The World of Guns: 10th Advance

The named scouts loaded their kit with Paige having recovered from her brush with death enough to be useful. Tyler smirked as Wisp brought the train to a stop before the team jumped off.

"Got your flares?"

"Always. Linkup?"

"Mile down the line."

"Roger. Find us something cool."

Tyler looked at his crew and noted Paige was using a borrowed Springfield. Rey came up beside him with Selena and the pink eyed blonde smiled.

"Alright. We're set."

Neo had his Fedorov in hand as the scouts headed towards the mountains at a light trot. Tyler noting the way the grassland was mostly flat with a few smaller humps here and there.

"Alright. Eyes wide. No clue if the site's occupied."

Natti smirked as she hefted her ZK-38.

"If it is?"

"We drop em if they're not in our army's colors we drop em."

Rey had her Lewis gun in her arms as they went.

"I bet it's another zeppelin, Tyler."

"Probably. I for one feel like it'll be something that has NO earthy reason for being there."

Selena smirked.

"A helicopter?"

"OR a fighter jet."

"Ha. We find a fighter jet down here you're a god."

He kissed her.

"I AM a god. Just not that kind."

"Cocky PRICK."

"Love you too, Rey."

She glowed happily at the callout as Paige smirked inspite of her new fear.

"Lovey dovey to the max."

"Feeling left out?"

"NO."

"She'll crack."

"Oh absolutely."

"I am RIGHT HERE."

"we know."

Tyler chuckled as the blondes poked the goth and Neo chuckled again as he scanned his section.

"Active teenagers and smooth operators. Amusing-I got a shadow."

Tyler looked over and noted a large shadow on the side of a modest hill.

"Oh hello. We got a cave ladies and Neo. Let's go check it out."

Selena smirked.

"Another bear?"

"Probably something else. Shotties out."

Tyler then pulled a pair of 1887s from his duffel bag and flip cocked them. Natti smirked as she hefted an M30 drilling.

"Taking inspiration?"

"Kinda."

Rey smirked as she pumped her trench gun.

"Gore doesn't NEED inspiration since he's that kinda crazy."

The group swapped to shotguns as tyler walked up to the now revealed to be a large steel door set into the hillside. He looked at the large construction and noted it was easily 50 feet wide and 50 high. He smirked.

"Plane."

"totally."

"Bomber."

Tyler looked for a handle and found it had been chained shut. As he went to break the lock with a shotgun blast, Neo noticed something.

"There's a sign here, Tyler."

The soldier looked and blinked as he lifted the rotting paper.

"Warning. NO ENTRY PERMITTED. Hazardous lifeforms inside."

He looked at Selena in shock.

"Nazi zombies anybody?"

They all blinked and Rey had shock in her pink eyes.

"Tyler? DID they include that?"

"Um. I don't know. Ah. MAYBE?"

He looked at the suddenly far more ominous door now.

"And we HAVE to find out. Okay. That train is thirty minute from here, yet we're still in range of the 105mm cannons. I'll fire up a red flare and they'll load cannons."

Selena nodded as she swapped her shotgun for her usual Submachinegun.

"We'll back up to 100 yards. Tyler, you throw the door."

"right."

The crew backed up as he fired a red flare into the sky. There was an instant reply of a yellow.

"Loading."

And then a green.

"ready to aim. They got the range. Alright."

Tyler had his OWN Lewis up as he snapped the lock on the bunker door. The strong soldier then gripped the steel hinge and threw effort into the yank and the door flew open with a slam. The soldier was back 20 feet with the gun up as they all peered into the darkness of the newly opened bunker. Only for nothing to come out. Tyler sighed and reloaded his flare gun.

"we are NOT playing this game."

He fired a pure white flare into the tunnel and they were treated to the sound of inhuman wailing before a horde of shambling corpses were seen stumbling towards the group. Tyler smirked as he hefted the Lewis.

"Alright. Light em up! Empty mags and drop back twenty feet!"

The guns opened up on the zombies and they dropped in droves with Tyler's Lewis popping heads by the dozen. The things kept coming and soon enough a pile of bodies was built before they emptied their mags and dropped back. He fired a red flare and the distant sound of thunder was heard.

"Incoming!"

The 8 105mm shells rained upon the swelling horde of zombies and Tyler fired a black flare high now.

"Fire at will. In deep shit."

The thunder continued and Wisp's face appeared on a radio screen.

"The fuck did you find?"

"Nazi zombies! Be ready to bolt! We found an unopened bunker and we are NOT equipped to fight these things!"

"Oh my god. Understood. Thunder continuing."

Tyler smirked as the beefy shells rained hell upon the zombies, blowing massive holes in their numbers.

"alright. We got the ammo to do this, and the advantage of range. Make the best of it."

Selena smirked as she slapped a new drum on her Lewis.

"Grenades?"

"Use it all. We'll drop em all. If we clean that bunker out, there has GOT to be some SERIOUSLY epic loot in there."

The next volley of shells came in and the horde lost another several hundred as tyler threw an antitank cluster grenade into a thicker pile. The blast made them into mush before he noted the gaps between the things.

"Keep it up, nearly done here."

The next shells hit and the result was the remainder of the horde being turned into mush. Tyler fired a white flare high and a green flare was seen. Then he looked at the half mile of spattered corpses.

"alright. Shotguns back out. Anything looks like it moved pop it in the head."

Paige had a look of horror on her face as she obeyed.

"What the hell?"

Tyler sighed as he walked among the deathfield.

"I guess the devs put in a few legends. And oddly enough it fits."

Rey popped a crawling zombie in the head with her trench.

"Yeah. And oddly enough? It wasn't as bad as I feared it would be."

"floor 1. Round one."

"Oh my god."

"Yeah. Something tells me this is a common thread."

Neo had a pale complexion as he made the head of one crawling zombie explode from a headshot.

"This game is the stuff of nightmares."

Natti popped her own zombie with a calm mask on her face.

"I've played CoD before, and the zombies mood too. This is better and hundreds a times more terrifying."

Tyler smirked as they reapproached the bunker entrance.

"Image the shit they got planned for Halloween."

Selena smirked.

"John versus an actual T-800?"

"Neo here versus a Predator?"

"YOU taking on Jason?"

"Neo versus Alien?"

"John versus Myers?"

Neo chuckled at the suggestions.

"I can see them having some fun with this. And I want to kill a Predator."

Tyler smirked.

"and yet I AM Jon wick."

"Scary how you fit the character...and how much they based that movie off that town."

The soldier chuckled before firing another flare into the bunker. He got no reaction other then the flare lighting up a decent amount of the ramp leading down and he nodded.

"Circle formation and keep your wits about you, people. Flares every so often. I got hundreds so we're set there."

They nodded and Tyler fired a brighter flare into the darkness as they stepped into the thing. The first thing they noticed were the walls and how covered in bullet holes and blood they were. The floor was crusty with dried blood and spent casings from the defenders of the bunker being overrun by the inhuman creatures within. Tyler had his dual 1887s up with flashlights taped to the barrels while rey would routinely fire flares ahead to keep the light. There were no offshoots along the main tunnel and here and there were scattered badly rotting corpses of people in various states of eaten. And far outnumbering the normal humans were the carcasses of the dead filled with so many bullet holes they resembled swish cheese. Tyler smirked darkly as they entered a large atrium with another large door facing them.

