Crisis at Garmil's Gate - 06

Sir Ramsey Hennepin and Sibley stood across an open room from Master Iser as the alarm klaxons sounded.

"That alarm is your workers rising in revolt against you, Master Iser." Sir Ramsey said, "They acquired arms and ordinance, and they are intent on seizing all ends of the Guild's operations here."

Master Iser looked out over the courtyard as the attack commenced on the gate to the Guild's compound. "And what, Sir Ramsey, shall you do about it?"

"Let your men handle it. This is, after all, a Guild matter. Do you not agree, Master Iser, or have your superiors in the Guild mislead me? We are but guests, as you are keen to remind us, fulfilling a courtesy requested of the Guild by the Court of Stars."

Iser watched the revolting miners blow the gate down and massacre his men manning its defenses. Now pouring forth into the Guild's compound, the miners poured forth fire from men and machine alike indiscriminately into anything that wasn't themselves. The screams of the slain reached far up to where Iser stood without need of amplification.

Sir Ramsey kept his eyes on Iser, but Sibley scanned the room around them. The elder warrior caught sight of several of Iser's men quietly coming in and moving around them.

"Your guards seem to be handling such an event as well as expected." Sir Ramsay said, "Don't you agree, Master Iser?"

The armed worker mecha made quick work of the powered armor troops deployed against them, and the infantry then stormed the buildings where more fire echoed forth followed by the screams of the dead and dying and explosions as hand grenades and stolen mining explosives broke open hardened portals.

Master Iser turned away from the scene below to face Sir Ramsey. "I do, Paladin."

Sir Ramsey saw Iser's hands drop to the man's sides, and he put his own to his hips. "What did Red Eyes offer you?"

"What the Guild never delivered upon: power." Iser said, and a beam sword hilt fell out of the man's sleeve into his fighting hand. "Power, and moreso than that, respect."

Sir Ramsey glanced at Sibley, who nodded in response. "I see, Master Iser. So this revolt is yours then? No wonder you wished us gone."

Bright red lines of light now appeared about Master Iser, drawing into place a suit of form-fitting armor. "And go you shall, Paladin." The light outline solidified into a complete armored shell, a pair of red eyes flashed out the visor slit, and Iser's beam sword ignited with a brilliant red blade.

Sibley and Ramsey noticed the men about them follow their master's lead. Now a dozen red-armored men with red beam swords surrounded them. Sibley and Ramsey reached down to their sword belts, drew their own beam swords, and activated their own armored suits: shining golden shells, with Ramsey's emblazoned with his heraldry, and ignited their sun-golden swords.

"Six to one, Sibley." Ramsey said, "I am flattered."

"I'm disappointed, sir. I thought it'd be at least 20 to one by now."

Iser strode forward and thrust his blade at Ramsey. "Enough talk! Guards, kill them!"