A Blood War
There’s a saying that the shitter the city-node is, the faster you can find the place where their illegal goods are. When I got here I was half-drunk. Sobered up after seeing the state of the market. Slavers, Pushers, and even Weapon Runners who are selling unmarked weapons.
Slave-trade didn’t go away. Not when the world became harsher than ever and now lives are so disposable unless you show value. I was a debt-slave myself. But I am now just glad I wasn’t illegally slaved as the people standing before me. Clothed in rags and had no way to win their freedom. I won mine. But they can’t win theirs. Never. Not when they have been chained like this. Unless we break their chains.
I found a corner. I brought a few strong cigarettes from the market and smoked quietly. Lots of pushers trying to shove their products, offering all kinds of drugs. No red candies. My talisman isn’t stirring either.
Girls of all ages are practically begging. Behind the cages are them trying to show how good they look. In front of the cage are the would-be buyers.
Young kids indoctrinated at such an age isn’t new. Need a loyal army who’d know nothing other than be true to their new family.
One of the kids was asking for a cigarette. Had to smack the kid on the head, but then gave a piece so I could listen to him talk. Told me he lost his Ma and Pa at a young age. Torn apart by some monster and he was thrown into one of the many orphanages.
Orphanages earn a lot of money from donations. It’s also one of the hardest places to be in since everyone gets treatment based on the efforts they made. Young kids who are too beaten by their grief can’t understand. They’ll think otherwise. They rebel and get out and be picked up by folks who teach them simple things and bring them up into being the kind of trash you’d find in gutter lines or canned in a crowded prison. A common tale of why a child grows into a man lacking any decency in their heads.
Kid smoked until it was gone. Threw the cigarette and followed his friends away from the market. The marketplace by the way, is this large subway station turned into an area for their use. The underground railway is used to transfer goods and is peddled all over the city. The bar above this place is the place where they built the entrance of the subway, refurbished to this shithole.
I wonder how many citizens are living in the city? Above the surface there seems to be places where it’s obviously well-off despite the monsters roaming around and then shack towns like the Baro where the poverty-stricken are placed.
Does the presence of the Jesuits and the Church Organizations somewhat lessen the chance of the monsters? Doubt it. But I might be underestimating them. You can talk shit about some of the methods they use, but fanatics of Gods have been one of the driving forces behind the continuous survival of mankind.
After acting out like the common deadbeat on the place. I began to notice no movement. Of course, they won’t be stupid enough to go out openly.
I had to get out. Followed the way out. Sat down on the bar for another drink for show and then told another drugged out of her mind girl to go away.
After leaving the Baro. I contacted Kei about the situation here. After reporting what I saw. I ditched my clothes and went back to base camp.
Got dressed properly and felt the sweet feeling of having my castor and pollux dangling on my waist. It just doesn’t sit right with me when they ain’t around.
Uploaded what I saw on the marketplace. Kei skimmed through the footage with a matter-of-fact demeanor and made one show of emotion as always.
“Not as bad as Gorée trade. But it is somewhat more infuriating to see.”
She is watching the footage of the children drugged out of their minds and measured down. Like picking who will participate in the dodgeball, but instead they’re going to be holding a gun.
“Any leads?”
“Have none. But I think we might be able to catch some fire if we follow the slave trade trail. Bound to have some Vamps around wanting to buy slaves as blood bags.”
“Could be a good trail. We’re lacking the resources, but I’m sure our righteous friends can act on our stead.”
“Will they?”
“They will. Right now they want this to be done fast. Captain Hawke thinks we’re already wasting time here. Besides, it’s not everyday we can throw bait into a den of degenerates.”
She’s confident she can make them act. I do think we can, considering how dire the situation is. We need to move fast. Find the anomaly before they succeed.
“How about the others? Do they have leads?”
“Attacking a few places suspected of harboring monsters. Mostly witch hunts for the sake of it. They’re also spraying anti-supernatural gas that smokes them out of suspected areas.”
“That’s troublesome.”
“It is. But it’s how they are doing things. Nonetheless, they want to play with their new arsenal and maybe it’ll bring fruit.”
TCU has always been radical in their ways. The OB’s practical, but the TCU is different. Their practices and standards are based on the urgency of the lives needing saving. Driven by faith and ideals. They follow God’s mercy and obey his wrath.
“Then we should let them handle this.”
“Okay. Are you going to take a breather?”
“Need to sober up.”
“Sipped a few drinks?”
“Needed to act the part. Those folks can smell a tourist a mile away.”
Needed to get my focus back. I am not immune to seeing kids on shit places. Watching their lives waste away because the adults around them think their best use is to be grown into useful tools.