"Sack up. Boss fight."

The heads nodded and spread out in a semicircle around the door as Tyler broke that lock too. The door was thrown open and the teenager jumped back as a massive, 10 foot tall creature lumbered into view. The thing being a horrific amalgamation of human bodies all rotting with pieces falling off them too. Tyler smirked as the thing roared at them in a voice made from the masses of humans it was also made from.

"Bring it down. Fire!"

The guns opened up as Tyler threw a molotov cocktail at the thing and it lowed like an ox while swinging a two foot thick arm made from the torso of a naked woman at them. The fire licked at the creature's body and the bullets were piercing the thing's flesh but had no REAL effect.

"rey! We need rocket power!"

"On it!"

"Selena! That launcher!"

"Got it!"

The blondes readied their rockets as the rest reloaded their shotguns with Tyler playing decoy. Rey slammed the first round into the rocket gun and Selena loaded a grenade into the launcher before they took aim and fired. The 50mm round from the rocket gun slammed into the thing's chest and sent it staggering back a step before Selena hit it with the impact detonated grenade. Tyler smirked as a large hole was blown open in the creature's chest and he shoved an antitank grenade bundle into the hole. He jumped back as the thung blew and the beast dropped to the floor in pieces.

"Set it on fire!"

All hands threw a molotov cocktail and the beast was set ablaze. Tyler then pulled another jar from his duffel bag and tossed it onto the screaming creature.

"See ya in hell."

The jar broke and the creature was encased in tar from the tar grenade. The result was the flames getting kicked to an immense intensity that saw the creature's roaring cut off and the flames devour it entirely. The soldier looked to the shaken party and spun his guns, cocking them again with the flames reflecting in his brown eyes.

"Reload. And let's keep it moving."

Rey had stars in her eyes at the badass scene.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Rey."

Neo smirked as he recovered from his horror first.

"And here I thought I knew how to make a badass scene. Kid you missed your calling."

Tyler smirked as he noted a long bundle had been let behind by the now dead monster.

"It's easier for me to be a royal badass. I mean, I AM the DEMON. And this is MY hell. So please. Enjoy your stay."

Paige whistled at the dark feels.

"Kane's got NOTHIN on YOUR demon."

"Ha. I love that."

The soldier walked over to the long bundle and smirked as he saw it.

"And we got a gun off that thing."

Selena walked over.

"Anything good?"

He looked.

"eh. A MKII carbine. 45-70 government variant. That thing has NO BUSINESS being down here. But. I am TAKING that."

Rey smirked as he lifted the silver stocked rifle.

"Jurassic world?"

"THAT and it's my favorite lever action."

Selena frowned.

"That's a modern day rifle. Will we be able to buy ammo for it down here, Tyler?"

"Yes, but it'll be far more expensive since it'll be floor 50 prices at least. Same time, we'll have access to ALL of it's upgrade parts. And I can make this thing into a truly devastating aggressive sniper."

He took the pamphlet for the thing and looked at the door the monster had come from.

"And there's more down there. So let's go get it."

Neo frowned.

"I'm nearly out of rounds."

"Gotchya covered."

Tyler dropped an ammo box from his duffel bag and the group were able to fully resupply bullets and grenades from it.

"That's an Ammo Box you can buy at the Quartermaster. Fully resupplies any lost bullets in a fight when dropped and lasts for half an hour. Also resupplies grenades."

Rey chuckled as she got her own resupply.

"And you have like 20."

"Yup. No cooldown. And there IS a patch coming for that soon since it IS overpowered."

Selena shrugged as she reloaded her shotgun.

"Not really. In real life? You'd be able to just drop boxes like that all the time. Just give them a capacity of reloads and boom. Realistic."

Tyler shrugged as he fired a fresh flare into the tunnel the creature had come from.

"We'll get copies of the patch notes when they're out. Anyway. Let's see what we found."

The friends moved into the chamber with Tyler again in the lead as they headed into the bowels of the facility. The tunnel opened up after a while into a large lab with dozens of shattered glass tanks the creatures had escaped from. Tyler looked around before he spotted another set of double doors on the side of the room with scraps in the metal under it.

"It's a research facility. And there is a tank in there."

The group walked over and Tyler tore the doors open to be faced with a Char B1 Bis medium tank. Tyler smiled widely as he saw the duck shaped vehicle that had been locked in the bunker.

"Worth it."

Neo looked at him.

"I am not familiar."

"It's a WWII tank, Neo. French in design and is HEAVILY armoured. That cannon is a 75mm and the secondary is a 47mm. That thing's decently tough but struggles with mobility issues. Same time, that's the tradeoff. Alright. It's a 5 man crew. We'll look around some more before we head to the mountain."

The group looked around the secured lab now and tyler was the one that found the main offices. The find yielded them the tank's pamphlet, enough ammo and fuel to fill it, 550,000 dollars in gold, and another voucher for a free upgrade. Tyler then returned to the tank with the group and found it wasn't damaged.

"Alright. I got the stick. Rey on the main gun, Selena the secondary. Neo navigates, Paige is loader for the 75, and Natti the loader for the 45. Any questions?"

Neo looked at him.

"You know how to drive this?"

"Not at all."

"Ooookay."

"Break."

Tyler dropped into the hatch and pulled the lever for the engine. The tank fired right up and Tyler gripped the various levers as the descriptions appeared over them. Rey chuckled as Neo, Paige, and Natti all had nervous expressions.

"Watch this."

Tyler threw the first lever forward and a few more movements had the tank cruising out of the bunker like he drove it everyday. All the while humming the tune from Girls Und Panzer just for the added vibes. Paige whistled as they headed up the ramp to daylight.

"So he's a tank wizard. What's next?"

The tank clanked out of the bunker and Tyler fired a golden flare into the sky and was rewarded with a reply flare of blue for roger. Then he had the thing cruising along the flatland towards the mountain. Rey smirked as she looked at the map.

"So what's next? A WWII bomber?"

"We find a Liberator I will be VERY impressed."

They chuckled at that as they approached the mountain after a mere ten minutes. Rey smiled as she looked at the map.

"riiiight here. Stop. Alright. We're in the target location"

"All out. Let's find it."

The area was a mere batch of flatland with sparse brush at the base of the mountain. Tyler smirked as he saw the sparse grass.

"Oh come on. THAT classic?"

Rey smirked as her boyfriend climbed atop the Bis.

"Soft sand?"

"and an X marks the spot."

Tyler looked around the area before he spotted an oddly placed rock covered in moss with a faint X shape in the stone. So he hopped down and walked over to it. The soldier smirked as he found a three foot by three foot by two foot steel box set under an edge of the rock.

"Got it."

Paige whistled again as the friends walked over.

"He walked over to it like he placed it there himself. Scary."

Tyler pried the box open with a knife and was faced with the sight of gleaming gold. The box filled to the rim with gold bullions. He chuckled.

