by Dave Hazel
Some of the Goblins noticed the death and destruction came from the intruders above and tried to counter attack. Hand hurled weapons that could never reach and a few crossbows never got the opportunity to strike the intended targets that fired down on them with rifles, machineguns, hand grenades and 40mm explosives.
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One determined leader took a band of more than twenty Goblins and snuck around to the bottom of the walk way and seemed to go unnoticed by Mykal’s men who were killing those in the center of the large cavern. Mykal noticed them when he was forced to reload his rifle but before he had to say anything Towbar leapt into the scene with his large glowing blue blade and charged headlong into the group of twenty plus Goblins. They were no match in size, strength or ability. His massive blade slice through the little dark creatures wildly throwing their corpses all over which meant most of them flew over the side into the main battle ground. Limbs, heads, half bodies etc. flew down on those trying to attack the human soldiers that were once thought to be easy pickings because they were so easily out numbered. When they saw heads land at their feet, limbs with weapons still in hand land on them, it caused many of the Goblins to turn and run away.
While Goblins fled, Mykal’s men continued to shoot them in the back. Everyone knew the Goblins were going to regroup, gather a bigger force and try again. They wanted to cut them down as much as they could and hopefully make them fearful of their attempt to seek revenge.
Mykal, Towbar and almost all of the men rushed down the walkway while Nordad and the Elves stayed atop the perch looking over the dead. Nordad had the Elves stand back out of sight for the time being. Several of Mykal’s men stood beside Nordad so if he couldn’t convince them to have a truce they would start raining down death and destruction from where it paused. Nordad shouted instructions to get their attention.
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The soldiers of Zizmon-Tarl seemed fearful while they watched the strange men who came to their rescue rush down and reign terror on the Goblins. The strange warriors who became their defenders viciously wrought havoc on those Goblins who stood to fight or who remained there wounded. The soldiers of Zizmon-Tarl watched as ‘magic’ was being used to annihilate the forces of the Goblin army. The soldiers of Zizmon-Tarl watched on and it looked as if they would be safe from the Goblin army. The foreigners with the mighty weapons didn’t appear to have a problem with them as soldiers. It was clear they wanted only the Goblins dead.
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Mykal and his men went from body to body to make sure the filthy, cruel, little dark green creatures were dead. The few that stood and fought put up no resistance. Their weapons were too overwhelming for the Goblins to handle. The one sided battle ended quickly. Men were posted to watch for a counter attack. The majority gathered to put a plan together and to ensure everyone was okay. There were no deaths, only one injury. One of Towbar’s warriors took a crossbow bolt to his forearm when he raised his arm to block the shot of the crossbow that would have struck his head. Towbar cut the Goblin’s head off and cut through the Goblin’s entire body with his back swing before the Goblin hit the ground.
“So whadda we do?” Mykal asked as his men fanned out to keep an eye on the seventeen survivors. Mykal was sure the soldiers were the same type of soldiers they fought along the river in the gorge and he was sure they were soldiers of Zizmon-Tarl.
“We can strike up a conversation and see if they would be willing to assist us since we just rescued them,” Captain Diaz said while looking at them.
“I’m good with that,” Mykal said with a nod. “But whatta they gonna do once they see the Elves? From what Nordad told us before they have an intense hatred for Elves and usually try to kill them on sight.” Mykal wanted to bring up that he didn’t understand why the Goblins were fighting with the soldiers of Zizmon-Tarl. There were Goblins sent to the other side of the world to assist the Sosos. He couldn’t understand why they were fighting unless this was a rouge group of Goblins that wasn’t under the control of Zizmon-Tarl. He kept it to himself for the time being.
“Well, clearly we will not allow that to happen,” Captain Diaz declared.
“We’ll kill their dumb asses first,” Ratner said rather loudly.
“Why don’t we tell them,” Roy Jr. paused as if to allow the thought to fully form in his mind. “Why don’t we tell them that we are on a mission for the Mister Zee dude and we’ll say these six Elves are volunteers to have themselves turned into Hawkmen? We’ll get them to play along and we’ll have Lanorear back up what we’re saying. Maybe we can get these ol’ boys to lead us right to the castle where they’re holding Miss Doninka?”
