“Aim…” I heard a goblin quietly say, to the direct left of me. Wasn’t too far away, then the goblin said. “pull…” I started to duck down and a moment later I heard the goblin say “release.” An arrow flew out and struck the tree to the right of me, where my head would’ve been. I quickly spun on my heels as the Goblin repeated the same words this time much faster, and another arrow flew missing my face by what I felt was only a couple of inches.
“It''s looking at me.” The Archer said.
I pulled up my SMG and sprayed the bush I heard the Goblin from. Followed by the goblin speaking.
“What? What just happened? It shouldn’t’ve been this quick in finding me. Then what had hit me?” The Archer asked in perfect English, slowly getting quieter.
“I am bleeding, a fatal bleeding. I am sorry Mother for being a disappointment…” The voice died down to almost silence and then nothing more.
I heard more goblins yell about, but none in conversation with each other for some odd reason.
“What was that!?”
“Thunder doesn’t sound like that.”
“I wanna go home.”
I heard all around me from the foliage, they were close that''s for sure.
“M’am what are you doing?” Asked Warrant Officer Valdez.
“Listening to the goblins talk, you guys don’t hear them?” I asked.
“No, all I know is that you suddenly shot a bush. Were you sure a goblin was there?” Valdez asked.
“Yes, I am sure. I think I heard their last words too.” I said, looking throughout the forest around me.
“Do you hear these goblins now?” Valdez asked.
“Yes, they are all confused at what just happened right now. I don’t think they have line of sight of us or each other on top of that I am sure they are on orders to not speak. Probably attempting an ambush.” I said.
“An ambush?” Valdez asked concerningly, looking left and right.
I heard a goblin off the distance say, almost a whisper towards the south. “Alright that should be the last of the traps set, I hope these work.”
“There are traps set up that way.” I said, pointing to the south.
“Traps?” Valdez asked again.
“And a goblin in that tree up there.” I said pointing at a nearby tree at the canopy.
The goblin yelled, “How the hell does it see me?”
Valdez pulled up his bolt action rifle and took aim at the top, and fired.
“Fuck! They see me!” The Goblin yelled.
“You didn’t hit it but it''s up there. As they yelled just right now.” I said.
“What''s yelling? I hear nothing but the occasional gunshot off in the distance.” Valdez said.
He was right as there was gunfire off in the distance, the occasional pop and yelling but we were in a very quiet area.
“Just shoot the tree again, I think they are taking aim right now.” I said.
“Aim…” I heard the goblin yell.
Valdez pulled his bolt back loading a new round into the chamber, and took aim.
“Pull…”
Valdez fired his gun, it hit the tree causing bark to fly out.
“Shit, they do see me! At least they don’t seem capable of breaking the bark.” The goblin threw out expletive after expletives. “Fuck theres a hole in it.” The goblin said.
“Shoot the spot you just shot before.” I said.
“Ok.” Valdez fired once more, followed by branches breaking and a light thud.
“What the fuck? Why am I on the ground?” The goblin said, I heard quiet high pitched nasally groans from behind the tree.
“You hit it, have your squad shoot that tree.” I pointed at one to the left of me with a bunch of thick branches perfect for a goblin to hide in, “At that one” I pointed to the tree at the right similar to the one to the left, “And those two behind us. All at the top of course.” I ordered.
“I’ll take the one in the back.” The squad medic said.
“I think they are catching on to us.” I said, looking at the tree to the back and I actually saw the point of the arrow stick out of the foliage.
I heard almost all the goblins say “Pull…”
“Duck! They are about to fire!” I ordered, pushing Valdez to the ground and the team''s LMGer. In the process getting to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, they all said “Release…” Unanimously, followed by five arrows flying out towards where I was, where Valdez and the LMGer was. I didn’t hear the others yell or cry, I looked around and saw that the others all were able to duck in time.
With arrows having hit the ground next to them, or none at all as there were around twice as many troops in the squad then there were goblins.
I heard a variance of yells saying essentially “I fucking missed.” Then after they began to go through the sequence of firing their bows, I rushed towards the LMGer “Give me your gun.” I ordered as another volley of arrows came at us missing by mere inches from me and the others.
They held out the gun and I grabbed it, and then aimed then fired into the trees behind us, the one to the left and the one to the right all in bursts of a few rounds. My hits were confirmed by branches breaking followed by light thuds not too far from us.
I heard the same confusion from the goblins as the first goblin Valdez shot. Before their talking eventually stopped after about 15 seconds, confirming their deaths.
“Ma’am you are something.” Valdez said, pushing himself off the ground rubbing his left arm.
“Did I hurt you?” I asked.
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“Just a slight bruise, nothing too bad.” Valdez said.
“Good, cause I think there are more coming, way more.” I said.
Off in the distance I heard soft speaking in my right ear a conversation, “I think that was in the direction of the ambush.” Said a goblin off in the distance.
“That''s not good, those poppings are everywhere around us. But that one was the loudest.” Said another.
