The Dark Edge Chronicles - Clan War

Salt Palace

As expected in a northern European human city, Esbjerg was a clean, well-laid out place, with two hundred years of history and advancement on display. Which meant the enclave wouldn't be located in the middle of all that human activity. It needed to be somewhere a little more hidden, where races of the Dark Edge could come and go without very much notice. And where the enclave could be hidden by structure and debris.

Which naturally put it down on the shore, close to the massive docks that served Esbjerg's fishing and shipping industries. Running for ten kilometers along the shore, the docks and the adjoining ship-building area offered plenty of places to hide the enclave entrance and its upper levels. The rest of the enclave sprawled in several directions underground, a sprawl that offered the greatest challenge Lash's team would face once they got inside.

A quick scan of the handful of smaller islands that clustered close to shore to ensure they didn't hold any surprises for the team, then the two Nighthawks eased in close to the docks, picking a spot near the southern extent that saw little traffic in the evening as it catered to the shipping fleet, which, with dusk's approach, was docked.

Down came Two's ramp then Lash was leading his team down and onto the dock before the Nighthawk wheeled away, its ramp lifting into its belly as it went.

"Viper One, Nighthawk One," the big vampire said as he and his team eased their way down the quay and towards the darkness of the big warehouses standing off the concrete apron of the receiving area. "We are transitioning across the receiving area and into the warehouses. Time to enclave entrance: five minutes."

"Copy five minutes, Viper One," Tanner replied over the comms.

The entrance to the enclave was at the back of the second warehouse from the end, according to the map. Swinging around the first warehouse, Lash spotted it. A quick gesture to the rest of the team and they tactically advanced to the corner of the first warehouse to give the entrance a bit of reconnaissance before they attempted the actual entry.

At first it appeared to be a collection of excess materials and supplies: netting, piles of wood, blocks of concrete, assembled there for use at a later date. Only a sharp eye that knew what it was looking for would see the triangular opening between the stacked lumber and the concrete blocks, partially obscured by a random drape of netting.

As their eyes found the opening, they watched a pair of vampires walk casually out of the gloom and into it without pause. Lash quickly snapped up a closed fist to hold them. Did they need to break the team in half to decrease the numbers actually attempting to enter?

A single vampire followed the first after a good five minutes, then another pair of what could be chameloids went next. Which settled it for the big vampire.

Lash turned to the rest of the team.

"Looks like the locals have recreation facilities in this enclave that they visit for entertainment. Since we have equal numbers here, we'll approach as if we're couples. Ballan, you and Absinthe first."

"Are you sure it can't be you and me, Wolf?" the tattooed vampiress asked with a lifted brow. "I mean, Ballan is okay. But you, sir, are a specimen. The other girls would be so jealous!"

"Don't bother, Abs," Narcist said with a dismissive gesture. "He's way too cheerful for you!"

That triggered a soft round of laughter, with even Lash cracking a half smile. Then he was sobering.

"Back to the task at hand," he said. "Ballan, Absinthe. Then Truk and Narcist, followed by Narya and myself. Don't look hurried or like you're running a recon. But run a recon. Share your observations. Be vigilant. And go."