Time: 0610
Weather: Normal for season (warm); light wind, heavy rain
Location: Fort Hope (Omaha, NE)
Ley Line: Very Large (three quarters mile wide, 2000 feet tall, 75 miles long), stretches 75 miles north of the fort (Whiting, IA)
Scene modifiers:
- Light: Dim -1 (ley line is quite bright)
- Visibility: -2 from the rain
***
The soldiers help clear the brodkil bodies away. Burning them proves difficult in the heavy rain, until Ashley comes over to help. Luckily the light wind sends the smoke away from the fort.
Despite the rain, Lt. Winston is more than happy to give Charlemagne and anyone else the tour of the fort. The camp is surrounded by earthworks dug up from the local soil, leaving a six foot dry moat -- though with the rain it is mostly mud -- around the fort, and about a six foot wall of earth, twelve feet with the moat. There is no gate in the earthworks, so the soldiers let down some ramps and ladders for the team to climb inside. The mercenaries and laborers are left out on the beach or the surrounding grasslands as the barge crew unloads the Trailblazers’ supplies.
Two campfires burn low, with two-man tents spaced around them for the two Legion squads. A command tent and tents for the technical squad sit near the east side of the fort near a tarp-covered supply dump. There is maybe just enough room for the Trailblazers to fit their own tents inside the west end of the fort, but no way they are going to fit in everyone. Four cottonwoods within the walls of the earthworks provide makeshift spotter and sniper nests. It is clear this operation is very bare bones at the moment.
Lt. Winston leads the team into the command tent where they can get out of the rain. There is a cot set up along the back side of the large tent with a table filled with maps and paperwork taking up the majority. He orders some strong coffee for the group. It is nearly dawn.
“As you can see, we weren’t set up to handle this many people,” Lt. Winston said, lighting a cigar and pouring himself a brandy. “I didn’t have much to work with when I was given my orders to post up here, just my men and our standard issue gear. But you seem to have brought a lot of supplies that will be helpful.”
Winston looked to Charlemagne. “I was given clear orders that, despite the fact that I outrank you, we are separate chains of command, and I am to follow your orders when you are available. My men and I are here primarily for the defense of the fort, but use as as you see fit. We have been doing standard patrols around the fort within the five mile radius of our comms, except for across the river into Coalition territory. We only have visual on the far bank.”
Winston produced a map showing where they had scouted.
Captain Norris ducked into the tent with the team, wringing rainwater out of his hat. “I’m about to set off again soon,” he said. “Anything you want relayed back to the Legion offices in Baldur’s Ferry?” He held out a recording device so that Charlemagne could make sure his order got in properly.
Orders
***
Combat Notes
Map
***GM Notes