Chapter 6: Operation Tango

Operation Tango

The eye patched, black caped man walked down the stairs into the control room. This room was where he planned to execute operation Tango. “Everything seems to be in order sir,” Mr. Brinard said. “the GF1s and GF3s are in position” Lt. Rhonald Grondia said. Lt. Grondia was an old war veteran who had been reduced to a mercenary because of the peace that Ithium was undergoing. Because of his impeccable war record, Nosil had him selected to carry out his sinister plans. Almost all of Nosil’s henchmen did not know of Nosil’s history or background only that he paid very, very well. The Ground Force 1st class soldiers were ready and capable to lead this operation. Although they did not know what hardships lay ahead, they respected and believed in the Lt. because he had always lead them to safety or victory in the past. “Sir, permission to make a statement?” GF1 Brown said. “Speak!” the Lt. said.

“It’s just that, that, I don’t know about this sir. There is something strange about this whole thing. I don’t know why Nosil has hired us out. This whole thing seems wrong.”

“yes Brown. I know things might seem out there but I assure you that everything will be in order when Nosil gives the command. Leave the questions to me, do your duties without question, for that is the bliss of every soldier.” Lt Grondia said.

“Yes, sir!" Now that things were settled out between the ranks, the leaders of operation tango went through a simulation of the operation to ensure success. “First, I would like for the Lt. and his men to set off the switch located in sector alpha. After that, I want Mr. Brinard to rendezvous with the Lt. and demolish the last entrance on the outer banks area. All the while this is happening; make sure the outer defensives are weakened. Mr. Launy will supply the troops on the surface when the first flag is raised. Make sure none of your men make contact with the Mantis squad. They will be positioned on the surface outside the first wall during the raising of flag number one.” Nosil Said. After this briefing took place, all of the leaders steadily walked out of the room, except for Mr. Launy, for he was not there. Rather, Nosil ensured that he was informed without the extent of knowledge that the other leaders had. Little did Mr. Launy know that the whole town of Rabboth Top was going to be attacked. If one were to tell him that Fleace or Ithium was going to war, he would have wished to have been elected. Meanwhile back in the cavern…

“I’ll say these walls are too dusty for my taste” Viola said to himself as he was stumbling down the dark corridor in what he thought was a way out. “I know that this town has to be under the control of the Casrillians, those bastards want to start another war.” Viola suggested as he started climbing one sector of the corridor. Little did Viola know that his enemy knew more of him than he thought they knew. “If I only had a map” Viola said. Because Viola is a agent for the KOTL, he knows how to track others and the task of finding a way out of the cavern was simple in theory; however, the light radiating from Viola’s boots was synthetic light, which made the natural light darken whenever he tried to find the lightest light. The reason behind this was that the stone the cavern was made up of was extracted and created for the purpose to enhance sunlight.

It has been a week since we have seen the surface. Now that are hunger has consumed the majority of our conversations, we search for a way out less so than we search for food. Surprisingly there is much undergrowth in the caverns and many edible insects and plants that we have consumed while underground. “Damn, when will we get out of here” Lacky said.

“If there was a rope, maybe we could climb to the surface from the crystal room; but, no! We had to continue until we found an entrance with stairs. Thanks Lacky!” I retorted. Having lost or way to the crystal room, we were stranded underground without a possible clue to where the surface might be. The Cavern had many tunnels and corridors; the Cavern consisted of modern, old, and ancient areas. Navigating the tunnels is extremely hard because light finds its way in the most random places. Some corridors are lighted by magma, some by the surface, and some by stone. After being in the caverns for a whole week, Lacky became very irritable and told me that the adventure life was not for him. He said that he would rather read about adventures and hear about them instead of experience them. I always told him that there is no other way to live unless one goes to new peaks, plateaus, or lands. As the week stretched on and our hunger became evident as it was reflected in our completion and physique, I did not boast about the adventure life as much. “According to my instinct, I think we should go back the way we came” Lacky said.

“I think it is too late for that, plus, I have never been this far” I said. In the middle of our petty conversation that was regularly argued throughout the course of the day, I heard something behind us. “Shh, shut up. Something or someone is following us” I whispered.

“Ok, we should turn our selves in, maybe they have food” Lacky said.

