Preparing for the hijacking (2)

Blood is watching all this and from the increasing speed of her tail slapping the ground, I don't think I can afford anymore training.

"Shaman, any word of the other groups?"

"They are on their way here as we speak."

Navi, I need some intel. The more accurate, the better.

{I assume you want a place for your ambush? Nearby and with a train coming through in a couple of hours?}

Based on your question, you already have what I need.

{We strive to provide our employees with all the tools necessary to fulfill their missions. Also, being Y is very concerned with the success of your mission. Your approach is the only one that seems applicable on a large scale.}

Am I getting a bonus?

{Hijack that train and you can bet you are getting a fat bonus. Now, the spot we believe to be best suited has been marked on your dungeon map.}

I open the map and nod. That place looks good.

The shaman is quietly waiting by my side. My continued silence was probably mistaken as me receiving a message from being Y. I suppose what I did get isn't too different except for the presence of Navi as a messenger between me and being Y.

"Have the other groups rerouted. We are going to prepare for an ambush."

"Already?"

"I would like to give you more time to prepare but my companion is getting impatient. I can't make her stay against her will and she's strong enough to make it worth going a bit early. Also, I don't want to waste too much time in case this doesn't work out."

"As you command."

The shaman gathers the orcs and we set off towards the location marked on my map. Blood looks pleased that we are finally moving again as she slithers up next to me.

"What's the plan?"

"For now I plan on three waves of attack on the train. The first will be a distraction, the second will be boarding through the trains engine and you will be leading the third wave that charges the train that will hopefully be immobile at that point. If you can, try not to break the whole train but just make an opening for the orcs to enter."

{A train just tried passing the place you set up your speed bump before. They managed to detect it and successfully hit the breaks but it was far closer than usual. I've changed some of the detailed markings on your map accordingly.}

That's good. Blood seems satisfied with me having a plan but she isn't quite happy with the content of it.

"So all I can do is make an opening?"

"Your size doesn't exactly allow you to enter the train. Unless you have some way of forcing the adventurers out of the train, you won't get much of a chance to fight."

"So if I can force them out of the train I get to fight?"

"Sure."

"I'll do that then."

"Just please don't murder all the orcs accompanying you. We can't get more of them easily since I called for almost all of the ones in the area."

"I'll try."

I suppose that is all I can ask of her.

We arrive at the ambush location and I begin to prepare my set up. I create another bump under the tracks and begin to make a few earth bunkers along the train tracks ahead of the bump.

"These are?"

The shaman observes me while I create the earth bunkers and questions their purpose.

"The trains can tell if there are monsters ahead. These bunkers will make them focus on the ground and hopefully they will overlook the orcs hiding in the treetops. Have the orcs I trained climb the trees, the others are to split. Half will man the bunkers and the other half will attack with Blood. Got it?"

"It shall be done. What will you be doing?"

"I plan to create a cloud of sand to block their sight and then… I'll improvise. You do the same, improvise whenever things don't go as planned. Your goal is to take over the train and nothing else. If the adventurers run, leave that to Blood, she'll get them once they are out of the train. Also, warn the orcs you allocate to Blood's group to keep their distance from her and not irritate her."

The shaman nods and walks off to prepare as I keep making bunkers and create more spears for the orcs who will be climbing trees.

A few hours later, the other groups arrive and we are approaching the big showdown. The shaman I originally communicated with welcomes the new groups and divides them according to my instructions.

I personally oversee the group that is sent to man my earth bunkers. I explain to the how to take cover and that they should try to board the train from the side if possible. I quickly notice that for these orcs, telling them something doesn't have half the effect of showing them. They more or less imitate the way I use my bunkers so that should work.

With the bunkers set, I check on Blood's group and see them all standing behind her eyeing her warily. I don't know what the shaman has told them but they are keeping their distance.

Finally my group has climbed the trees along the train tracks. They are visible from below if you know they are there but a quick glance will make you overlook them. Apparently, the chief of this entire tribe has made up his mind to join the orcs in the tree tops. He hasn't gone through my drills but I wager that as the tribe's chief he should be able to manage.

I can see the train getting closer on the map and vaguely make out a column of smoking in the distance above the trees. No time to be nervous. This train needs to be hijacked.

It's show time!