"My count there's another 2.5mill in there."

Rey was looking around the hole the box came from and chuckled.

"I got another gun, Tyler."

"revolver?"

She pulled another colt from it.

"Nope. Colt. And it's made from jet."

Tyler took the jet black pistol now and smirked as he hefted his bone white colt.

"Now THIS I love. I'll keep it."

Selena chuckled.

"makes sense you like dualities like that."

He chuckled at that before they reloaded into the tank. The group returned to the train where Wisp had the 105mm cannons and machinegun cars ready for trouble. She popped her head out of the turret as they returned.

"What the fuck did you find?"

Tyler sighed as they hopped out of the tank.

"We found a fucking zombie bunker! Like straight outta COD!"

"HOLY SHIT."

"Ya tellin me. It was insane. We had to fight a small horde of undead flesh addicts before we got attacked by a miniboss from COD zombies! And it dropped THIS!"

he lifted the lever action rifle and Wisp whistled.

"Scary find. A 45-70 government. And the Bis too?"

"Plus the usual cash payout. 3,050,000‬."

She nodded as John and Sister666 lowered the crane straps for the tank.

"The usual. Alright. We'll need to resupply at the city when we link up with the allied forces. We blew through half our supply of 105 shells."

"Makes sense. I did NOT expect Nazi Zombies to put an appearance in. Now that it HAS? We're gonna bulk up on machineguns and heavy round guns."

They nodded as the tank was loaded onto the flatbed. The friends secured the beefy machine and once Tyler was happy with the setup he returned to the cab with John, Selena, and Rey. Tyler pulled Bridget up and the brunette sighed as the train got moving.

"I saw."

Tyler looked at her.

"any word on if that was added in at LAUNCH?"

"We have hackers looking now. But for the time being it looks like it was. And the president asked me to ask you why you didn't turn the camera on."

"It happened fast. I was not expecting that. And so our survival was more important than putting on a show."

She nodded.

"I told her that and she said she wanted it said by YOU. Somethings you never see coming in a videogame. Now. We're looking into the zombies thing."

"Has there been any word on updates?"

"Yes. The devs said they ARE coming. And when they go live the download will be seamless. And they also promised full patchnotes on release."

"So far they've kept their word. I want copies over everything."

"The download will be you receiving a telegraph from a runner. That'll also be the patch notes."

"The classic. Alright. Well we got a Bis now and a 45-70 lever action."

"You had luck."

John looked at the lady.

"How are the people doing, Miss Bridget?"

"Well. Word you're with Goreleech has spread like wildfire through the world and player base. Tyler? There's a target on your back now. There has been an odd amount of jealous rants heard on other feeds and it seems to be growing."

The soldier nodded as he worked the train.

"That took longer then I expected. I make this game look FAR too easy for a mere first time player. Same time, it IS easy compared to what I used to do for a living."

Selena looked at him.

"What'll you do?"

"Pop a few players. They're getting so freakin cocky because they think I WON'T touch them. Well. I can break THAT fantasy REAL quick."

Rey nodded gravely.

"Me too. Sooner or later we'll have to deal with players that will side with the enemy. Or become hunters."

John looked at her with a lifted eyebrow.

"You believe they will prey on their own?"

Selena sighed.

"They already WERE John. When the doors shut the first time, the starting city was mass anarchy. Rape, theft, enslavement, torture, murder, looting, you get the idea. For like a solid week the starting city was a warzone. Then Tyler opened Tragonia. And they moved there. They'd just started the riots up again when the firs artillery rounds slammed into the walls."

The bigger man sighed at that information and looked at Bridget.

"It seems the news are misrepresenting the truth of what is going on in here."

She nodded.

"They are. To a HIDEOUS extent, Sir. In the eyes of the world because of those bastards, TYLER is a sociopathic killing machine. I mean he IS but not the point. The way they're painting of him is he is the sole reason those millions died. And NOT just the one that threw the lever on the guillotine."

The soldier in question smirked as the train chugged along.

"And not one has requested an interview with me."

Bridget smirked.

"Actually. They have."

Tyler smirked.

"I'm listening."

"An interviewer from Fox wants to do a live interview with the Tragonia Monster. And his name is Clark."

The soldier smirked darkly now.

"How interesting. And they want to interview ME?"

Bridget nodded.

"They do. and it'll be broadcast to the entire planet along with the player base."

"When's the interview?"

"They want to make a scene with you, Tyler. So they've scheduled it for a few hours from now. Thy WANTED it to be a surprise to make you seem unconcerned. You ARE. But you know."

Tyler smirked as he kept an eye on the train.

"We'll be waiting for the call. Let em think it still IS a surprise."

"Understood. And know they're out to make you even more the bad guy."

"I figured. Thanks Bridget."

The screen died and the Soldier smirked as he looked at Neo.

"THIS is going to be fun."

The black clad man chuckled at that.

"We will keep out of sight for the time being."

"Sure."

Rey came up now and got a kiss off her boyfriend while the rest headed back to the other cars. The pink eyed blonde snuggled up against him and he held her warmly as the train chugged along.

"I love you, Rey."

"I love you too, Gore."

He held her tightly and she smiled happily at the affection before the pair returned to their task of driving their long black train. The Soldier smiling as rey worked beside him.

"I kinda miss the plane."

"Yeah. Me too."

"Wanna got for a flight mission?"

"I'd love to. Wisp ca handle the rookies and Selena while we go on a date raid."

He kissed her lovingly and she smiled as his radio beeped. Curious he pulled it out and was faced with a man in a grey suit looking at him with a wired headset. Tyler blinked.

"Um. Hi."

the man smiled professionally.

"Can you here me in there, Tyler?"

"Loud and clear. Sooooo, I got a moving train to worry about, Whaddya want?"

The man got to the point.

"I am Clark, and we're live with the Tragonia Monster who is at this moment piloting his-"

"Driving. Working a train is called, DRIVING. PILOTING is for AIRCRAFT. SAILING for SHIPS."

The man chuckled good naturedly.

"I am live with the Monster of Tragonia as he DRIVES his iconic black train with his girlfriend Regalia. So, Tyler, do you have anything to say in greeting to your 'adoring' fans?"

Tyler smirked and glanced out the windshield of the train.

"SHIT! AMBUSH! Light it up!"

And like freakin MAGIC the world was filled with the sound of machinegun fire and screaming as a mass of men and tanks rushed the train with a blockade on the tracks.

"Brace! We're gonna ram the fuckers! Use the 105s! we got jumped people! Rey, Selena, ready the big guys! Wisp, arm the tank!"

The train's whistle blew as it slammed through an attempted blockade of a Mark V tank, but the beastly Gleipnir just SPLIT the thing clean in half.

"engine is unharmed and all systems green."

The 105 turrets were thundering while the machinegun cars were dumping lead into the unknown army of assailants and Tyler pulled his 1887 from a holster to pop an attempted boarder in the face.

"Get off my train!"

Rey had her trench gun up blasting people as the soldier noted a line of tanks flanking them.