“hold it Lacky, they could but lets wait and see, we shall remain here in silence until they walk by so that I may see what there purpose is” I whispered impatiently as Lacky was always the one who resorted to surrender. We ducked our shadows in the blackness beyond the corridor. We were well camouflaged behind a rock that was geometrically offset from the rest of the corridor, making it easily concealing. When the steps of the person following us became louder and louder, I started to quell my breathing knowing that if I was anxious I would attract our assailer. When the shadow of the man stepped into the area that I had assumed he would, I jumped out with my half made sword pointing at his throat. “What do you want? Why are you following us?” I exclaimed without exasperating my calm.

“Well--“the voice said. When I thought I had him, all of the sudden, “Clink!” the sound of his blade rushed against mine with a quickness I had underestimated. I knew that my sword was incomplete; however, I also knew that the assailant did not know it either. I decided to go into a defensive stance. I curved my sword so that his attack would not penetrate through my defensive circle or area of comfort. The sound of unsuccessful attacks “Swoosh! Bang! Clink!” made the mysterious man change his position while the cavern soaked up the sound which it had never heard in years since no one ever lived in there or ever battled there. The sound of swords clashing together was like an orchestra to my ears. Somehow it sounded like a song that I knew. Because I had not eaten in a while my endurance was reduced by the second advance the mysterious man made on me. With a few maneuvers I had never seen, my fatigue, and my hunger, the mysterious man had switched the tides of battle. I was now the one being asked the questions; however, because of the fact I had defended myself and walked backward, the mysterious man was standing in some light. I knew I had seen him before somewhere. “Take off your shirt, trust me, I will not hurt you if you do what I say.” the man said. I did as he said, but I laid down my weapon first. “Good, now turn around” the man said again. I was thinking that this man was going to do something unthinkable; however, if he had tried I would pray that Lacky would reveal himself and help me out while he became distracted. “Alright, guess your not the one kid” the man said.

“What have I done, what do you mean, I am not the one, which one?” I said. I did not receive an answer; however, I did receive a prickle feeling on my back. “Sorry this will hurt a little bit; I am just getting a blood test kid. Alright--all done, put your shirt back on.” the man said again.

“Blood test—what is that? Why did you look at my back? Who are You?”

“You can tell your friend to come out know”

“Hey, what are you doing to my friend” Lacky said.

“Don’t worry I am on your guys side. My name is Viola and I am here to scout the two of you out, your parents are looking for you. I think it be best if the both of you follow me out of the cavern” Viola said.

“How can we trust you?” I said. Viola eased his sword down and said, “you just can’t; however, if you are hungry and are looking for a way out of here I think I can help you” he said.

“That’s convincing enough for me” Lacky said.

“Since you bested me in the sword, I am in your service until I can beat you” I said. Although I did not want to truly serve this man, I wanted to learn the style of fighting he had used on me; I would take full advantage of his strengths and skills. I also did not tell him that he was the man I saw at ole Baily’s Inn the day I went to town on my own.

Meanwhile back at Nosil’s hideout, men in hooded, green clothes walked furiously while the execution of operation of tango rest solely on their performance tonight. Tonight was the night that they made sure the equipment was fully operational; they ran a test run. The gadgetry looked as if something Rabboth Top had only dreamed about. It was ancient, old, yet fresh with wires and metal. The equipment was an ion transformer that controlled hydrogen and oxygen nucleuses. When Nosil lifted his hand, signaling his ok, the green clothed men lifted the leaver on a table with other switches and controls. After the leaver was pulled a short tremor shook the room. It was misty in the window adjacent to the control box. The water quickly began to take shape, giving birth to the beast. This seemingly supernatural process which seemed to daze even Nosil was a great success for the operation. The beasts were made to attack the villagers of Rabboth Top. “now that it has appeared, I want you too put some livestock in there” Nosil said.

“Yes, sir” the green clothed man said. When the pig was placed in the same room as the misty creature, something awing happened. The slimy like beast swallowed the pig whole. Nothing was left. Because of the translucency the fiend had; one would assume that the matter he had swallowed would be seen in his stomach; however, the pig was sent somewhere by the beast. Only Nosil knew where this pig was sent; he had planned on sending a handful of villagers to this place while the rest would be living underground during the attack of the village. The villagers that remained underground would be part of his plot to destroy his former beloved agency, the KOTL. Nosil knew that they would send someone looking for the last remaining Air Nomads. He lured the other agent inside of the cavern, putting Casrillian hints all over the place. Everything was falling right into place. The KOTL were soon going to be deceived by one of the old members. Operation Tango was Nosil’s plan for ending the KOTL and to get revenge for kicking him out.