“Damn,” Mykal chuckled happily. “That’s a damn good idea for a country boy.”
“My brother can sometimes come up with a good one,” Randy laughed.
“I gotcha covered,” Roy Jr. snickered with an exaggerated wink.
“That’s a great idea Roy,” Mykal said and quickly turned to Gunnery Sergeant Ratner. “Hey Ratner, I want you to take ten of these men with you and run back to the top and watch for my signal. If things don’t go good, wipe them out from above while we take them out from down here. And also tell the Elves what we just said that they are with us cuz they’re gonna volunteer themselves to become Hawkmen for Ziggy Stardust. We’ll tell these guys they are to leave them alone. Freeman and Winfield,” Mykal called to the two men who were on point most of the time with the Elves and Lanorear.
“Yes Sir,” they replied together.
Mykal loved to see the Green Beret and the Marine working so closely together that they answered together at the same time. “As soon as either of you see Lanorear, call him aside and tell him what we’re saying so it doesn’t cause a fuss with these soldiers. Got it?”
“Yes Sir,” they replied together again.
“As we start to move toward these soldiers I want most of you to keep your eyes focused this way,” Mykal pointed back behind them where the Goblins vacated to. “Especially the 60s and 203s just in case they try to come at us again.”
“Mykal, the soldiers are watching us,” Lieutenant Finley announced. “I think they want to know what is going to happen,” he added while he directed two medics to treat Shayup, one of Towbar’s soldiers who had a Goblin crossbow bolt lodged into his forearm.
“Captain Diaz, I want you to talk to these men,” Mykal said when he saw Ratner’s group get atop the perch above them. When they reached their position they all pointed their weapons down at the seventeen soldiers who had been spared from the Goblin hordes. “Me, Towbar and the rest will be waiting and if you don’t give me a sign that they’re gonna work with us, then we’re gonna wipe them out and we’re gonna leave this damn place.”
Several of the men hooted and yelled joyfully. It looked to startle the seventeen soldiers who seemed unsure what to make of the funny dressed warriors with mighty magic weapons. They all stiffened as Diaz and a couple of others made their way to the surviving group.
Mykal watched Diaz communicate with Nordad shouting down assurances from above the perch. Nordad helped explain that they were great warriors from another place who had no troubles with them and would like to have their assistance for saving their lives. The discussion seemed to go fine until the six Elves were paraded onto the perch so Nordad could sell them on the idea of their desire to become Hawkmen like Lanorear, thus they were allies too. More disbelief arose when the Dwarves joined them.
“We got company Myk,” one of the soldiers yelled when Goblins tried to creep back into the battle ground.
“Diaz,” Mykal yelled with his back to the Marine captain. “Keep talking to them and we’ll take care of this,” he added and raised his rifle on the first Goblin he saw. “Fire when you have a target,” he yelled and just as he was ready to squeeze his trigger someone else took out the target he had sighted on.
Single shots rang out and then suddenly a big mass of Goblins flooded from the darkened caverns with mighty yells and war cries.
Machineguns ripped into the onslaught and slowed them considerably. Explosions erupted several times from hand grenades and from the M-203 grenade launchers. Despite the noise of a heavy battle the Goblins suffered complete loss with every Goblin they sent into the battle but they had not inflicted one casualty. They didn’t even attempt to shoot their crossbows.
While Mykal reloaded he watched Towbar rush into a group of eight Goblins and chop them to pieces before they could get close to landing a blow on the giant. Others charged at the lone titan, but when they saw his mastery with his glowing blue blade in taking down eight Goblin warriors they turned and ran the other way. It almost sounded like squealing pigs when they fled.
When the Goblin attack seemed to have ceased the weapons fire halted. The men didn’t have to be told to cease fire. They were professionals who knew not to waste ammunition and didn’t shoot out of fear for what might come at them but fired upon the enemy that did in fact attack.
Mykal looked back to see Diaz still in communication with the seventeen soldiers. Nordad assisted from above but those above started down the walkway.
