Chapter 322: Faulty Gear
Salem looked at the main entrance from their position. It would be more appropriate to call it the mine entrance. There were exactly three entrances into the mine according to the bandit’s memory. The first was the one at the base of the mountain which was further down in the ridge below them. It was the original mine that went into this mountain.
As the original mine entrance it had railroad tracks leading out of it and a few wooden shacks around. While the bandits had made a few more additions. Including a watch tower that did not even peek out over the surrounding rock walls, but they did look over the buildings and the small fence that the bandits had constructed.
The second entrance she knew about was up on a ledge higher up the mountain. They have some guards up there but it is lighter since it is difficult to climb that high. They use that area to look out and spot enemies. It was also the reason Salem made sure they were taking a roundabout route to avoid being seen from the scouts that were undoubtedly up there. Fortunately it was night time and they were riding in the dark so it was not that much of a worry.
Salem looked to the third and far more hidden entrance that leads into the mines. It was far more hidden in a cave entrance that they could not see at the moment. But as she quietly directed her horse the others followed until she arrived at a large set of rocks that were blocking a downward slope that only got darker.
Salem quietly dismounted and used the scope of the laser rifle to see what she could. Standing there lazily at the entrance of the mountain cave was a single bandit who was smoking something. Salem pulled back as she had to figure out a way to take him out.
"Okay, you promised to explain it to us. I think now is the time." Atlas pointed out in a quiet whisper that did not break up the quiet noises of insects around them.
"In order to break the shields you just need to hit them a bunch. They over heat easily as they disperse the energy. One big shot will do it as well. But if you switch your rifles to stun you can fire a bunch and shut down the shielding." Salem whispered back and then looked out the side of the rock. "In fact, they might even explode if I am right about the design." She informed them.
"How do you know about these things?" Yuti asked as she double checked she had all her weapons. She was sporting the laser rifle the same the rest of them had. But she also had a combat knife, a laser pistol as a sidearm with a setting for both kill and stun. Then the weapons she always carried with her, a Katana that was hidden on her back.
"When I was at Echo Base I saw many experimental technologies. Some of them never left the development stage. Like those personal shielding devices. They would overheat too easily and hit with enough energy they also exploded. So the idea was scrapped since it was not that popular to begin with." Salem explained in a rushed whisper as she decided a simple plan was most effective to take this guy out.
"So how do these guys have one?" Atlas asked in suspicion and a bit too loud. Salem had to check and make sure the bandit did not hear Atlas before she responded.
Once she was sure the bandit was still oblivious she shook her head. Then she shrugged to show she did not know. Then she realized it was too dark so they might not have known that she was even shrugging her shoulders. "I have no idea." She informed them.
"Should I back up and watch the horses?" Jebidiah asked. He had been on the verge of asking something the entire trip. But it would seem like he knew better. He was probably going to ask if he could join them in their attack.
"Not yet." Salem shook her head. "Atlas, you and Yuti are going to sneak around to the front entrance and go in through there. Jebidiah, set up the horses near a covering that the higher ledge up there cannot see you from." Salem pointed upwards at an outcropping that was barely visible from their view. "I assume that is how they caught you last time." She explained as she stood up and to the edge of the rock. "I will go in through this entrance and retrieve our target and hopefully find out what the hell is going on."
"Good luck." Jebidiah whispered as they moved back up the small incline and away. With the horses quietly following them.
Salem looked back down the slope. It quickly went down and into the cave entrance. But there was so much open space between them that she could not sneak through. She would just have to walk right up.
So that is what she did. She moved along the shadows on one side and moved quietly. Having the laser rifle ready to fire a burst of energy if she needed to. She made it all the way up to the side of the rock when she heard voices.
"Time to switch. Anything to note?" One voice asked. His voice was a bit more muffled so he was deeper in the cave.
She watched from her position as the guard she had been watching looked back into the cave before tossing down the thing he was smoking and crushing it under foot. "Just in time, that was my last smoke." The guard she had been watching answered. "Nothing as far as I can tell. But I heard that Jones spotted a herd of the bugs earlier in the morning. So keep an eye out for them just in case."
"Haa... Jones always sees something." The new guard chuckled, "go on. I can watch until the next watch comes to relieve me. But you are probably going with the others in the morning. I heard they plan to burn down the village this time. Apparently the boss seeing her mirror has her spooked."
"Noted, night." The guard she had been watching walked off and the new guard took up his position.
Salem waited for a few minutes until she was sure he was alone. Then she used her telekinesis to pull his smoke from his hands and cause it to roll closer to her. "Damn." He stepped over, coming further out of the cave.
He leaned over to pick it up. But he stopped when he saw a boot that the smoke rolled against. He slowly looked up and then chuckled nervously when he saw her.
She slammed her knee into his face. Flinching as there was a momentary blue light covering him. She then grabbed the back of his shirt and threw him into the wall. This time it flashed again but there was a burst of sparks followed by the crunching of bones. Then the man fell to the ground and groaned in pain.
Salem walked over and picked up by the hair before slamming his head against the ground. There was a louder cracking noise as his body went still and Salem could feel his mind slip away.