And the fucked part is there’s a good part of me that thinks it isn’t so bad to learn the ways of the world than be ignorant of what’s to come.
***
Captain Hawke and his team got the briefing after Kei provided the information. Kei told them we found a slave trade area we suspect is selling blood bags. She could have shown anyone, but she purposely made an effort of showing the kids drugged out of their minds and the slaves behind the cages.
One look at Hawke’s Team made it clear it put fire on their hearts. Oh, make no mistake, I think they aren’t so easily tricked, but the thing about these fanatics is their heads ain’t working properly when they see stuff like this.
Of course, it didn’t help Kei’s describing the situation as if it’s the worst thing in there. After the briefing, the team geared up and we were behind the monitors helping in the raid.
It’s easy for them to find old maps and with a target in mind. Their efficiency became terrifying. An hour after the briefing, we got the maps, and another hour we had a plan to get into the service tunnels so they could make their way into the place and isolate everyone who went there.
After the prep was done. We had five volunteer fire teams participating in the operation. The Baro has eyes everywhere so Captain Hawke’s team navigated the subway.
Dark and dust-filled. The team managed to reach the vicinity of the area and wait for the other teams to appear. The four fireteam made a kill zone while the fire team who infiltrated the area in civilian guises started open firing.
With the party starting. Captain Hawke’s team methodically emptied their mags on any hostile. Thoroughly eliminating those who are firing while capturing high-value targets with a warning shot.
They got fearsome resistance. Some of the thugs were chromed to their gills. But Captain Hawke’s team, although didn’t have any metal, still had augmented procedures that put them down. Not to mention their guns tore through their chrome and polymer skins easily.
Sure, they are a syndicate. But Hawke’s team is well-trained and had the funding to arm them with the best weapon in the market. The Vatican Bank owns a lot of weapon manufacturers and by God they would arm themselves well to deliver the righteous hand of God upon those who make them suffer.
It was quite something. Unlike the time where we fought the Dreadlord or fought one of the fragments of the Okinawan Devil. They were masterfully doing it with the efficiency and deadliness you’d expect from them.
With the market cordoned. The enemy is shot and moaning at the ground with bleeding stomachs. All that was left was the civilians who were laying flat on the ground, hoping Hawke and the Fireteams wouldn't shoot them.
“This is Templar-actual. Market’s neutralized. We will now proceed to extract information from one of the slavers. Support unit will clear the area.”
“They didn’t need our help.”
Kei’s impressed. It’s hard to impress Kei considering she had met Graded Agents.
After the operation in the marketplace. Captain Hawke and team apprehended four suspects. Two of them were ghouls who were selling children and the rest were pawns of a Vampire Clan.
We hit the right spot. We also got the name of the Vamps who might be the one leading the blood suckers in this city. Atropa Clan, the Nightshades who are quite infamous in Pan-Europa for their dealings. Before everyone knew of them, they were nothing more than this lackluster organization; a glorified club that turns out to be hosting clans of bloodsuckers and has been allied with the Domini Clan who has been roaming Eurasia as well.
It now all made sense why a clan would try to take shots at the armored train. Why aren't they hiding as much as you’d expect from a bunch of nightstalkers who should be good at subterfuge.
No. It’s not like they are overconfident or careless. They just know what they can do and now they aren’t hiding what they are trying to do because even if others know. It wouldn’t mean much to them. But from what Hawke’s team gathered. It looks like it’s a branch-clan of the Atropa. The Atropa Clan is large. So large it’s impossible to blame it on the Atropa Clan.
Knowing it might be the Atropas who are making this ritual. Hawke followed common sense and made a report to the Archbishop of the region.
I don’t know what happened when he was making a report. But I can tell from the grim look on his face that it’s about to get worse.
Commander Alberts, the Regional Commander gathered everyone in one place and showed himself with a loon on his face that meant business.
“We’ve learned recently that there are men, women, and children being used as blood bags. Our friends have found out who our enemies are.”
The Commander showed what we gathered. From the red candies to the slaves and the possibility of the Atropa Clan’s appearance in this city-node.
“My friends. I know you’re here for cash. You will get it, but nonetheless I will insist for you to stay and fight. You will be rewarded appropriately for your service and will make sure your resume has the church approval. We will give you our stamp.”
The TCU’s stamp on your resume. It’s one thing to get paid, but getting the stamp of the TCU means you’ll get more jobs and some clearances when browsing through TCU-affiliated shops and services.
You’d have to be an idiot to miss this chance and honestly it’s worth the risk if you don’t think too hard about it.
“So join us in our crusade!”
The place roared. Guns were raised and the eyes of the men and women here were full of greed. There ain’t no righteousness here, just people trying to get things done.
The Vultan Crusade began earnestly.
