Chapter 7: Devil Maw

Marcus's assumption was correct, he did not sleep well at all. After the gunshots ended, he laid in his sleeping bag for hours, tossing and turning. When he finally fell asleep, he was quickly awoken a half hour later. They quickly tore down camp, and got back in the transport. As they were driving, Marcus had a hard time keeping his eyes open. The comfortable seat of the transport, and the vibrations of the road quickly put Marcus in a deep, dreamless sleep. 

After a few hours, Marcus is nudged awake by Bulwark.

"Were here New Blood, get ready to move."

When Marcus stepped out of the transport, he found himself in the middle of hundreds of people running left and right. Some were getting in, and out of truck's like him. Some people were directing traffic, ferrying vehicle further in to the compound and others out the gate.

The gate and wall were massive. the gate was made from one solid piece of metal, wide and tall enough to fit four transport trucks side by side. Two towers are flanking the gate, with guards stationed on top. The wall's are about three stories tall and made out of concrete, with razor wire on top, guard towers stood tall every hundred yards or so. 

Focusing on the people around him, most of the them were not dressed like Wolf and the others. They wore grey fatigues, some that were handling heavy equipment, or repairing vehicles just had the grey pants with a white undershirt. After watching the organized chaos in front of him for awhile, he turns to Bulwark.

"Where are we?"

"This is the staging area. Everything coming in or out of Devil Maw is checked in, and processed here. From Red Scarfs going out, or coming back from a mission, to resources and traveling suppliers."

"Traveling 'Suppliers' not merchants?"

"When we complete contracts we are usually paid in credits. However we also accept resources as rewards as well. Maybe its a large deposit of food for a certain task, or a long standing security contract in exchange for a continuous stream of supplies. That being said, we also do get merchants that stop by from time to time, though that is rare."

They talk while walking into a large building on the left side of the staging area. The room is a spacious lobby with multiple sitting areas and a reception desk in the middle of the room flanked by two elevators. Bulwark walks up to the well dressed woman behind the desk.

"Red Scarf Bulwark, 4th Company. I'm here to drop of New Blood Marcus for orientation."

The lady nods and talks into a device on her desk then points at a nearby chair. Bulwark then turns to Marcus.

"Alright New Blood wait here for a few minutes and someone will arrive to lead you through orientation. They will tell you more about this place, where your allowed, and where you will be staying. As for me I got to report back to the Captain. See you around New Blood."

"Yea, thanks for keeping me company."

Marcus watches Bulwark leaves then sits down in the chair and waits. Marcus shifts around in the chair, it isn't as comfortable as the transports.

After sitting there for a while, the elevator opens up and a shorter man in gray fatigues, with glasses walks into the lobby, sees Marcus, and walks up to him.

"Hello there! My name is Alan, and i'll be your guide through orientation. I'll be showing you around Devil Maw, and then show you to your bunk."

"Alan? I thought everyone was given a callsign?"

It's subtle, Marcus sees that Alans smile twitches a little.

"Ah, Well you see Marcus, callsigns are given to only 'true' Red Scarfs that pass the harsh training regimine. I'm part of the support personnel of the mercenary company, specifically the logistics division. Most of the support staff are recruited from people that can't complete, or fail the training. Other than people that come to the Devil Maw to work in a particular division, of course."

Marcus nods, 'So that's why he looked a little upset.'

"While Red Scarf Mercenary Company is composed of roughly 1,500 active Red Scarfs, there are also more than 10,000 support personnel, which goes to show the difficulty of the training."

"10,000 people?! That's practically a small city!"

"Indeed, the Red Scarfs are the largest mercenary company in the Drylands, and to maintain our influence in the territory requires a lot of manpower. There are mechanics, weapon smiths, doctors, researchers, trainers, diplomats and of course logistics. Without any of that, the mercenaries in the field wouldn't be able to operate as effectively as we do today."

Alan then went on to show Marcus the layout of Devil Maw. There was the staging area just west of the main gate. To the east of the main gate, is the reception building. All guests are received here. Any incoming resources, and supplies brought through the staging area is also required to be documented and approved through reception.

Leaving reception, Alan and Marcus continue down the side walk further into the compound.

Past the reception building is large marketplace. Traveling merchants vetted through reception, and permanent businesses with long standing contracts are allowed to sell their wares here.

Above the staging area on the right side of the main road is a massive garage and factory complex, for making, and maintaining the various vehicles the Red Scarfs use on mission's.

Continuing down the road past the marketplace Is the large training facility used to train the next generation of Red Scarfs, of course any personnel can use any unoccupied facilities to stay in top form during their days off.

Opposite the training facilities and above the garage is the weapons, and armor manufacturing, and then past that building is a large hospital/medical wing. Further west past the main facilities is the residential sector, where most personnel live, outside of the new bloods, and the leaders of the mercenary company.

"Well where do they stay?"

"The new bloods stay in the barracks past the training facility while the lead staff, captains, and commander all stay in there."

At the end of the road is a fenced off section of the compound extending all the way to the east and west concrete walls. A guard booth block the entrance down the main road. Past the fence is a large standalone mountain. The large concrete walls surrounding the compound ends embedded in the sheer rock face. And in the center of the mountain is a 10x10 meter steel bunker door.

As Marcus marvel's at the largest rock he had ever seen, Alan continues to explain.

"The bunker was made by the pre-war military. It's said that the people who established the Red Scarf Mercenaries were the future generations of the military forces stationed here. It's the most secure place in Devil Maw, hence why the most important figures reside their."

Alan turns to look at Marcus to find he zoned out a while ago. Shaking his head he pats Marcus on the back.

"Alright New Blood that's it for orientation. Don't worry about remembering everything right away, you'll figure it all out in time. Now, let's get you settled in at the barracks, shall we?"