One year before the anukai pact.
The jungles of the island were dense with thick green undergrowth. The thick foliage did well to hide the presence of the warriors as they silently traveled. Mourn was positive her forces hadn’t been detected. The operation was going smoothly for the moment; like any battle plan though, it wasn’t perfect and eventually it would start to fall apart.
A trickle of sweat slid down to the small of her back as she stood in front of her warriors. While some of her sisters pulled guard; she organized her squads and gave orders to their leaders.
“The Morigan herself ordered this operation so failure is not an option. We are to secure these islands for The Morigan clan and Le Shay, no if ands or buts. Destroy anyone or thing that stands in our way. According to logistics these islands are supposed to be uninhabited. Land in Le Shay is precious as you all know; this opportunity is too good to pass up. We are now on the largest of the islands in the chain. Do not fail me, is that understood!”
The next evening her scouts returned bearing ill news. The Shadow Tau where establishing an installation to the northwest. She dismissed the scouts with a gesture. The Tau are ranged specialists and renowned for their iron will. They will make for a fine opponent she thought. Her orders still stood and she wasn’t about to be deterred.
Mourn drew her white blade, its sixteen inch bone white blade glinted in the evening sun. Its construction is her clan’s most guarded secret. In its handle is a heating element that can super heat the blade in seconds turning it to a bright cherry red and the blades are laser sharpened to maximize its killing capacity.
Later that night she stood concealed in the shadows of the jungle at the edge of the tau base. It was a small base, but it was impressive none the less. It was set to maximize the natural defenses of the terrain and was well manned. As she looked she noticed that their communication tower was still under construction. With the jungle around it, the Tau’s communications could only work for a short distance. This vital advantage would not be wasted, Mourn knew she would need to act quickly if she had any hope of victory; they must not be able to summon reinforcements.
A voice came from the shadows to her left. “All is ready mistress.” Said Ari, Mourn’s second in command. She was young, only fifteen; but she showed great promise and with the right guidance she would go far. Mourn turned to look at her but even with her helmet on she only saw darkness. The huntresses are equipped with advanced stealth suites. That conceals them from most kinds of visionary detection equipment. Their helmet could change between night and thermal imaging.
“We’ll start our operation on the morrow.” was all she needed to say.
The next day passed without incident. The air was full of tension as the huntresses worked to fortify their position. The truth though was it was more to keep them busy, keep them focused on something other than the impending carnage.
That night they set an ambush just west of the enemy installation. Her scouts had been keeping an eye on the enemy, tracking their movements. The night was cool but still the humidity clung to the air. She slipped her helmet on, her suit started to cool her. Mourn lay on a branch overlooking the ambush area. Her sisters were all in position and ready. She knew once the fighting started it would be her job to keep order; her sisters would become blood drunk quickly. While she lay there she activated the heating element in her white blade and thought of the other two ambushes that would happen this night, she prayed for no casualties but knew better. The first mission was always the most stressful.
A branch broke in the distance drawing her from her reverie. The first enemy warrior came around the ancient gnarled trunk of a tree some fifty feet away. He hacked at the undergrowth with a machete clearing a path for his fellows that followed at a distance behind him. The forward warrior passed underneath Mourn and as he did she sent a signal to two of her sisters, they knew what to do. Quick as a lightning strike they broke cover, the warrior barely had time to register what was happening as the first huntress flashed by. His head tumbled from his shoulders and landed on the soft moss covered floor with barely a noise, his body was carried off by the other huntress as their paths crossed into the foliage before it could fall.
The rest of the Tau warriors made their way down the cleared path, and then stopped when they realized the path ended. The foremost warrior looked around confused for a moment, then his gaze fell on the severed head that lay on the ground in front of him. He stumbled backwards running into his commander.”Sssir!” but it was far too late.
With one final gesture the huntresses engaged. With lightning fast strikes they slew the troopers, no mercy and no prisoners. Mourn watched the chaos beneath her, the warrior that had stumbled back gazed around at the carnage taking place around him after a moment he realized he still had a weapon and bought it to bear, Mourn jumped from her perch. He fired and a scream followed, rage coursed through Mourn as she landed silently behind him. He turned and yelled as he tried to bring his weapon around. Mourn grabbed it deflecting it so the bullets hit the ground, she let loose a horrible war cry and brought her blade down. The warrior’s eyes widened. “Die, why won’t you die.” He whimpered. It was then that he realized he no longer held his weapon; he no longer had hands to do so. With a scream he ran throwing his cauterized stumps into the air.
One left alive to tell the tale.
The reports came not to long after they had returned to base. Two dead, five wounded one of which wouldn’t see the sun set and thirty three enemy casualties. The ambushes had been a success, three maimed enemy warriors had made it back to their base and Mourn could smell the fear they were spreading from here.
“Mistress you look displeased?” Ari said as she walked in.
“No, I’m just thinking.” Mourn mumbled
“What of?” Ari gave her a quizzical look.
“How many more will we lose before this is through…” she sighed.