Bluid Mountains, East of Marcurix
1500 Hours
Black combat boots crunched steadily over the rough uneven rock. Figures walking in a long weaving line, made their way silently across the grey ground with each attempting to keep their footing on solid rock, less they find themselves falling down the steep cliff beside them. Suddenly the lead figure’s hand shot up, causing the line to halt immediately and the followers to crouch down.
Running his finger lightly over the rock, Captain David Graham let out a steady breath.
“Thirty of them at least,” he murmured “Moving fast, they were in a hurry.”
Lowering his hand he gave the order for his men to fan out, breaking the line to take up a defensive formation among the large rocks and boulders that dotted the mountainside . They aimed their weapons in the direction an attack was most likely to come from, should one come and waited. Lieutenant Mack MacDuff, his second in command, took up position beside the Captain.
“Yer think it’s a trap sir?” Lieutenant MacDuff said to David.
“Maybe,” David replied “These markings don’t match Scot movements, what’s more they’re headed towards the south-east, rather than just south.”
“Think we’ve found ‘em sir?”
“I believe so”
They waited. As they did David found his eyes wandering down the large drop beside them, at the bottom he could clearly see the large winding road that cut its way through the Bluid Mountains as far as his eyes could see. In centuries past, it had once been known as the marble road. It had been a major trading route, forming the eastern side of Marcurix’s border from where traders from all over the continent would pass through. It was easy to see why it had been so vital; the naturally formed path began at the North Sea, passing all the way into the south of the continent, providing the only large scale route from north to south for centuries. More than one war had been fought to control the once lucrative route and while its importance had diminished during the last century, it was still a major trade route in the land.
His mission however had little to do with the road. Over the past four weeks, Eastern Command had gotten reports of many foreign nationals being abducted in the eastern ranges of the Bluid. Given this was beyond Marcurix’s borders the reports were dismissed, the countries in question would have to deal with the problem. However Command had become alarmed when traders started reporting sporadic gun battles occurring within the mountains, even more so when it was reported Scots had been involved. When attempted contact had failed, command mobilised Rifle company A to investigate the disturbance and hopefully put an end to them before they turned into something bigger. In all 200 men had been sent under his command with 100 of these sent to secure an old outpost to use as a base of operations and supply. David was currently leading the remaining men across the highlands, on the eastern side of the marble road where most of the reported gun battles had taken place.
He had hoped to meet at least one Scots clan by now, in hopes they would shed light upon the disturbances. Yet despite the area being major route for Scots travel he had yet to even see a single one, something that worried him greatly.
“Sir.”
A whispered warning from Lieutenant MacDuff broke him from his thoughts.
Men were approaching from the far end of the valley in front of them. He counted at least forty. They were spread out in a line, wearing various forms of clothing that, like his own uniform, helped them blend into the grey rocks around them. Even from the distance, he could see they were armed David drew himself up to his full height, which at 5’8 was a little shorter than he liked.
“Move out.” He whispered, raising his rifle
Slowly and silently the men raised themselves from their positions and crept towards the unknowing travellers before them.