“So one of their disorganized attacks?” A Goblin asked.
“Let''s get moving to the south, that''s where all the action is.” I said, making my way towards the direction of the speaking.
I heard Valdez speaking with his squad, “How do you think she knows where they were?” A Private whispered.
“I don’t know, she says she hears all of their talking.” Valdez said.
I stepped under a branch, when I suddenly heard a deep voice “That one is pretty… small too, like those Treyarch kids. It has breasts too, like hobgoblin women not as big as some but I do need entertainment after this is over.” Laughed a gravelly creepy voice to my right.
Goosebumps shot up all over my skin as I brung out my spellbook and aimed a blast spell directly at the direction of the voice. A loud ship like horn rang out, as red magic circles, on top of red magic circles appeared above me.
“What the hell is that, and I can see right past the 5 points on it?” I aimed right on the creep good.
Followed by an explosion, dirt, tree parts, grass and an assortment of other underground critters were thrown up into the sky splattering the forest with its destruction. It was hot, loud and most importantly it silenced the creep.
“Ma’am why did you use a blast spell?” Valdez asked.
“There was a creep in the woods imagining very horrible things. That I can not get out of my fucking head.” I said, walking to the spot I aimed at. Revealing nothing but a crater in its place, nothing was left of whatever I heard.
We continued on, the whispering of the masses was slowly getting louder and louder. A hundred or so voices all indiscernible from each other like a loud cafeteria, all talking below the ground in the tunnels.
After walking a few hundred more feet we arrived at a trenchline, one long trench line that went to the left and right for hundreds of feet. There was a small pillbox every few dozen feet, it was the AI controlled pillboxes.
The barrel of a machine gun slightly jutted out of the opening in the pillbox, it was leaning downward sitting on the concrete wall. There was a quiet voice coming from the pillbox.
“Stop thinking…” It whispered. It was barely audible when it yelled “That''s how you don''t attract a Telepath that''s your enemy.” Followed by it saying “damn it, stop thinking.” It quietly said.
I approached the pillbox, the source of the sound. I narrowed my eyes at the opening pillbox, and I heard an eep from the voice. Followed by no more sound from the pillbox at all, I leaned into the opening putting my hand on the barrel.
Not a good idea but just wanted to make sure they had no attempt at getting a shot at me. Leaning in, it was dark in the pillbox. I could only make out shapes. The gun was an LMG as I guessed, it was set up on the tripod on a small desk and the legs were bolted down into the desk.
Small cans littered the ground, the Pillbox was clearly partially buried as it was a good 3 or so feet below ground enough for a man to stand in. It was also cramped with enough space for one person.
Yet I heard soft breathing from below the desk, or was it my breath as it can be quite loud at times.
“Ma’am what''s in there?” Asked Valdez.
I jumped back slightly startled at Valdez’s sudden appearance and sighed. “I thought I heard something in there, guess I was just hearing myself.” I said, stepping away from the pillbox window.
I pointed to the pillbox next to the one I was looking at earlier. “Check that pillbox, I hear someone in there.” I said.
One of Valdez''s infantrymen looked at each other and one of them just shrugged, approached the pillbox, and climbed through the pillbox window. Followed by panicked talking.
“Oh god they are here. How did they know I was in here? Maybe if I just don’t make a sound and hide even more under this table even more they’ll leave?” The nasally voice asked.
“Look under the desk.” I ordered.
The infantry looked out the window and shrugged, followed by the same nasally voice from before yelling. Immediately followed by the infantrymen yelling in pain with a gunshot ringing out, the Nasally voice was gone.
“I’ve been stabbed!” Reported the infantryman, prompting the medic to rush over and help him.
I narrowed my eyes at the pillbox, and I focused my hearing on it. I heard panicked whispering come from the one I was just in.
“Oh god… oh god… I hope they didn’t find one of us.” I heard the whisper out of the hushed whispers around me. Approaching the previous ones my boots gave thuds on the dirt ground before turning into clicking as I stepped on wood.
I brought out my SMG and put the barrel right next to the top of the table and loaded several rounds into the wood. Prompting a high almost girlish scream to sound out, a scream no one else heard.
“That was close, I just hope they are satisfied and left.” The voice said from below the table.
I waited a few moments before whispering. “The woman left, you have a chance to escape, be careful as they are still nearby just distracted. Go and regroup with the rest of the army, if you want to respond do not speak physically as I am not actually here.” I did the equivalent of whispering.
“Why are you whispering to me, my lord?” The goblin whispered back.
“Do not want to lose, wait for my signal, on it you will sneak out through the window and into the ditches you’ll find hiding places if you need to.” I whispered, I quickly and quietly stepped over to the right side of the pillbox hiding out of view from the window.
“Alright on my signal you will exit the fort and then go to the left that way if they turn their way towards you they will not see you.” I whispered.
“Yes my lord.” The goblin said.
“Good.” I responded, left my spot and went to talk to the rest of the crew.
“Ma’am what are you doing over there?” Valdez asked.
