May 31, FC Camp
"Glad to have you Geoffrey," Amric said with a small smile," Get your kit and join the rest."
Amric began to speak of his plans to the men once Geoffrey had returned.
"Here is the plan," Amric said," We are going to sneak through the aqueduct into Nissa."
"Sounds dangerous," Oskar started to say before Gerd clapped his hand over his friend's mouth.
"Thank you Gerd," Amric nodded," To continue. We'll be coming up the well. Probably into the central part of the city. UNLESS we find one closer to the gate. Which is unlikely. Once there we will TRY to openly march like a Turk auxillary company. If questioned I will explain that we have been ordered to the gates as reinforcements. Hopefully we will be in position when the cannon go off."
"If we aren't?" Cyril inquired.
"Than we had better step it up and get there," Amric snorted," We will succeed with this, I chose you because you are the best. For those who volunteered I agreed because I am SURE you can do the job. I would like to think we will all come out of this alive. But I won't lie to you. Some of us could very well die. If any of you are unsure of your committment to this plan of action and wish to back out, I will understand and there will be no acrimony attached for doing so."
Nobody said a word. There was some shifting on Oskar's part, but only because Gerd STILL had his hand clapped over his friend's mouth. Oskar glared at him and was released. Surprisingly, he kept his mouth clamped tightly shut.
"Now," Amric continued," We are also supposed to be on the lookout for Chen and any of his group that may be in Nissa."
"Chen is in Nissa?" Geoffrey exclaimed," How did he get in there?"
"Pretending to be a Turk," Amric shrugged," I don't have all the details. I only know he is in there along with some others. Now we aren't to go actively searching for him, but if we see him, we are to try and bring him along."
"Sounds fine to me," Johann grunted," When do we leave?"
"After nightfall," Amric said," So get some sleep before we have to leave. That's it."
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May 31, In the aqueducts
"It's darker than a pharoah's tomb," Geoffrey whispered.
"A grave robber's best friend," Oskar said back.
Gerd glared at both of them, which sobered them up quickly. Amric led the way with Johan right behind him, with Oskar, Gerd, Geoffrey behind them and Cyril bringing up the rear. The scouts had already left them two hours ago while they traversed the slime covered aqueducts.
"Don't these people know the aqueducts ought to be cleaned?" Cyril complained quietly.
Amric's voice drifted back quietly," Which part of QUIET do you people NOT understand? Don't make me send you back from here. You'd probably get lost, what with the twists and turns and dead ends we've encountered."
A chorus of nearly silent 'sorrys' drifted back up to the senior sergeant. Johann looked at Amric in surprise.
"They are just blowing off steam before the real action begins," Johan whispered.
"I know," Amric sighed," But we have no idea how close we are to the surface, or to basements. If we are overheard we just might get caught."
Johan nodded," Good point."
They continued onward, through the ways until they found an opening to the above ground world. Amric inched his way into the well and felt around for a ladder or iron rungs. He found one, but it was nearly rusted through. He frowned and motioned to Johann to pass the word. Hold the line for a moment.
Amric shrugged off his light pack and slung a coil of rope over his right shoulder. Johan touched Amric's arm in question.
"Don't worry," Amric whispered," I used to climb the cliffs around Dover during holidays when I was younger. I think I can still do it. Be ready to clamber your ass up there once I get a rope secured."
"I'll be there," Johan promised.
Amric started his climb. It was about fourty feet to the top of the well. Not an especially long climb, but the walls were slick with slime and fungoids. He felt his way carefully and with nearly no noise he finally managed to make his way to the top of the well.
He peered over the rim of the well. Not a soul in sight! He swung out of the well and secured the rope to the well maintained iron protrubence that helped to support the well cover. He tossed the rope down into the well. With a nonchalant stance he waited with relative impatience until with muted swearing and grunting Johan appeared at the lip of the well. With a grin, Amric hauled him out of the well.
Oskar and Gerd swarmed out moments later. Geoffrey managed to clamber up, louder than Amric would have liked, but no notice from outside the square seemed to happen. By the time Cyril crawled out the others had managed to clean themselves up and only Cyril had to clean the slime from himself.
Amric looked at the sky," Form up. Don't say anything. I know enough Turk to get away with talking, but for the love of GOD, please keep your mouths shut."
Gerd silently laughed. Amric chuckled quietly and led his men toward the gates of the city. The sky hadn't brightened enough yet to worry about getting a close look at the invaders from outside. They had about an hour before the attack was scheduled to begin with the beginning bombardment of the cannons.
Marching in step, even Johan keeping in pretty good step, they made their way toward the gate. It seemed like they would succeed, perhaps with an ease that belied belief. Amric almost relaxed, until a small group of Turks appeared from around a corner. The Turks looked flabbergasted and then their leader pointed at the Free Company men. Amric motioned to the side of the street near an alley.
Amric stood quietly as the men behind him stirred, ready to go to battle if the need arose. The Turks approached rapidly. The leader began speaking rapidly in Turkish.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"What do you THINK I'm doing?" Amric replied," I do what I'm told."
"Explain!"
"We were ordered to go to the gates to help reinforce the men already there," Amric snapped.
"By whose orders?"
"How should I know?" Amric snarled," I get woken up in the middle of the night by a courier from the garrison commander's office. He handed me orders. I don't read, so he read them to me."
The man sneered," Can't read, eh? Well, I guess that is all right. Carry on."
"Thanks," Amric muttered," I'd rather be in bed."
"Wouldn't we all?" the man chuckled," Get moving."
Amric saluted and motioned his men back in motion again. The Turks marched on in the direction the Free Company men had already traversed. The infiltrators all breathed a sigh of relief and Johann patted Amric's back in congratulations as they continued on their way.
Only two blocks from the gate they were again accosted from another group of Turks emerging from an alley. The sky was brightening to a level that made Amric a tad worried.
"What are you doing?"
"Orders," Amric said," We're to go to the gate to reinforce them."
"Nonsense, no auxillaries would be trusted to go to the gate as reinforcements! Who ARE you?"
Amric sighed," Kill them."
With a silent charge Johan, Oskar, and Gerd rushed the small group of Turks. It wasn't pretty, but it was quick. The Turks were left deep in the alley under the uncollected trash in the back alley. Blades cleaned they continued on just as the first whistling sounds of approaching cannon balls and the belching boom of the cannon heralded the beginning of the siege.
"Damn!" Johan exclaimed.
"Not much time," Amric responded," The Turk will reinforce all along the walls. Let's get moving, gentlemen."
With a group snarl they began to trot toward the gate. The gate guards were nearly all looking toward the ridge outside the city. Whatever had their attention was a godsend to the men. Amric whipped out his blades and motioned Gerd and Oskar along with two others to go into the left gate turret, while Geoffrey, Cyril and two more to go into the right gate turret.
Johan took four men to take out the men in the main gatehouse. Amric cut down the two men right in front of the gate. He motioned the others to fan out in front of the gate as if they were the regular reinforced gate guards.
