Assault on the Factory.

The group split into three teams of two.

Lance's team had the addition of Camilla, bumping their group's number to three.

They moved on the city in different directions, planning to reunite when they reached the city center of the factory.

Lance and his group entered the city via a gap in its defensive line. 

Sneaking past carriages and guards alike.

Moving from building to building the route he and his team decided to take was direct. 

Meaning more patrols.

First, it started with squads of infantrymen, then platoons and eventually; mages. 

Unlike normal soldiers, mages could be identified by cloaks with hoods that covered their faces.

They often walked in pairs and unlike the chatty soldiers of the empire—they were silent and vigilant.

Spotting a duo of mages quietly walking down an abandoned road, Lance took quick shelter in an alleyway. 

"Get down."

He signaled, hiding behind an overturned waste container. 

While they hid the mages walked by, their cold and calculating gaze briefly scanning over the alleyway. 

The moment boiled with tension as the mage looked down the alleyway.

His face was barely visible from beneath the hood.

"Such a shame."

He spoke softly, before continuing his journey.

As their footsteps faded into the distance Lance waited—before poking out from behind the waste container. 

"Coast is clear."

He signaled, stepping out from behind his cover. 

Camilla and the other pathfinder nodded, following Lance as he led them out of the alleyway. 

The trio continued their trek through the city—towards the factory.

Each step they took brought them closer to both their goal and death.

When Lance's group reached their destination, he was awestruck by what he saw. 

The factory, wasn't just one structure like he expected—but a complex of buildings built from brick and mortar. 

The roofs of these buildings were dotted with dozens of smokestacks that oozed black smoke into the sky.

Surrounding the Compound were hundreds of guards armed with single-shot lever rifles.

Not only were there infantrymen, but also artillery.

Rows and rows of two-wheeled cannons with long barrels that reached into the sky. 

Ammo boxes littered the ground everywhere Lance and the others looked.

"By the goddess," Camilla said in horror as she knelt beside Lance.

"They said we were assaulting a factory, not whatever this is."

Lance felt the mission intensity amplify tenfold.

The presence of so much military strength on display was truly remarkable. 

"Do we have enough explosive charges?"

Camilla asked quietly, looking out at the sprawling complex—her gaze still lost in the mass of equipment.

Lance frowned.

"No, we'd need the explosive power of a zeppelin to do enough damage."

He sighed, "But it wouldn't last a second with so many Imperial mages sprawled about."

"What if we use their ammunition against them?"

The other pathfinder, who had been quiet up until that point, finally spoke up.

"With a few well-placed charges, we could set off a chain reaction."

Lance looked back at the Pathfinder with a raised eyebrow.

"That's a good idea, but these satchels work on a five-minute timer. We'd be hard-pressed to cover the entire complex."

"What about the other two groups?"

Camilla chimed in.

"When they catch up, we can coordinate in three different vectors."

Lance nodded.

"Yeah, we'd be cutting it close.

"And if we make any mistakes we'll be caught up in the fireworks as well."

The other pathfinder chimed.

A grin danced on Camilla's lips.

"Well if it were easy they wouldn't be sending the Danames, right?" She challenged.

Lance couldn't help but return the grin.

"You sure as hell got that right."

After waiting for the rendezvous with the other two Pathfinder teams, they reunited in an abandoned building south of the factory complex. 

They all stood around an old wooden table with Lance explaining the mission.

"Alright listen up," he commanded.

"We lack both explosives and numbers, but I have a plan to turn that around."

Lance pointed a finger down on the wooden table, drawing out the complex in the dust.

"We'll split into three teams just like before, one will lead an attack here, the other here, and finally here."

Lance pointed to three spots around the complex, creating a triangle.

"While moving towards the center of the complex, each team will place their charges in strategic positions." 

Lance drew a circle in the center of the complex.

"Everyone save at least one charge to detonate factory equipment too, ensuring maximum destruction."

Everyone around the table nodded. "Sounds good, my lord."

Sophia gave an approving grin.

"Remember," Lance warned. "Five minutes, once the first charge is placed there is no going back."

A tense atmosphere fell over the group as everyone exchanged glances.

They then moved out of their makeshift command center and approached the base. 

The city's shadows provided cover as they slipped past guards and mages alike.

Lance felt anticipation and dread as he stepped onto the complex grounds.

The group moved quickly once they placed down the first charge—beside a massive stack of ammunition crates and wagons. 

Placement after placement each charge was set.

The soft clicks of the satchel reminded them that time was of the essence.

After finishing the outside, each team made its way inside the complex buildings. 

Inside each building was what you'd expect to see in a weapon factory.

Large, complex machinery was everywhere— with lines of belts packed with various weapon parts.

The lines were worked by imperial civilians or slaves.

They were hard at work feeding the imperial war machine, sweat dripping down their foreheads and they slaved away like ants.

Lance felt a pang of guilt as he glanced at them, but the charges had already been set.

And there was no going back. 

Slipping inside the central factory Lance was greeted with something truly unique.

Eight massive artillery pieces with barrels that reached high towards the ceiling.

On either side of the barrel were two ginormous steel wheels.

Lance and Camilla stared at the massive weapons in awe—until they were quickly alerted by the sound of voices.

"Please, just a few more days to top off on supplies—then you can head out fully armed and prepared."

"To hell with that!"

A deep and aggressive voice replied in frustration.

"The emperor gave me this unit, and by his grace, I'm gonna use it."

He spoke passionately. "We'll wipe the continent of those pathetic long-eared fucks, and then we'll head for those demons down south."

Lance saw a tall man with a muscular frame dressed in an imperial officer uniform and a woman who was dressed in fashion fit for imperial nobility.

The woman seemed to grow annoyed with the officer, a frown crossing her lips.

"I paid for this unit you command, the least you can do is listen to my command!"

The man chuckled as he crossed his arms.

"Look, Baroness Em–"

"It's Countess to you!" The woman snapped.

Lance grew panicked as he looked at Camilla.

"Where are the other two teams?"

He asked her in an urgent whisper.

Camilla's eyes darted around wildly as her expression grew pale.

"I… I don't know." She answered.

Suddenly a shout could be heard from outside.

"Intruders! We ha–" the man was silenced, but unfortunately his message was already heard.

The Countess and the officer looked towards the massive open doors of the factory.

Suddenly bells began ringing as gunfire erupted.

"It's those assassins!"

A man shouted, "Sound the alarm, someone get me a Ma–" 

The shouting man was cut off by the sound of a gunshot.

Lance's eyes narrowed as he hurriedly rose from his cover, revealing himself to the officer and noblewoman. 

Upon seeing him, the noblewoman panicked.

"Goddamnit!" The officer yelled in frustration as he scooped the noblewoman in his arms.

He made a break in the opposite direction of both Lance and the commotion.

Lance watched them go, before rushing outside to check on the commotion. 

Outside, Lance saw Sophia standing over the body of a wounded pathfinder, defending him with her twin revolvers.

Camilla quickly ran to Lance's side.

"We have to help her!" She shouted, equipping her rifle. 

Lance gritted his teeth as he ran out to help his team, joining the other two pathfinders.

Screams and gunshots echoed loudly.

And worse, several mages rushed to the scene, their hands charged with world energy.