"John, get on a gun and take out those tanks! We get hit in the wheel we're fucked! Neo! Get on the Bis' cannon! It'll SPLIT these fuckers! Paige in the antiair car and cover the sky! Natti and Emma provide reloads for the gunners, Wisp, eh fuck you know the drill. Avy, grab Wisp's rocket gun and drop those damned horses! MOVE people!"

Rey grunted and dropped to a knee as blood poured from her side.

"Fuck you."

"Rey you good?"

"Yeah, just a lucky hit."

"Okay. NOW I'm pissed. Rey, swap out."

"Roger."

He pulled his carcano rifle and slid the twenty round magazine in before he drew in a deep breath, then started firing with his legendary skills. Every shot he took dropped two in a row or took a horse out and caused a pileup that was wiped up by a 105 shell from the train. Rey smirked as her boyfriend reminded everyone WHY he was a feared sniper as the attacking forces were wiped out in a matter of minutes. Tyler growled ferociously as he slammed a fresh mag into his rifle.

"Mercs. Damned MERCS. Nazerik hired MERCS to assist their forces on the mainland. And these sons a bitches are higher levels then the rest of the usual grunts. Worthless FUCKS."

He looked at a panting Rey as they stopped the train.

"You good?"

She gave a tired thumbs up.

"Yeah. I already dug the bullet out and am fine. I POPPED that fucker."

"We good?"

Selena came vaulting over the tender. The blonde captain with a grim and cold expression on her face.

"Paige got hit in the face with a shotgun, but I was able to revive her in time. The machine gun cars took a pounding and John got hit in the chest. We're good. No casualties we were unable to heal."

"Good. Ammo."

"We're running low on bullets and shells. Request heavy ammo drop."

"granted. Use the artillery box too."

"roger. We're also low on medical revive needles. But I have a resupply there too. Problem is I only found one so far."

"Sit on it for the time being. Alright. Full ammo resupply and onrail repair. We will step up our schedule as those idiots did us a favor. We will be at the next city by tomorrow noon."

"Yes sir,"

"Dismissed."

She saluted and vaulted back over the tender to get back to work. Rey drank a canteen of refreshingly cold water as Tyler looked at the white faced Clark on the still present screen.

"The only thing I have to say to my ADORING public, Clark? GET off your asses and GET on the line. THAT is what I do in here for FUN. I kill hundreds and slaughter thousands just to be able to sleep at night. Why the FUCK, should the other players just get to WATCH as I and MY squad, do EVERYTHING?"

The man shivered at the sights and sounds of the battle before regaining his composure.

"Did I hear correct? The ones you were supposed to protect took wounds?"

"And if they did? They're still here. And still have the balls to fight. Why aren't YOU in here, Clark?"

He smiled.

"I'm a news anchor."

"Arnie is a 70 year old retired actor. Yet THAT guy VOLUNTEERED. And took a hit. Where's YOUR excuse?"

The man had a more strained smile now.

"I have none beyond I have a job to report on the news. That, and I haven't been chosen yet."

"Ha. Ya will now."

Clark looked at him now.

"Do YOU speak for the developers now holding millions captive in that deathgame?"

"Nah. But I see what they're going for."

"Do you? Enlighten us, as our best psychologists are still hotly debating their twisted reasoning."

"Oh it's not THAT difficult to figure out. All the devs are going for, is to remind people the importance of strength, the value of standing up for one's self, and the weaknesses of rising victims as children. Oh. And the horrors of wide scale war and the effect such a thing will have on our PATHETIC excuses for children."

Clark nodded with a secret smirk now.

"So you agree with them?"

"I do. And I am LOVING my life in here. Ha. Alls you need top prove your point? Is a shotgun. And decent aim. And a single shell. Out THERE? Bastards like YOU ruin people's live for no other purpose then to boost your own ratings. Tell me something, Clark,"

"What's the question, Goreleech?"

"Did YOU have any family in this game?"

He blinked at the question. The nodded.

"My own son is trapped inside that game."

"His tag?"

"Brockwall222."

"Ooooh you mean the PREDATOR? Did ya know he's been caught attempting to rape like FOUR different ladies in here? In a ROW?"

Rey chuckled as she added her own input.

"Brock was the one that got arrested for using a recorder in the girls' bathrooms…..the YOUNG girls' bathroom. Oldest in there was 13."

"He's like thirty right?"

"Yeah. He bragged about it when I was in his squad."

"That's a lie! Jeff is a GOOD KID!"

"Yo boy's a monster. And I've nearly killed him twice over it. I am out here MILES from the frontline fighting wars like THAT every day and THAT fuck is peeping in the kiddie pool locker room? Makes ya wonda, just WHO is the REAL monster here? Don't it?"

Clark had a new look of anger on his face now.

"MY son is a BRAVE, strong, KIND MAN that has been fighting on the frontlines since the game BEGAN! YOU are a lying coward that RAN from the frontline to fly above the clouds!"

"Am I?"

Tyler looked at his interface now and Rey smiled.

"Of COURSE you recorded it."

"Course I did. Was one of our best flights. Ah. Here ya go."

he hit play and the video of him getting into the plane for the mission to support another trench line with Rey played. Then after the taking of the line, the update from the commander informed him of the assault on Tragonia while the White Zeppelin appeared in the sky before them. Then Tyler's plan to steal the blimp, crew it with the aid of Wisp and her girls, and then fly to support the forces in Tragonia was heard and seen for all to see. Plus the conversation with Selena on the choice he made and the reason it had been coming anyway. Then the battle itself from Tyler's perspective and the fact he HAD been taking IMMENSE volumes of fire the entire time and only his sheer skill with his plane kept him unharmed. Then a video of Brock attempting to rape Rey was seen as Tyler had recorded that too played out and the battle was won ten minutes later. The video ended and Tyler smirked at the horrified Clark.

"YOUR son is a MONSTER. I am the bastard that has been leading this war from the front since it STARTED and yet I'M the bad guy? REALLY? Ha. That's fine. See ya on the line CLARK."

He killed the feed and rey chuckled.

"Those bastards' plan just blew up."

"Course it did, Rey. All they had was their reportings on what I had been doing. So since that was a live broadcast, and was featuring ME, they were kinda trapped when I hit play. Watch. Bridget will call up soon and say I was just named a hero or something stupid."

The pink eyed blonde smiled as she kissed him.

"You're already a hero, Tyler. MY hero!"

"And YOU are the one I love most. I love you Rey."

She smiled happily at that and he held her tightly.

"I love you too, Tyler."

They stood there holding each other for a bit before a sigh was heard.

"Seriously?"

They looked to see Wisp dropping from the train with an exasperated expression. Tyler smiled as the dirty blonde approached them.

"feelin left out?"

"Prick. Just finished looking the train over. Those upgrades we put into her armor paid off. A few dents and a lot of scorch marks, but nothing serious. And that ram isn't even SCRATCHED."

"The rookies?"

"Shaken and Paige nearly died from that shotgun blast, but they're okay. She's in her bunk with Selena looking after her."

"I'll go poke her. Neo?"

