Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 84: Veilstone City Under Siege

"When we returned to Veilstone City to get a hold of Looker, we had been completely barricaded from the city. Team Galactic had completely taken over, blockading the harbour with several of their ships, and several shipping tankers outfitted with heavy artillery. The reinforcements from Snowpoint couldn't get anywhere close, and so used their Pokémon to create a thick blanket of fog and hide themselves just out of range of the Galactic gunboats. We set up a small base camp up in the mountains outside of Veilstone. Everyone from Lake Verity was there as well as several well-trained veterans from Celestic Town who had come to free their High Priestess and leader. Even Rort had returned with some of his workers who had taken 'time off' to help free Veilstone City from Team Galactic. The siege of Veilstone was close to beginning...what's funny is, it wouldn't be the last time in my life I had led a veritable army into battle..."

The camp was bustling with trainers from Celestic, Gym Leaders, Cynthia, Valentina, Rort and his workers, and even Professor Rowan and his grandchildren. Sam and Alyssandra were at the head of it all, organizing and planning the logistics of attacking Veilstone City head on.

Sam had been delaying the strike for days, waiting to hear back from Looker before he struck.

Looker was supposed to get Sam and Alyssandra inside the Team Galactic Headquarters.

The plan had been to get inside the HQ while everyone attacked the Veilstone City from the outside, distracting the grunts, and Snowpoint's attackers would strike from the sea.

But things were starting to get tense as the waiting drew on.

Supplies were starting to run low on the boats, as Sam's Staraptor had relayed—a message tied to its foot from Candice herself.

Those in the camp could go foraging for food, but those as sea were not so lucky, especially since they had to stay hidden within the fogs, so they weren't shot out of the water.

"One more day," pleaded Sam with Cynthia and Rowan, "Just give me one more day to get in touch with Looker. If he doesn't respond by dawn, we'll strike immediately."

"We can't keep delaying just for Looker," warned Rowan, "We'll lose the element of surprise—their patrols get closer every day. Team Galactic is getting close to their plans, and if we take too long, they'll be up Mt. Coronet and summoning the Creator Gods before we can stop them."

"While I'd love to believe in Looker, Professor Rowan is right," sighed Cynthia, "There's too much at stake—too much time sensitivity here."

"Dawn, it's all I'm asking for," pressed Sam. He wasn't backing down.

Dawn Oak poked her head into Sam's tent.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"I wasn't—" started Sam.

"I know," smiled Dawn, "But we've got some...visitors here. They claim they know you."

"Did they give a name?" asked Sam.

Dawn nodded. "Alexander, Alan and Anthony," recited Dawn, "They call themselves the Hiker Brothers."

Sam smiled.

He exited the tent, leaving Rowan and Cynthia alone as he went to greet his friends.

Going to the edge of the camp's palisade, Sam saw the Hiker Brothers beam as they saw Sam approach.

Alyssandra soon joined, coming to assist Sam in greeting the brothers.

"We heard what our cousin was doing," sighed Anthony, "We've come to help you bring him down. He's got our grandfather in there."