A Blood War
There’s a saying that the shitter the city-node is, the faster you can find the place where their illegal goods are. When I got here I was half-drunk. Sobered up after seeing the state of the market. Slavers, Pushers, and even Weapon Runners who are selling unmarked weapons.
Slave-trade didn’t go away. Not when the world became harsher than ever and now lives are so disposable unless you show value. I was a debt-slave myself. But I am now just glad I wasn’t illegally slaved as the people standing before me. Clothed in rags and had no way to win their freedom. I won mine. But they can’t win theirs. Never. Not when they have been chained like this. Unless we break their chains.
I found a corner. I brought a few strong cigarettes from the market and smoked quietly. Lots of pushers trying to shove their products, offering all kinds of drugs. No red candies. My talisman isn’t stirring either.
Girls of all ages are practically begging. Behind the cages are them trying to show how good they look. In front of the cage are the would-be buyers.
Young kids indoctrinated at such an age isn’t new. Need a loyal army who’d know nothing other than be true to their new family.
One of the kids was asking for a cigarette. Had to smack the kid on the head, but then gave a piece so I could listen to him talk. Told me he lost his Ma and Pa at a young age. Torn apart by some monster and he was thrown into one of the many orphanages.
Orphanages earn a lot of money from donations. It’s also one of the hardest places to be in since everyone gets treatment based on the efforts they made. Young kids who are too beaten by their grief can’t understand. They’ll think otherwise. They rebel and get out and be picked up by folks who teach them simple things and bring them up into being the kind of trash you’d find in gutter lines or canned in a crowded prison. A common tale of why a child grows into a man lacking any decency in their heads.
Kid smoked until it was gone. Threw the cigarette and followed his friends away from the market. The marketplace by the way, is this large subway station turned into an area for their use. The underground railway is used to transfer goods and is peddled all over the city. The bar above this place is the place where they built the entrance of the subway, refurbished to this shithole.
I wonder how many citizens are living in the city? Above the surface there seems to be places where it’s obviously well-off despite the monsters roaming around and then shack towns like the Baro where the poverty-stricken are placed.
Does the presence of the Jesuits and the Church Organizations somewhat lessen the chance of the monsters? Doubt it. But I might be underestimating them. You can talk shit about some of the methods they use, but fanatics of Gods have been one of the driving forces behind the continuous survival of mankind.
After acting out like the common deadbeat on the place. I began to notice no movement. Of course, they won’t be stupid enough to go out openly.
I had to get out. Followed the way out. Sat down on the bar for another drink for show and then told another drugged out of her mind girl to go away.
After leaving the Baro. I contacted Kei about the situation here. After reporting what I saw. I ditched my clothes and went back to base camp.
Got dressed properly and felt the sweet feeling of having my castor and pollux dangling on my waist. It just doesn’t sit right with me when they ain’t around.
Uploaded what I saw on the marketplace. Kei skimmed through the footage with a matter-of-fact demeanor and made one show of emotion as always.
“Not as bad as Gorée trade. But it is somewhat more infuriating to see.”
She is watching the footage of the children drugged out of their minds and measured down. Like picking who will participate in the dodgeball, but instead they’re going to be holding a gun.
“Any leads?”
“Have none. But I think we might be able to catch some fire if we follow the slave trade trail. Bound to have some Vamps around wanting to buy slaves as blood bags.”
“Could be a good trail. We’re lacking the resources, but I’m sure our righteous friends can act on our stead.”
“Will they?”
“They will. Right now they want this to be done fast. Captain Hawke thinks we’re already wasting time here. Besides, it’s not everyday we can throw bait into a den of degenerates.”
She’s confident she can make them act. I do think we can, considering how dire the situation is. We need to move fast. Find the anomaly before they succeed.
“How about the others? Do they have leads?”
“Attacking a few places suspected of harboring monsters. Mostly witch hunts for the sake of it. They’re also spraying anti-supernatural gas that smokes them out of suspected areas.”
“That’s troublesome.”
“It is. But it’s how they are doing things. Nonetheless, they want to play with their new arsenal and maybe it’ll bring fruit.”
TCU has always been radical in their ways. The OB’s practical, but the TCU is different. Their practices and standards are based on the urgency of the lives needing saving. Driven by faith and ideals. They follow God’s mercy and obey his wrath.
“Then we should let them handle this.”
“Okay. Are you going to take a breather?”
“Need to sober up.”
“Sipped a few drinks?”
“Needed to act the part. Those folks can smell a tourist a mile away.”
Needed to get my focus back. I am not immune to seeing kids on shit places. Watching their lives waste away because the adults around them think their best use is to be grown into useful tools.