“What do you want us to do Mykal?” Finley said while checking on the men. “None had been injured. We’re all intact.”
“I wanna get outta here. Whatta ya think about throwing one of our explosive satchels into that tunnel right there?” Mykal pointed to the tunnel where most of the Goblins seemed to have exited from. “Or do you think it would bring down more than just that tunnel?”
“Good question Mykal,” Finley answered and shrugged. “We don’t have any engineers here who would have a better answer on that. Me personally, I’d tend to lean toward that it might cause this whole damn rock to come down on our heads.”
“That’s kinda what I was afraid of.”
“I don’t know that for sure Myk,” Finley said and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “That’s more the cautious side of me talking because I don’t want to make a wrong decision on something like that.”
“Good idea,” Mykal said with a nod. “Towbar, come with me. Everyone,” he yelled to the group. “Let’s move it and let’s watch our back,” he said as he made his way to Diaz and the group of soldiers they rescued.
“You heard the man ladies,” Ratner yelled like an old malicious Drill Instructor. “I had better not see any of you dawg faces and jarheads lollygagging,” he yelled despite the fact that he was a ‘jarhead’. “Our precious little asses are on the line,” he barked. “I want to see knees poppin’ and elbows swinging. Move it. Now!”
Some of the men led the way while Diaz and the seventeen stayed toward the middle. A couple of them were injured and were being treated by medics. Their injuries were minor and none appeared to be life threatening.
Mykal approached Diaz and the main soldier Diaz had been talking to. The man was a muscular warrior who looked the part of a long time warrior experienced in battles. His strong chiseled facial features melted to almost a fearful expression when Towbar stood before him with his six foot blade covered in the black blood of Goblins.
“Mykal and Towbar, this is Hidtotim. Hid-tote-em, is how he pronounces it,” Captain Diaz introduced them. “He is the leader of what is left. He would be considered a midlevel NCO who now, due to circumstances, just happens to be the ranking soldier of this group. Their commander and other officers and leaders were killed. Some had been killed by those creatures we call AFA,” Diaz explained.
“They also call them UBAH,” Mathis said quietly to get a laugh.
“Excuse me?” Diaz said. He wasn’t angry but if he was wrong he wanted to know the correct name they were using.
“UBAH,” Roy Jr. chuckled. “One of the men called them UBAH, U. B. A. H. for ugly big ass head,” he laughed and made Mykal laugh.
Diaz looked confused since he hadn’t heard that term when it was brought up before.
“Don’t worry about it,” Mykal laughed. “So what were you saying Sir?”
Mathis made a face that showed he wished he would have kept quiet. Diaz didn’t seem to be in a jocular mood.
“Hidtotim said they are grateful for our coming to their rescue and they will in return help us,” Captain Diaz continued while everyone walked on. “Obviously they have never seen weapons like ours. Though he did say he heard of our weapons in the past.”
“In the past?” Mykal asked quietly and hoped everyone remained silent so as to not give up any information that would put them in a bad light.
That statement caught Mykal’s attention and aroused an excitement. He had to be careful what he said. If Zizmon-Tarl’s forces spoke of their weapons on the other side of the world, then that could expose them and maybe make their situation more dangerous. He didn’t think it would have been the soldiers they faced along the river in the gorge because they wouldn’t have been so surprised, ‘and besides he said they heard of them in the past,’ Mykal thought. Before he spoke, Mykal tried to think carefully how to broach the subject without having the party of seventeen soldiers who belonged to the hated Zizmon-Tarl become suspicious and turn on them.
“I did explain to Hidtotim that our weapons are not magic, but we are from another time and place,” Diaz explained.
“How did he take that?” Mykal asked and looked at Hidtotim who spoke to his soldiers in their native tongue. Mykal didn’t like that he couldn’t understand what was being said between the soldiers.
As if Nordad could see the frustrated lack of trust in Mykal’s facial expression he interrupted the conversation for Diaz and Mykal. “The leader and his men are saying to each other how grateful they are that we were here to rescue them,” Nordad announced to ease Mykal’s fears. “They also said they would most assuredly have died when they were trapped by the Goblins. So they are very thankful.”
