Bunker Visit

Lamelie lay flat on the ground, hidden by the leafy undergrowth. She lay ten feet from the outpost entrance. Close enough that she could run to it for safety but far enough that she had time to react if she was noticed.

The outpost was built directly into a cliff. It's a bunker made with metal sheets atop a metal skeleton. Femel had designed the bunker including a supply room large enough for the needs of a five-person team for a year. The exposed side was plastered with clay and buried to resemble the original cliffside. There are two side doors, both more accessible than the front entryway. The front entryway is more of a hatch that revealed a tunnel leading into the bunker.

The hairs on her neck bristled.

Rianna held her spear above Lamelie, digging the point slightly into her shoulder.

"Identify yourself!"

Lamelie kept her head forward. A man with a slender build climbed into the outpost's bunker. She noted his minimal amount of movement and the quality of his ghillie suit. It blended well with the environment. She calculated if it came down to guerrilla tactics, she could easily win a battle against Varquez troops.

"Is that any way to talk to your superior, First Sergeant Rianna?" Lamelie kept looking at the bunker entrance.

Rianna pulled her spear and saluted, placing the spear at her side.

"Apologies, ma'am. I was not aware of your impending arrival."

Lamelie picked herself up and dusted off her breeches. She responded," It's all good and fine, Rianna."

Rianna was tearing up a little but she held her straight face. Lamelie's last visit had been six months ago and everybody was dying to hear of news from the main city and information about their family. Rianna was already glad to know that Lamelie was still okay.

"Yes, Captain Lamelie. But I sent Brian ahead to warn them of an intruder on the premises."

"Is that who I saw sneaking into the bunker?"

"Yes, I'm surprised you were able to see him considering the quality of his camouflage."

Lamelie nodded her head. "It's quite good but he needs to incorporate more natural elements from the direct environment before I can say it's great."

Rianna motioned her head to the bunker entrance. "Axel and Pixie are on jail duty this week. They'll arrive as backup in a second."

Lamelie turned to Rianna and placed her hand on Rianna's shoulder.

Rianna's cheeks flushed. She was giddier than she'd ever been in the past couple of months. In more ways than one, Lamelie was family to her. She fulfilled the role of an older sister and a mother when Rianna had lost both.

"I have the reports on everybody's families as well as the kingdom's reports. What's the general status update of the outpost?" Lamelie tensed. If the general status was good and the outpost could remain operational for another three to four months, then the plan had no obstructions from this area.

"Morale is lower than ever, ma'am. Brian and Pixie have been supplementing our food supply through foraging and wild game, so we've rarely dug into our food supply. Our water supply will need replenishing in another couple of months but we can hold out for a while with what we've got. It's morale that's weakest ma'am."

Lamelie paused to think for a moment and took her hand of Rianna's shoulder "What's the main cause of the low morale?"

Rianna bit her upper lip. "The war, ma'am."

Lamelie sighed.

Rianna continued," If the war happens, ma'am, we'll likely be on the front lines and we're worried about our remaining family."

Lamelie made direct eye contact with Rianna, startling her.

"You won't have to worry about that in the coming future. Prince Adrien, Assistant Femel, and I have devised a strategy to prevent the possibility of an upcoming war. It shall be discussed in today or tomorrow's meeting," replied Lamelie.

Axel exited the side door of the outpost. He preferred them over the front entryway because they were covered by vines and undergrowth as opposed to a hatch disguised as the ground.

He pulled an arrow from his quiver and ran whilst crouching towards the area Brian had reported. He was tense the closer he got and held his ground when he was five feet away from the target.

Pixie reached her position, directly opposite to Axel, a few milliseconds after. Pixie and Axel notched their bows and enclosed in on the position. As Axel knocked aside a branch, he noticed Captain Lamelia chatting with First Sergeant Rianna.

Pixie and Brian shared a look of disbelief.

Rianna turned to them and bowed her head a little. "Corporal Axel and Corporal Pixie, My apologies for the misreport."

Axel lowered his bow and smirked. "I was looking forward to a little action, but this is way better."

Pixie chuckled a little and said," It's okay, Rianna. At least we got to test our team response."

Axel replied," Yeah, I noticed you lagged a couple milliseconds behind me."

Lamelie grinned. "Don't worry about that for now. We have an important mission coming up."

Axel and Pixie froze. They were nervous as they should be. This mission could mean the start of a war or an attempt at peace.

Axel saluted and asked," if I may enquire ma'am, will this task mean war or is it an attempt at peace?"

Lamelie clapped her hands together. "I'm glad you asked. All I can tell you at present is good things will follow."

Axel and Pixie breathed a sigh of relief. If Lamelie said so, then she meant it. She never went back on her word.

Rianna stepped in for a moment. "Remember our current situation. Staying outside for too long is not to our advantage."

"I know," grumbled Axel," But it gets so boring in that bunker."

Lamelie marched past them and her cape fluttered. She walked into a ray of sun and it brightened her pastel purple hair.

"The sooner we're inside, the sooner I introduce the mission," she said.