"Shaken but fine. Avy took a hit but it wasn't much. Emma got grazed like four different times, Taylor got shot in the eye from a pistol, but the eye was saved, John got hit in the chest but is fine, and Natti's VERY pale since she got hit with a grenade explosion. Another inch and she'd a been blown to hell."

"Rey got hit, but nothing major."

The dirty blonde frowned as she looked back at the way they came.

"Those NPCs were some damn good shots."

"They were higher level mercs hired by Nazerik. NPC mercs made to mirror our levels and skills. Their skills are….floor 3."

"Yikes. And we killed them."

"They'll get stronger until we return to floor two. It's the system's antimilking and abuse system at work. To make sure we don't abuse the easy killings down here."

"That sucks."

"It does. But we won't be attacked by them again for a bit. So we'll head out."

They nodded and he climbed into the command car. The soldier went to one of the bunks in the sleeping section and found the shaken Paige in her bunk with Selena beside her.

"How is she, doc?"

The CSAR blonde smiled at him as he came over.

"Shaken, and coming to terms with her near death experience. But at full health."

Tyler leaned on the bunk and Paige smiled weakly up at him. The tough goth was snuggled under her blankets and it made her look VERY pretty and VERY small. He smiled at her.

"You good, blackbird?"

She smiled.

"Yeah. Just, never experienced a near death before. I guess…..it hit me I COULD die in here and NOT see it coming."

"You get used to it."

"How do you do it, Tyler? You've been at the front of this war since it started, you DROVE the train and they were shooting at YOU the most, you've been shot four times, and have done all you have, and yet? I have NEVER heard you complain about ANYTHING beyond screwing with us OR have I even seen you seem NERVOUS. So how?"

He sighed and sat on her bedside now.

"I'm used to this, Paige. The hometown I come from makes this shit look like a joke."

She shivered at the reminder before looking atm him with wide blue eyes.

"Can…..that strength be taught?"

"It can. It's not easy, but it can."

"Can you teach me?"

He smiled at her.

"I can and I will."

She smiled warmly at the promise and he patted her cheek.

"And don't worry about the shotgun to the face. You're still beautiful."

"Thank you. We traded."

"Atta Blackbird."

She smiled at that.

"Blackbird. I kinda like it."

He smiled and Selena looked at him.

"I'll stay with her tonight. Keep her company."

"Sure thing, Selena. Resupply?"

"we got our bullets and artillery rounds refilled. And we're ready to roll out again."

He nodded and left the sleeping section and was faced by John. The bigger man looked at the Soldier as he passed.

"So that is what the battles in here are like in person."

"You okay?"

"Yes. It is not the first time I have been shot. And I killed my shooter."

"That's a plus."

John sighed.

"And you were at the front of the fight like you said you are, driving the train and coordinating our defenses. All the while fighting from the front as best you could. I will assist as best I can to lighten that burden."

"Thanks John. For now me an Rey'll get us moving. You all try to get some rest. We'll be attacking the city at noon tomorrow."

"Understood."

The bigger man went to the sleeping section and Tyler lit a cigarette as he returned to the engine. Rey smiled as he joined her.

"I love you too. Paige?"

"Is scared but recovering. She'll be fine after the shock wears off."

"Good. And all clear."

He smiled and blew the whistle again.

"All aboard!"

"Clear!"

He moved the needle to 40 and the train chugged along as Neo dropped into the cab.

"Hey Neo. Heard ya had a few close calls."

The black haired actor nodded with a sigh as he looked at the relaxed teenagers.

"I was lucky since I was a better shot then most. And you haven't batted an eye. And you're only 15. Scary."

The soldier smirked as the train chugged along.

"You get used to it. Then you get good at it."

Rey smiled at this nudge and Neo sighed before smiling.

"I'll help much as I can."

"Thanks Neo. You an the others go crash for a bit."

He nodded and headed back to the command car as Rey kissed her boyfriend.

"And that was a LIGHT engagement too. Scary."

"They'll get there, Rey."

"Yeah. They've got the very best teaching them."

"You?"

"Love you too."

She was all glow at the praise and he held her tightly. The pair had the train cruising along at 40 miles for the next few hours as the sun went down and the blonde smiled as she snuggled under his arm. After another hour his radio blipped and he pulled up a VERY tired bridget.

"So how bad?"

She sighed.

"Kid. The hospital your bodies are being stored just had the freakin Marine Corps added to it's defenses. And you just went from the most hated person on the planet, to the most pitied and looked up to. The interview with Clark exposed EVERY lie they made about you. And now people are calling you the Savior of The World Of Guns. The President has named you a national hero and a national tragedy since you made your choice, without hesitating, and are living with the results of that choice. All to further the goals of the survivors. Clark's been drafted to dive into the game now and more interviews are scheduled."

"Yeah about that."

"Tyler. you have a fandom now. You're THAT type of name now."

He chuckled as the train chugged through the darkened landscape.

"So I just had hero worship handed to me on a plate?"

"Pretty much."

"Cool. I love you, Rey."

She smiled at the shoutout and he kissed her lovingly. Then he looked at Bridget.

"So what does that mean for the time being?"

The brunette smiled.

"Basically you are the person to BE. Everyone wants to be like you in there and the Veterans faction are being GRILLED by everyone to step the fuck up. Congrats. The world loves you for the time being."

"Thanks Bridget. And the devs?"

"They were vocal again. And said you are what this country needs more of. Fierce, independent, STRONG and with a mind of your own. Yeah they kinda like you."

"Cool."

Rey chuckled at that one and the brunette advisor smiled.

"All I needed Tyler. Enjoy the fandom."

The screen died and the pink eyed blonde got a kiss off her boyfriend.

"Love you too."

He smiled and the pair looked ahead out the windshield of Gliepnir. The soldier smiling while Rey shoveled coal into the firebox. Tyler smiled as he saw Rey yawn into her arm.

"Go swap out with Emma, Rey. You're exhausted."

She looked at him.

"What about you?"

"I'll pull a full nighter. You all need rest and I can go for four days straight at this pace."

The pink eyed blonde smiled at her boyfriend.

"Swap out with John. I wanna snuggle."

He sighed with a smile at the demand.

"Alright, Rey. John and Emma to the engine. 4 hours then swap for Neo and Selena."

The pair came up and the relieved duo returned to their bunk. Selena was in Paige's bunk, Avy was with Taylor in hers, and Wisp had a pile of her girls with her. Tyler smiled as he and Rey laid in his bunk and he held her tightly.

"Good night, Rey. I love you."

"Good night, Tyler. I love you too."

WE'RE TAKING THAT CITY. TODAY.

RANK: ADMIRAL

DAY 18

CASH: 13,982,250

Tyler woke to the feel of rey in his arms. He smiled as he opened his eyes to find his beautiful girlfriend had snuggled against him with her face in his chest and his arms around her back. He leaned into her ear.

"I love you."

And she woke with a happy shiver.

"I love you too."

He kissed her and the pair got out of the bunk to shower together. Then the Soldier and his Blonde made breakfast for themselves in the small cooking area before heading to the engine. There they found Wisp and Taylor driving the train along a coastline now. The blonde Taylor smiled as the pair pass her and Wisp a pair of coffee mugs.