“Thank you buddy,” Mykal said and nodded to the old magician. He nodded again when Nordad touched his ear as if to say he would listen when they spoke in their native tongue. “Anyways, Captain Diaz, how did he take it when you told him we’re from another time and place?”
“He didn’t respond. I don’t think he grasps the concept. He looked like I was speaking a foreign language when I said that,” Diaz said and had to chuckle. “When we are not on the move so much I will try to explain it better.”
“Maybe we better not,” Mykal hinted. “We’ll talk about it after,” he added and turned to talk with Hidtotim and Diaz moved closer to help if need be. “Hi Hid-tote-em,” Mykal said slowly to pronounce the man’s name correctly. “I’m glad we met up with you men in time to rescue you from the Goblins. I only wish we would have met you sooner so we could have spared you the deaths you suffered at the hands of the Goblins.”
“Thank you Myk-kal,” Hidtotim replied and dipped his head as a sign of respect. “Dee-az informed me that you and Towbar are equal leaders with him,” he added and dipped his head to the giant. “We are very grateful you arrived when you did. The Goblins had a much larger force than I expected,” he said with a low manly sounding voice that would be great for radio. “I am afraid we stumbled into an area that would be close to their lair.”
“Yeah, that’s what it kinda looked like. Do you mind if I ask why you guys are in here? I mean under the mountain?”
“It is a shorter travel than to travel around the mountain. There was seventy-three in our group. It was our turn to return to our home lands after our time of duty in these lands. We tried to save time and it turned out to be a costly miscalculation to make haste. Our group had spent almost two years in these lands and we wanted to return to our homelands as soon as possible. Our first problem arose when we traveled the wrong path and ventured to the fires of Habanna. We lost four brave men who fell into the fiery lake shortly after we entered the mountain. The fires of Habanna,” he repeated.
“Fiery lake?” Mykal asked and looked to Diaz.
“I’m just as confused Mykal. We never encountered any fiery lake or flames of any kind so maybe we just didn’t see the path that went that way, which evi
dently is a great thing.”
“I hear that,” Mykal said and tried to think of where the wrong turn could have been.
“This mountain has many paths and many dangers,” Hidtotim declared. “However, my leader, the great Dand Gulag, the great warrior of our peoples was sure he knew the way to travel that would be safe for us to hasten our return home,” he added with sadness and looked down.
“Where is your leader Dand Gulag?” Mykal asked.
“He and several of our people were attacked by the…” Hidtotim said and the word was hard to understand.
“I don’t understand what you said or even how to repeat the word,” Mykal said with a confused expression.
“In the common tongue the name means ‘make alive again’. They attacked many of our people,” Hidtotim said and shook his head sadly.
“Oh, the AFA,” Mykal said and looked at Diaz.
“UBAH,” Mathis whispered which caused Mykal to snicker.
“Yeah,” Mykal laughed and didn’t want Diaz to be angry at Mathis. Mykal didn’t know what it was about Mathis that made him laugh so much. Mathis didn’t really say anything funny or humorous, but something in the way he said it reminded him of lost friends. “Yeah, the ones we called Area 51 Aliens cuz they got the ‘ugly big ass head’,” he laughed with an added southern accent. He turned and high fived Mathis
Diaz couldn’t help but chuckle at their foolishness. He guessed they needed a little levity to lighten the mood.
“Those creatures attacked and killed some of our people,” Hidtotim said and looked sad. “However, the dead came back to life to feed on the flesh of the living. They do not have their right thinking. They can not be reasoned with. We lost several men to those foul creatures. The next day the men we lost came back to us. We lost our leader Dand Gulag when he tried to reason with his second in command who we thought had been killed the previous day. Now the second in command was standing with the others who had been killed and they wanted to attack us and eat us,” he explained with a great sense of shock and surprise. “Our very close friends turned on us. Dand Gulag, our leader and great warrior, became one of the dead living again. Thankfully we were able to make our escape from their presence. We had forty-five when we became trapped by the Goblin nation. Now we are seventeen.”