing. "In fact, none of the mercs I sent on last year's mission are here today. Goes to show how much has changed."

"Probably for the best," said The Guvnah, "if we want to get these folks on side."

"Absolutely."

The labourers who eyed them suspiciously were all of a type. Powerfully built and not shy of using force against the other settlers of Gal'azu. Harris hadn't bothered Aiden since the Apples had recovered his herd. But Lothar had heard plenty of stories since—of intimidation, and violence. And now they're in the path of an invading army. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.

"I want to speak to Harris," he said to one of the hands.

The man eyed the swords at Lothar and Alfie's belts. There were enough of them to overpower the pair if necessary. But The Guvnah exuded that casual kind of danger that was usually most effective at avoiding conflict. "At the main house," he said with a nod.

Half a dozen men waited for them outside. Lothar was yet to see a woman—kept indoors, no doubt.

"You Harris?" he asked.

"Aye." The man was as broad as the others, though older, with grey and thinning hair. He must have been some specimen in his prime.

"I'm Stiff. This is The Guvnah. We're soldiers."

"We don't get visitors here. Prefer to keep ourselves to ourselves."

"I get that. But thought you should know. There's an army in Gal'azu, and it's heading straight for this farm."

"An army? Not more damned greenskins?"

"No, these are humans. Call themselves Sargassians. You heard what happened to Urlay?"

"Heard some rumours. Wasn't really interested."

"Well, these are the ones responsible. The original settlers of Gal'azu, so it seems. Not very pleased to see us in their land. Want to take back what they see as theirs."

"And you came here to warn me?"

"Yes. And to help, if you want it. There's another fourteen of us, ready to defend your farm, if you'll have us. You have men who can fight?"

Harris and the men with him grinned at that. "Oh yes. Double your numbers. How many are coming?"

"At least a hundred."

"A hundred, eh? And what if you're lying?"

"I can take you to see this army, if you want. Only a few hours to the north. They'll get here this evening."

Harris studied Lothar. It seemed at last he believed him and was thinking through what he'd been told. Working out what he should do. "I've a thousand head of cattle on this farm."

"You've time to get them inside if you act now."

"Why are you so keen to help?"

"We've been sent by the Council in Avolo. They're paying us to stop the Sargassians. We could take them on after they raid your farm, of course."

There was a glint in Harris's eye. "You could. But better for you if you fight with us. Evens the odds."

"Of course. Does the same for you."

"True. Alright then, go fetch your soldiers. I can feed 'em and give you all shelter in return for your help."

"That's appreciated."

"But the boys on this farm are mine to command. Not yours."

"I can live with that. We'll do our own thing, and when the fighting's done, we'll be on our way."

"See that you are."

Lothar and Alfie turned about and went to fetch the rest of the squad.

"At least a hundred?" The Guvnah repeated.

"Not technically a lie. Two thousand is at least a hundred."

The Guvnah shook his head. "You're a cold bastard."

"What? If I told him how many are really coming, him and his toughs would have scarpered."

"That's kind of my point, Stiff."

"An army will soon descend on this farm," Lothar told his squad as they gathered at the entrance. "The Sargassians have faced no resistance so far. We'll have the element of surprise, for a while. There are thirty-odd cattle rustlers who'll also be defending this place. Most of you need to add to the general chaos and make it a fight, without getting yourselves killed. Seregin and I will lead a team whose job will be to locate and kill the necromancer. I'm not saying that will completely end the threat. But his death may fatally weaken this army he has constructed, and so is our priority. Is that clear?"

"When you say add to the chaos…" said Wynter.

"Kill some of these so-called Silent Warriors. Make them pay in blood to take this farm. It'll draw out the necromancer. But once the enemy has the upper hand, get out before you're overwhelmed. If you see him, stay away. He's our responsibility."

***

"We need a reserve force near the centre of the farm," Wynter said.

The woman had clearly decided she was in charge. Ashlyn couldn't think of anyone worse. They'd barely spoken since Stiff had recruited her into the Apples—a decision Ashlyn hadn't thought very much of. She was a Blair, and Ashlyn didn't need to know more than that.

Wynter looked about. The main farmhouse was heavily defended by its residents. "That'll do," she said, pointing to a long barn nearby. "Tree, we need you here. You're the only medic in the entire squad. Can't risk you." It was said as if she was making a criticism, but what else could Stiff have done? He only had two medics, and it wouldn't have been fair to leave the other crew without one.

"The Guvnah, Rake, and Mental, with me. We'll position ourselves close to the northern perimeter and engage the enemy when they arrive. The rest of you are under Tree's command. We'll need your help when we withdraw this way."

With that, Wynter's sub team left them to it.

"The rest of you," Ashlyn muttered indignantly under her breath.

She wasn't sure whether Henning heard her, but he gave them an apologetic smile. "She's used to giving orders. Suppose we ought to inspect this barn."

Most of the barn held cattle, who wouldn't have taken kindly to sharing the space with a brown bear. But there was a separate storeroom at the north end.

"This'll do," Ashlyn suggested. "If we leave the door open, we'll get a decent view of anyone approaching our position."

"Agreed," said Tree. "And I like the look of the roof. It's a good position to set up with my bow."

The Hargon scout climbed onto the roof of the barn, while Ashlyn, Georg, Victor and Hubert got comfortable in the storeroom.

"We'll take turns on lookout at the door," she suggested.

"Agreed," said The Hoffmeister.

"But first," said Pecs, "let's investigate the food parcels we were gifted."

The farmers had given them each a tied cloth parcel. Pecs placed his on the straw covered mud floor and undid the knot, revealing cheese, bread, and an apple.

Hubert growled and pawed at the ground.

"This one can be yours, Hubert," Pecs said, passing it across.