And the fucked part is there’s a good part of me that thinks it isn’t so bad to learn the ways of the world than be ignorant of what’s to come.
***
Captain Hawke and his team got the briefing after Kei provided the information. Kei told them we found a slave trade area we suspect is selling blood bags. She could have shown anyone, but she purposely made an effort of showing the kids drugged out of their minds and the slaves behind the cages.
One look at Hawke’s Team made it clear it put fire on their hearts. Oh, make no mistake, I think they aren’t so easily tricked, but the thing about these fanatics is their heads ain’t working properly when they see stuff like this.
Of course, it didn’t help Kei’s describing the situation as if it’s the worst thing in there. After the briefing, the team geared up and we were behind the monitors helping in the raid.
It’s easy for them to find old maps and with a target in mind. Their efficiency became terrifying. An hour after the briefing, we got the maps, and another hour we had a plan to get into the service tunnels so they could make their way into the place and isolate everyone who went there.
After the prep was done. We had five volunteer fire teams participating in the operation. The Baro has eyes everywhere so Captain Hawke’s team navigated the subway.
Dark and dust-filled. The team managed to reach the vicinity of the area and wait for the other teams to appear. The four fireteam made a kill zone while the fire team who infiltrated the area in civilian guises started open firing.
With the party starting. Captain Hawke’s team methodically emptied their mags on any hostile. Thoroughly eliminating those who are firing while capturing high-value targets with a warning shot.
They got fearsome resistance. Some of the thugs were chromed to their gills. But Captain Hawke’s team, although didn’t have any metal, still had augmented procedures that put them down. Not to mention their guns tore through their chrome and polymer skins easily.
Sure, they are a syndicate. But Hawke’s team is well-trained and had the funding to arm them with the best weapon in the market. The Vatican Bank owns a lot of weapon manufacturers and by God they would arm themselves well to deliver the righteous hand of God upon those who make them suffer.
It was quite something. Unlike the time where we fought the Dreadlord or fought one of the fragments of the Okinawan Devil. They were masterfully doing it with the efficiency and deadliness you’d expect from them.
With the market cordoned. The enemy is shot and moaning at the ground with bleeding stomachs. All that was left was the civilians who were laying flat on the ground, hoping Hawke and the Fireteams wouldn't shoot them.
“This is Templar-actual. Market’s neutralized. We will now proceed to extract information from one of the slavers. Support unit will clear the area.”
“They didn’t need our help.”
Kei’s impressed. It’s hard to impress Kei considering she had met Graded Agents.
After the operation in the marketplace. Captain Hawke and team apprehended four suspects. Two of them were ghouls who were selling children and the rest were pawns of a Vampire Clan.
We hit the right spot. We also got the name of the Vamps who might be the one leading the blood suckers in this city. Atropa Clan, the Nightshades who are quite infamous in Pan-Europa for their dealings. Before everyone knew of them, they were nothing more than this lackluster organization; a glorified club that turns out to be hosting clans of bloodsuckers and has been allied with the Domini Clan who has been roaming Eurasia as well.
It now all made sense why a clan would try to take shots at the armored train. Why aren't they hiding as much as you’d expect from a bunch of nightstalkers who should be good at subterfuge.
No. It’s not like they are overconfident or careless. They just know what they can do and now they aren’t hiding what they are trying to do because even if others know. It wouldn’t mean much to them. But from what Hawke’s team gathered. It looks like it’s a branch-clan of the Atropa. The Atropa Clan is large. So large it’s impossible to blame it on the Atropa Clan.
Knowing it might be the Atropas who are making this ritual. Hawke followed common sense and made a report to the Archbishop of the region.
I don’t know what happened when he was making a report. But I can tell from the grim look on his face that it’s about to get worse.
Commander Alberts, the Regional Commander gathered everyone in one place and showed himself with a loon on his face that meant business.
“We’ve learned recently that there are men, women, and children being used as blood bags. Our friends have found out who our enemies are.”
The Commander showed what we gathered. From the red candies to the slaves and the possibility of the Atropa Clan’s appearance in this city-node.
“My friends. I know you’re here for cash. You will get it, but nonetheless I will insist for you to stay and fight. You will be rewarded appropriately for your service and will make sure your resume has the church approval. We will give you our stamp.”
The TCU’s stamp on your resume. It’s one thing to get paid, but getting the stamp of the TCU means you’ll get more jobs and some clearances when browsing through TCU-affiliated shops and services.
You’d have to be an idiot to miss this chance and honestly it’s worth the risk if you don’t think too hard about it.
“So join us in our crusade!”
The place roared. Guns were raised and the eyes of the men and women here were full of greed. There ain’t no righteousness here, just people trying to get things done.
The Vultan Crusade began earnestly.