"Thanks. And we just swapped in."

Tyler kissed her and she smirked.

"I liked that, arrogant prick."

He kissed Wisp now and she smirked as well.

"Idiot."

"Love you too. We'll take her from here. You two go ready your guns."

The swap was made and Rey smiled as they took their spots.

"And we just have to make the city surrender."

"Yup. Once the city falls, we'll hightail it back to Huelit. There we'll see about a destroyer."

"Kay."

He kissed her lovingly as the radio on the train blipped and Selena's voice was heard.

"Morning you two."

"Morning Selena. Status."

"We're awake and eating breakfast. All guns loaded."

"Once fed stations. I can see the city in the distance."

"Roger. Request resupply before main assault if possible."

"We'll stop at the station and have the Baron refill us. We need water and coal. Plus a refill on lots a stuff."

Rey took the radio now.

"Be aware, once the battle starts, until it ends, one way or another, we are locked into the battle. If we retreat, we're labeled as deserters. So we have no option but to win."

John's deep voice was heard.

"How DO we make the city surrender, Tyler?"

"Simple answer is to deal as much damage to the city as we can in one pass. Way we took Tragonia was we rolled the train through the city and killed every enemy soldier we saw. Once we got blocked, we swapped to our guns and attacked their artillery batteries. Then blew a hole in the outer wall. They surrendered after."

"I see. So it will be another hard battle."

"It's a 4 skull mission. A 1 STAR mission is merely delivering mail to someone in the trenches."

The radio was silent a moment before Selena chuckled.

"We're ready, Tyler."

"Alright. Keep it tight people. We'll have the city under our control in four hours. Selena will be a mobile Medic this round as it will be VERY easy to get beamed. Paige is on 105 front, Emma 105 rear. Britbitch222 in the AA car, John and Neo take a heavy machinegun each and a car each. Natti and Taylor will be on shotgun duty. Drop any boarders. Avy will be in the Bis' turret. Shoot anything that seems important. The rest a you spread out among the cars and keep the lead on. Any questions?"

He got crickets.

"Good. See to your guns and do an ammo check. If you need or want more rounds, Selena will drop an Ammo Box."

The train's whistle was blown hard as it clattered into the allied station where Tyler brought it to an easy stop. The yard baron came over with a smile.

"If it isn't the might Razgriz and his fabled Black Death. What can I do for ya?"

"Full resupply on ammo, water, coal, the works."

"Yes sir. The commander sends your orders."

Tyler took the telegram.

"Understood."

"And the resupply will cost 500,000."

He paid before spotting a Quartermaster shop by the station.

"I got eyes on a QM ladies and the rest. Last chance load up. We got the funds spo go crazy."

The crew went over and loaded up on gear and supplies which set them back a further 450,000. Selena swung up into the cab with an extra medical box that dropped healing supplies when deployed.

"That one had four. I got them all. One box per section of the train going forward. Less chance for something going wrong."

"Good call Selena. Needles?"

"Full restock. I have 30 needles alone."

"Good. Alright. Status!"

John came over.

"All refills completed. We are heading to our positions now."

"roger. Load in. Things'll get crazy so be ready. Oh."

Tyler hit the radio button and Bridget appeared.

"Tyler?"

"We're assaulting another city. The president wanted to watch these types of wars?"

"Ah. I will patch you in at once."

"Better hurry. We're on the offensive once the resupply's done."

She nodded and hurried off as the Soldier read the orders from the Commander aloud.

"Alright. We're to support the push into the city along the rails. City's built around the railroad so no obstructions are expected. We will have aid from the 1st, 3rd and 4th Royal Navy fleets and their battleships. On land we have the 12th, 2nd, and 32nd divisions backing us with the 42nd armored division. We have air superiority so can call in close air support with smoke. Red Smoke for targets. Selena."

"We got hundreds."

"We'll use em in a pinch. And Black is for the battleships."

"That'll be cool."

He flipped the page.

"The assault will commence upon our entering the city. No mercy and no quarter is to be given. The city is a Militarized Zone so everything in there is armed and hostile. Any questions?"

Rey looked at him.

"Expected resistance?"

"Stiff and bitter. Seems the Nazerik Shockers holed up there. They're the country's staunch defenders. Kinda like the Hitler Youth in their day."

"Ah."

Bridget reappeared now.

"The feed is live and the world is watching. The President is using this as proof you DO keep your word. Since you were painted as the bad guy so freakin much."

The Yard Baron came over now.

"Resupply complete! Godspeed sir!"

"Gleipnir is MOVING out!"

The train's whistle blew hard before the mighty steam engine pulled out of the station. Bridget's feed faded out and Tyler smiled as he hit play on his war tunes playlist.

"Today's battle is brought to you by We Are Soldiers. First introduced to me by an Animated Music Video off the Anime Gate. Enjoy."

Rey chuckled as she hung her Lewis gun on a sling.

"You were waiting to use that, weren't you?"

"Love you too, Rey."

He kissed her and she laughed at the powerplay before the city appeared over a hill. It having been built onto the side of a rather lovely beach with raised levels going up a mountain. Tyler smiled as he flipped the safeties off on the 50 cals in the engine's nose.

"Lock em, cock em, and let's get ready to ROCK em!"

Rey laughed as she pulled the handle on her machinegun back.

"Love you too, First Class badass."

"Ha."

He pulled his 1887 shotgun out and flip cocked it before the rest of the massive allied force charged the walls around the clattering train. Tyler smiled as the defenders of the city opened fire with heavy machineguns and lesser field guns.

"Artillery fire! Aim for the walls and the bigger guns!"

The massive 105mm cannons bellowed from their cars and the rounds slammed into the walls with explosive impacts. Great holes appeared in the outer defenses and Tyler smiled as he saw the approaching tunnel.

"Activating nose lamp. Here we GO!"

The train's whistle blew loud and proud as he dove into the tunnel and the others readied for the assault. Tyler smirked as they blew through an attempted barricade of wooden logs like it wasn't even there.

"FIRE AT WILL!"

And the train came to life with a roar. The machineguns and heavier cannons opened up on the now screwed Nazerik forces and Tyler chuckled as the train ran many and more over while he had the train cruising through the city at a steady pace. Rey was firing her beefy Lewis gun and the enemy soldiers were dropping like flies. Tyler smirked as one soldier rushed the train holding a long explosive on a stick…..only for his 1887 to bellow and take his head clean off. The lance charge dropped and was hit by flying lead to explode, killing a solid number of people around it.

"Good kill Selena!"

The train cruised through the warring city at a steady 10 miles and hour and the entire thing was inside the walls now. Tyler smiled as they left devastation in their wake while the troops ahead of them realized they'd boxed themselves in since they'd blocked the second tunnel off as well. Rey dropped to a knee to fit a fresh magazine to her machinegun while Tyler kept watch with the 1887.

"Going well so far."

"We ARE blatantly overpowered for this kinda shit."

"So true."

She got back to firing and they were approaching the second barricade.