“Just waiting, you are going to make me wait longer. Go check the other pillboxes, I’ll call you if I need you.” I ordered.
Valdez looked at me confused but still nodded, “Alright ma’am.” He said before leaving.
“What direction are you going to run off in again?” I whispered.
“To the left side my lord.” The goblin responded.
“Where are you going to run towards, on my signal?”
“To the ditches behind these forts and run back to camp.”
“Good, good, you are listening. Go now, it''s clear.” I said.
I barely heard anything as light thumps occurred, followed by light clapping of shoes on the dirt.
“Alright my lord I made it out and am now hiding on the left side of the fort. Is it clear for me to continue running it?” The goblin asked.
I genuinely looked around making sure it was clear for the goblin to make it out alive. After all, I needed it to lead me towards their base of operations.”
“Yes, but be careful there are many of them nearby.”
“Got it.” The Goblin said, I then heard the light scampering of the goblin.
Looking over towards the trench line, I saw the goblin run into the trench line and then it hid under the Tank Bridges.
“Give me an update on your position so I know you are alive.” I whispered.
“I am going to head to one of the big stone forts, towards the warehouses. It is to the South away from the river, that''s where our main forces are, if that''s what you''re asking.” The goblin said, as I began to trail it.
“I see, I’ll know if you''re alive.” I said waving towards the rest of my platoon to follow me.
“Thank you for helping this small goblin, my lord.” The goblin said.
“You’re welcome.” I responded.
Valdez approached me with the rest of the platoon “What’s going on ma’am?” Valdez asked.
“I have successfully made an unintentional mole, and that mole is going to lead us towards their base of operations.” I answered.
“A mole?” Valdez asked.
“It’s nothing, Warrant Officer. All you need to know is that if that Goblin makes it to their base alive we won’t have to eat human flesh and organs.” I said.
“Alright, then lead the way?” Valdez asked unsure if that was the correct way to go about it. I was also unsure if that was the way to go about it.
“Well just follow me, they are in that trench.” I said, turning my attention towards the Goblin once more.
“My lord, I am making a detour. Towards the big stone forts in the middle of this massive fortress, as there''s a large enemy force in the trenches with me.” I heard the goblin practically say right next to me.
I jumped on top of the highest nearby pillbox and looked in the direction the Goblin was in and saw it was correct.
“You’ll be fine, keep going.” I whispered towards the goblin, I climbed out of the trench line and followed the path the goblin took.
“If you say so my lord.” The goblin responded off in the distance.
I went towards the direction I heard the goblin from.
“Ma’am are we following the mole?” Valdez asked who was behind me.
“Yes we are. Although there is a chance it won’t lead us to one of their main bases as it would likely be killed pretty soon.” I said to Valdez.
“Alright then.” Was Valdez''s response.
I saw the goblin from before silently running through the trench lines, slowly heading towards several massive warehouses off in the distance.
“My lord, I am nearing our base. What should I tell the commander?” The goblin asked.
I could tell the goblin was telling the truth, as it was approaching the warehouses. “Thank you.” I said to the goblin.
“Thank you? Why do you need to thank me, my lord?” The goblin asked. I could hear the fear in its voice.
“Thank you for believing in me, as your lord. I am ordering you to run now, it''s going to get brutal soon and I wouldn’t want you to die here, you''re too useful.” I said.
“Where am I to go, my lord? I am a prisoner of the Penal Colonies. I was arrested for stealing, I am expected to die here for you.” The goblin said, I could hear the goblin start to break down crying.
“Outside the closest town, live off the land I will ensure you are safe from persecution and any enemies you’ve made.” I told the goblin.
The goblin started to really sob “thank you my lord. The closest town, that is across the river if you want me to be in the Toh empire. But I could walk it to Hlpecby an ally of Toh, although I don’t think they’ll like your presence there.” The goblin said.
“Alright hide out in the merchant ship that crashed up river, but before you go take enough food from the warehouses that’ll last you a week. I’ll ensure you can safely cross the river, just wait for my signal and go into the warehouse.” I told the goblin.
“I’ll trust you my lord, I’ll hide in a crater and hide under the bridges.” The goblin said.
“That’ll work, you just need to wait for my signal but be more quiet from here on out.” I saw the goblin in question quickly run out of the trench and scramble into a foxhole that was covered by bridges, a pseudo cheap bunker the goblin was now hiding in.
There was no further talking from the goblin.
Valdez approached me from behind while I was looking at the surrounding area. “Ma’am the enemy is too well dug in, despite our superior firepower it is difficult for us to break through. Without risking our lives that is.” Valdez reported.
I turned around and looked at him, “alright.” I said bringing out my clipboard.
“Everybody gather at the forward vanguard trench lines of this fortress, on the whistle we’ll perform an assault on the warehouse.” Orders from CeoMacNCheese.
“Alright then, let''s get ready for a real assault.” I said, I heard the voices of hundreds of confused goblins.
“They are retreating?” I heard a goblin nearby say.
“Maybe.” I said to the goblin.