4 Chapter 4: Gathering

Selena arrived on the fifteenth floor. She met with the regulars who set up barricades in anticipation of the arrival of the Umayar invaders. A tall bearded regular in his khaki uniform greeted her and said, "Ma'am, we're proud to serve alongside you!" 

Selena asked the regular and said, "Tell me of the situation."

The regular nodded and said, "We evacuated the passengers to their makeshift shelters on the lower floors."

"Any sign of breech from the invaders?" Selena asked again.

"As of now, not yet. We hear of attempts of breaking in from the doors we locked in from the inside." The regular replied.

"I see! I need to go to the cargo hold. Can you help me out?" Selena asked the regular.

"The cargo hold is far from here. Since we locked the access point, you may need to detour." The regular replied.

"How far is it?" Selena asked.

The regular called one of his companions, "That is Aaron ma'am! He will lead you to the cargo hold!"

"It's a pleasure to work with you, ma'am!" Aaron said to Selena.

Selena nodded and looked at her fellow soldiers behind her. Aaron continued to speak.

"We have decided to shut down the direct access to the cargo room because of the enemy. To get there, we will navigate to the other floors. Ten floors down and then climb up one floor. For more details, you would need to follow me, ma'am." Aaron ended his explanation.

"Very well, please lead us there!" Selena said and followed Aaron.

Aaron led Selena and the other Europan soldiers to the Cargo Hold. They navigated through the alleys of the lower floors. They descended to the lower floor until they reached the twenty-fifth floor. The lower floor is where the dungeons were located. All the cells were open, which made Selena order everyone to stop.

"Aaron, what happened here?" Selena asked.

"I don't know ma'am. It could be that the warden had released the prisoners or someone from the inside did." Aaron replied. 

"Why would they do such a thing?" Selena asked.

"I don't know. I don't visit here quite often." Aaron replied.

All of a sudden, a group of prisoners appeared in front of them. A menacing-looking man carrying a large mace was in front of them. Selena and the others aimed their rifles at them.

"We are not enemies. We are trying to save our skins here!" The menacing-looking man said.

"You are... the assistant warden!" Aaron identified him.

"Please, we all want to get out of here alive. Let us not resort to bloodshed." The assistant warden carrying his hammer replied.

Selena decided to negotiate with the assistant warden and said, "We mean you no harm. However, I cannot also decide your freedom after this. I agree that we help each other for a common goal."

The assistant warden nodded and replied, "What help shall you need? We will gladly offer our help."

Selena replied, "As of now, we lack people. I need all able-bodied prisoners who could aid the defense to meet with the defenders on the fifteenth floor. I also need five who are good with rifles to come with me."

"Sounds fair enough!" The assistant warden replied, "Allow me a moment 

to talk with the prisoners with me."

After the lengthy discussion with the prisoners, twenty-five prisoners volunteered to join the defense on the fifteenth floor. Another five agreed to go with Selena's group. 

"What about you?" Selena asked the assistant warden.

"We will go with the rest of the evacuees." The assistant warden replied.

Luca also volunteered to join Selena's team but was declined by the Assistant Warden, "You are not fit enough to fight boy. You have to come with us with the refugees!"

"What's your name young man?" Selena asked.

"It's Luca ma'am, Luca Mancini... I may not be a good shot. But I am good with my hands and... fixing stuff." Luca said.

"We need someone like him in our group. I'll make sure he doesn't get into needless fights. I'll take him with him!" Selena replied to the Assistant Warden.

"If that's what you wish, boy!" The Assistant Warden replied.

"Do you have an armory here or rifles?" Selena asked.

The Assistant Warden guided Selena and her group to the armory and was able to equip the volunteers with the necessary equipment. They gathered ammunition and several tools and equipment. Luca grabbed a revolver for his self-defense. 

"You're going to need that!" Selena suggested.

"Y-yes!" Luca replied.

"Have you used a gun before?" Selena asked.

"A bit, for leisure shooting and practice," Luca replied.

"Make sure you have the right amount of bullets with you." Selena handed him more ammunition for his use.

"T-thanks!" Luca replied.

"If you need anything just tell me!" Selena replied and organized her group.

"Listen, I don't like slackers! If you believe that you are fit to be with my group, come with me. If you believe you'll drag us down, you may back down! We will leave in ten minutes." Selena said to her group.

After ten minutes, the group left and navigated through the floors inside the land wagon. Aaron led the group and climbed to the upper floors of the Cargo Hall where Selene believed the illegal cargo was. 

Alexi and his group arrived at the fifteenth floor where he was met by a regular defending the area. He immediately identified them as allies by their clothing.

Henry approached the regular and said to him, "I need to talk to your superior officer!"

The regular replied, "I am the superior officer here. I am Maximilian a Captain of the Regulars. What do you need of me?" 

Henry looked at Alexi then continued, "This man with me is the Prince land the last heir of the Dynellan Family. Aside from respect, consider yourselves lucky to have us by your side today!"

The regulars doesn't like the tone and the words coming from Henry's mouth. The leader of the regulars, Maximilian replied to him and said, "With all due respect sir, we respect you, your boss and whoever you present yourself to be. If you want to help us with the defense. We have a space right here."

Seeing the location where Maximilian was pointing out, Henry was aggravated, to put them in such a disadvantageous and dirty position was an insult to him and his boss, Alexi.

"Look here! We want to help as much as we can, but for our prince Alexi to be dirtied and ridiculed by your kind is not something I would suggest from you!" Henry threatened Maximilian.

Alexi broke the fight and said to Henry, "That's enough, Henry!" 

Looking at the Lion crest donned in Alexi's chest, Maximilian genuflected and said, "I am sorry sir, I should have minded my tongue!"

"It's alright, I forgive you!" Alexi replied and looked at Adela, "We only have ten additional men. Can you look for a vantage point where we can delay the Umayar advance in this place?"

Adela replied, "The metal doors seemed to have been sealed, but we were able to enter through a different one. I suggest we seal all the doors to prevent any further breeches."

Maximilian disagreed and said, "It's not a good idea sir, if we are to do that then escape would be impossible should the odds turn against us."

"I agree with him!" Alexi replied and then looked at the other regulars. "Where are the others?" 

"Some were fighting at the deck and the other floors as we speak. We have around two hundred that were guarding the non-combatants in their makeshift shelters." Maximilian answered.

"I see!" Alexi replied to Maximilian. "Don't worry, we are at your side. We will aid you with the defense!"