"I'll get a round on the hole, Tyler!"

"fire when ready, Paige."

The 105mm cannon went off and the barricade simply vanished.

"Good shot, Paige! Ammo check!"

Selena chuckled.

"Still holding at ¾s Tyler. Shells are at half."

"when we run out of shells switch to heavy machinegun."

"Roger, roger."

Rey looked at the tunnel as the enemy forces died in droves.

"We going through?"

"Nah. They're coming to us. And we got the advantage of armor."

She shrugged at that as the fight continued. Tyler smiled as after another two hours the city surrendered due to all the enemy forces being killed. Kicker? Not a SOUL had gotten within spitting distance of Gleipnir. Tyler chuckled as the allied forces moved into the city.

"Alright. We're done here people. Crosscheck your ammo and limbs and we'll head back to Huelit."

Selena came vaulting over the coal tender.

"No injuries this time, Tyler. And we only blew through a quarter of our ammo. 105 shells we need to resupply but that's all."

"How'd they do?"

"Well. All registered kills in the hundreds. Emma got herself 250."

"Wow. Atta girl. Alright. Ya know the drill."

Rey smiled as she got a kiss from the soldier before they got to work resupplying the train. Tyler smiled as the work took a mere half hour and the train was ready.

"Alright. We'll get paid back in Huelit. Once there we are looking at a new warship for the next floor. All aboard!"

The group got back on the train and he blew the whistle. The train was resupplied and it only cost a mere 250,000 before the long black train rattled out of the station. Rey smiled as se leaned on the wall of the cab by her boyfriend.

"So our destroyer. Any thought on just WHAT kinda destroyer?"

"Something with ROOM for us all. Last thing we need is John getting stuck in a bulkhead door."

"I heard that."

They chuckled at the bigger man's mild tone and Tyler looked ahead at the rail line before them.

"Arms aren't all that important this time around so long as she's TOUGH. Last thing we need is another Dapple."

Selena came vaulting over the coal tender now.

"Agreed. What about a cruiser, Tyler? They're staple escort craft for a reason."

"True. I'd prefer a full on aircraft carrier though. But we'd need a second ship."

Rey smiled.

"What about a battlecarrier, Tyler? Our planes can be catapulted into the sky since we're decent enough pilots to begin with."

He kissed her lovingly.

"Love you too, Shadow. Sadly WWII's battlecarriers are the ones that are ACTUALLY viable. This one's suffered from major structural issues."

Selena frowned as she leaned on a wall while he worked the gauges.

"A full battleship?"

"Would get us the punch and armor we want. Plus is so freakin MASSIVE we'd have the space too. Problem is the crew needed to move such a monstrosity. We'd need 50 people all on the same page to crew a beast like that."

"That sucks. Barnfind?"

"If we find one it MIGHT work. Same time we'd need to look the specs over."

Rey smiled as she kissed the other blonde herself now.

"We'll play tonight dear."

"Kay. I'm like SUUUUUPER horny."

They chuckled at her admission and Tyler patted her firm ass lovingly.

"Do NOT tease me right now. Like it's bugging me."

The Soldier chuckled at his horny girlfriend and Selena came over now to kiss her. Rey smiled and as she went for her skirt, Tyler smirked.

"Let me turn OFF the radio."

They laughed at that one as Bridget appeared on the screen.

"Good. CHOICE. So the world just got to watch Razgriz in war. Annnd now the main media outlets are being hit for more footage from your life. The president has spun yuo as a noble, tireless soldier who is leading the war to get our familes back."

Tyler chuckled as he kept an eye on the tracks.

"The battles will only get fiercer the higher we go, Bridget."

"They were made aware. The president made a point of saying that too."

Rey looked at her.

"And the attacks against Tyler for his evil?"

"Have turned into outright hero worship. The media hates him as he is against everything they are, but the masses love that bloodhungry psychopath."

Tyler chuckled as he looked out Gliepnir's windshield to see the ocean.

"We're pulling up on Heulit, Bridget."

"Understood. I will get back to it."

The video died and the Soldier got the horn.

"We're approaching Port Heulit people. be ready to detrain and we'll pick ourselves up a ship."

The crew got to work packing their gear up as they rolled into the Huelit trainyard and Gleipnir was parked in her shed before the baron handed them their payments.

"10,000,000 on the nose. well done razgriz."

Tyler then led them through the battered port to the docks where they met the harbormaster in his office. The man sighed as Tyler walked in.

"Goreleech himself. Sorry to hear about your ship, Sir."

"A cryin shame it is. And we need to return to the fleet too."

The man sat back in his chair.

"Hm. We have a few vessels in need of a captain and a crew if you're interested."

A panel of available ships appeared before them and Tyler went right to the most expensive. A gigantic dreadnought battleship named Queen Elizabeth. The pricetag? 25,000,000. He saw this and looked at Rey.

"That thing ring a bell?"

The blonde weeb smiled.

"Her majesty herself. And for THAT price? And what we ALL have? We can get her and make the amount back in a single good raid."

Selena looked at her armaments.

"She's a dreadnought. So is tought. Arms are....16 sixteen inch guns, 16 eight inch guns, the usual antiair flak guns, and room to add more. She has a max compliment of 1367. Hm."

Tyler looked at the crew.

"We've got 18. I handle the bridge and steering, Rey the nav, Selena and wisp a gun turret between them, the rest a Wisp's crew split between the engine room and the defense turrets, Candice and her sister in the medical bay, we can make it work."

John frowned.

"None of us know how to sail a battleship, Tyler."

"We'll learn. we kinda have to. And the best part is we'll have room to MOVE aboard her."

Neo looked at the price tag.

"Yet it's a steep price to pay."

"It is. But. that ship will pay for herself in a SINGLE island raid or fleet sunk."

Wisp was looking at the profile on the vessel before she nodded.

"I agree with Tyler. we can sail her. it will NOT be easy, but we can. And her armor is over 10 inches thick in the important places. i say we take her."

The heads nodded now and Tyler looked at the Harbormaster.

"We'll take the Elizabeth."

"Excellent! She is a fine vessel!"

The went to pay when he smiled.

"Looks like because of my medal, the price got slashed. She now costs a mere 17,500,000."

They chuckled as he bought the ship and got the pamphlet. Soon as he read the thing he smiled.

"She's level ONE. And is fully stocked."

The harboermaster nodded.

"She be at dock four."

"Thanks Skipper."

The friends headed for their new ship and Tyler chuckled.

"If anyone doesn't know how to SWIM, PLEASE speak up now."

They chuckled and Taylor looked at him.

"Can YOU?"

"Barely."

Selena sighed with a smile.

"Yes I'll teach you."

"Love you too, Selena."

They found their nearly 700 foot long ship resting at harbor and Tyler smiled at her sleek lines and massive cannons.

"Let's get her painted black ladies."

They chuckled as a pair of familar blondes were seen approaching. Candice hugged her friend hard.

"I'm okay. we're okay."

He smiled.

"Glad you are. Sorry for that."

"It's okay. Shame about Dapple. Elizabeth is a better ship anyway."

