Demigods of SHIELD

Battle of the Hill

Artemis crouched down next to Gillian and motioned for the hunters to take cover amongst the trees behind her.

The group had reached the round and flat top of the steep hill that they knew the monster army would have to climb to reach them. The hill was dotted with trees and large rock boulders creating an uneven mess of cover and concealment.

Artemis peered down the hill and was immediately able to spot the monster army as the large force made their way through the woods, not bothering to try and conceal themselves.

As Artemis peered down the hill she spotted a tall man in dark battle armor who radiated power. As Artemis watched this man she thought she saw the man pause and look up the hill towards where Artemis and the others were.

Artemis wasn't sure if who she assumed was Prometheus was actually able to see her but she knew that the monster force could sence her power and she quickly moved back so that she was canceled by the crest of the hill.

As Artemis withdrew herself from the crest of the hill she glanced over at Gillian who was observing the area around her, looking deep in thought while Hannah was observing the monster army through the rifle scope mounted on her Mk. 14 DMR.

"Looks like there are about two dozen hellhounds, maybe twenty rouge centaurs, ten cyclopses, fifteen dracaenas, and three Gorgons in the lead element and its looks like our target is in the just behind them." Hannah said as she also withdrew herself from the crest of the hill

"What is the plan boss?" Ramone said looking over at Gillian as he clicked the fire selector on his rifle to burst fire mode.

Gillian glanced back at the hunters before turning the Artemis

"Lady Artemis, can I use you and your hunters or do you want to work independently?" Gillian asked cautiously, she had a plan but she couldn't be sure that Artemis would follow along. Artemis and her hunters may be on the list of people that can be trusted but Gillian was well aware of how unpredictable gods can be, even at the best of times.

Artemis pursed her lips and looked Gillian in the eyes trying to judge what she was thinking.

"What did you have in mind?" Artemis asked after a brief pause

'I would like you to take a few of your hunters and take up position a few yards down the hill, make it look like your scouting them out." explained as a brief look of relief washed over Gillian's face "Once they've seen you, conduct a fighting withdrawal up the hill, once you crest the hill take cover behind those rocks. Once the monsters crest the hill my team and rest of your hunters will engage them. I'll set my team and the rest of your hunters in a horseshoe formation around the crest of the hill" Gillian continued pointing to the rock formation she wanted Artemis to take cover behind and the general area the rest of the group would be placed

All in all, Artemis thought it wasn't a bad plan

"The enemy likely already knows that I am here" Artemis pointed out as she pulled out her bow "won't that make them more cautious when they see me retreating"

"I'm counting on them knowing you are here, with how powerful your scent is, they are unlikely to detect myself and my team. They'll probably guess the rest of your hunters are nearby, but if you make look like you are scouting them out, they make think that the rest of the hunters are at camp and not close enough to respond quickly. Either way, the moment they crest that hill they'll be met with arrows and automatic weapons fire" Gillian explained quickly

The plan was seeming more and more reasonable to Artemis the more she thought about it

"Thalia, Maria, Anita, and Phiona. You four will be with me, did you all hear Agent Reese's plan?"