"we're boarding. ready for that blonde orgy I promised?"

She and her ALSO blonde sister smirked.

"Always."

The friends boarded their battleship and Tyler chuckled as he found the hallways were easily 5 feet wide and 7 high.

"MUCH better."

John was the only one with issue as he had to keep an eye on the ceiling.

"It is not as bad as I feared."

The friends reached the large command bridge and Tyler went to the panel with thre steering.

"alright. Let's wake her up. I want us outbound for the arches in an hour. Rey and Selena up here with me. rest a you scatter."

Tyler looked at the panels as the friends scattered to their posts. wisp and Selena went to different turrets, Britbitch222 and Sister666 took three with them to the engine room, Sister333, John, and Neo went to the radio room, Emma and Natti took spots at the engine status panels on the bridge, Paige and Taylor helped out with reloading the turrets, and Avy helped out in the coal magazine. The ship came to life with a rumble and Tyler smiled as the gauges were all green.

"engines report."

"She's ready to move out, Tyler!"

"Guns 2 an 4."

"Same style as the heavy guns on the train. We're set on shells."

"Medical bay."

"We're wet and horny! but ready!"

"radio."

"We are recieving. All systems are responding."

"Alright. Rey, set a course for the allied fleet."

"roger."

"engines to half."

He took the wheel for the ship as it began moving and the horn blew.

"Let's set sail ladies and everyone else!"

Tyler smiled as they had the immense ship cruising at a steady speed towards the golden arches that would take them to floor two.

"Steady as she goes. How's the engines looking Britbitch?"

The tough girl chuckled on the intercom beside him.

"She's purring like a happy kitten, Tyler. we're set on coal for a good few thousand miles."

"She runs on oil too."

"She does. We're using the coal first."

"Alright. Selena, wisp, how's the guns feel?"

The blonde soldier chuckled as her turret was rotating as she tried out the controls.

"SLOW and HEAVY. Yet smooth as butter. We're ready to spit."

"Good. We'll get an easy job on the other side. Get our sealegs back."

The ship moved through the waves with ease and the golden arches came into view.

"Arches in view. And now I want Mcds again. ugh."

Rey chuckled as she looked up from the maps.

"Me too. we'll load up when we get up."

The ship cruised through the arches and they were faced by open ocean with a massive allied fleet before them. John's deep voice came over the radio.

"We are recieving an identify order from the fleet, Tyler."

"Patch it in, John."

"Come in unknown Dreadnought. This is the flagship of the Allied fleet, Xavior. Identify yourself or be destoryed."

Tyler chuckled as he took the mic.

"Nice to hear from you again Admiral. Razgriz reporting in."

The man on the other end laughed.

"So ya went an picked ole elizabeth up eh? Nice to see the ole gal back on her feet. What's her status?"

"All green and looking to say hi captain."

"HA. Pull up broadside and we'll see what tickles yer fancy."

Tyler and his crew plied their new ship alongside the other battleship and a panel of jobs appeared before Tyler's face and he frowned at the offerings.

"We have 5,000,000 left. And a fresh ship to break in. Hmm. Oh. Oh that works."

He looked at a 5 star job.

"I got a mission to attack an enemy supply convoy. Our task is to sink all five ships and report back. 5 stars and reward is 25,000,000."

Selena came over the radio.

"A merchant convoy?"

"With an escort of what appears to be a frigate. ONE salvo from a turret is enough to sink a frigate. i think we can do it."

Wisp came over the radio now.

"We're a dreadnought. Sure we can. hell. her hull can even repell TORPEDOES."

Tyler hit accept on the convoy and the admiral chuckled.

"Typical Razgriz. Sailing RIGHT into the lions den. get going kid."

The ship got moving and Rey looked up from her map table.

"We're looking at two days on the open water. One way."

The soldier nodded as he handled the wheel.

"We'll get it done. Alright. The Queen is SETTING SAIL!"

The friends got to work to manuver the massive vessel while Rey made sure they didn't get lost. Behind them the allied fleet vanished and Tyler smiled.

"We'll have to set a specific deck for the fun ladies."

Wisp's amused voice was heard.

"We're taking the captain's quarters, Tyler. Since they're like 50 feet wide. AND the bow by turret 1 for our tanning."

"Got it Wisp. Alright. Aim for just ABOVE the waterline on the ships ladies. ONE good round there and that ship's a goner."

Selena smiled from her spot at the radio.

"All clear, Tyler. And we're on course for a two day sail."

Rey came over for a kiss and her boyfriend smirked and she saw his idea.

"WAIT to bend me over the console ya freakin addict!"

"Love you too Rey."

The blonde smiled at that as the crew plied the ship towards the west where their prey was reputed to be sailing. Tyler smiled as the sea remained still as a pond with not a cloud in the sky.

"And this is MUCH better."

John was heard on the radio.

"We will be at sea the entire floor, Tyler?"

"Most likely, John. way we take THIS floor is we have to sink the enemy's main fleet flagship, the Indominous. A leviathan class dreadnought. Problem is the damned thing's captained by a coward. Arch Admiral Vladimir Penti. The Wolf of the Seas. we sink or take that ship we clear the floor."

Selena looked over from her nav table.

"Needle in a haystack?"

"Yes and no. Right now that ship isn't even IN these waters. we'd need to draw it out by completing missions and sinking lesser fleets. AND raiding coastal towns. Once we take the ship, we'll need to take a naval port to access the third floor. which so happens to be the portal TO THE THIRD floor."

Neo sighed as he joined the talks.

"we're facing an uphill battle to just take the port. If we deal TOO MUCH damage, Tyler?"

"Well. If we level the port itself, we won't be able to use Gleipnir or Iron Steed until the stations are rebuilt. Same with the planes and hangers, tanks and sheds. And be warned. Next floor is a winter war. Black forest."

John was HEARD shivering.

"And those winters are UNFORGIVING. we will need to be VERY careful on that floor, Tyler."

"We will. And kicker? If your clothes have a snowflake icon, that means it's insulated and you can wear them in the cold. WITH a durability. So Rey wants to try a bikini snowangel."

The ship chuckled at that one and Rey merely flipped her long hair with a smirk.

"Idiot."

"Love you too, Rey."

Selena looked up from the maps at the Soldier.

"So what'll be our battle plan for this floor, Tyler?"

"we'll start with the lesser fleets. Naval warfare is all new to ME too. So for the time being it's practice and grinding. We'll do jobs like this and then move to heavier assaults. And keep your eyes on the horizon everyone. We CAN get jumped by enemy ships OR pirates."

Wisp reported in from the Turret 1.

"Scope's clear, Tyler."

"Keep an eye on it, Wisp."

The ship cut through the waves with ease and a gentle rocking feeling the friends all loved. Tyler smiling as he plied the wheel with his music collection playing over the speakers while Rey and Selena worked the various consoles of the bridge. At dusk, Tyler and the three blondes swapped out for Sister222 and Sister666 for food and rest. Rey smiled as the lovers cuddled in his queen sized bed that actually had a window and he kissed her.

"I love you, Tyler."

"I love you too, Rey. Night."

"Good night."