"Lady Sun, please stay by my side." Centurion Decimus asked her politely as his men began entering the tunnel beneath an abandoned building. The building was made from stone, with tall pillars that had crumbled amongst themselves through out time. What the building once was, no one knew, however Zenodotus the Librarian had discovered the tunnel beneath and Sun Shangxiang was now taking what forces she had with her to explore it.
The small group of Civilians that were part of the excavation team had armed themselves with the many weapons that had been gathered throughout the short history of their Kingdom since Riverside had been founded. The Civilians were tasked with protecting the entrance, whilst Sun Shangxiang took the three Centuries with her underground. The Hoplites's had switched to their short swords and took the lead, their armour lighter and easier to manoeuvre in, they were led by Centurion Linos, a Hoplite Warrior with experience of leading.
Sun Shangxiang followed them with the the First Century under Centurion Decimus. Decimus's Century was experienced and built from those of the Ninth Legion that arrived daily. The path was only wide enough for them to walk with three in a row, and Sun Shangxiang walked at the front for now, with the Centurion. Behind them was the third Century, that took up the rear of their small formation. This Century was a newer one, formed of the former Tongpai Town Shang Swordsmen, led by Centurion Geng, one of the original Shang Swordsmen that had joined Riverside at the Nomadic Camp Ambush.
Thucydides was to the other side of Sun Shangxiang, his sword already drawn as the older experienced man walked ahead of the Legionaries. The Librarian Zenodotus was further ahead, mixed in with the Hoplite whose backs could barely be seen in the dimly lit tunnel.
"I feel like we have stopped descending." Thucydides commented, the gentle ramp down had evened out and the tunnel had slowly become wider. The tunnel had intricate patterns that adjourned the walls and it was clearly a well used pathway in the past. The floor was covered in dust and the air was thick. Sun Shangxiang had covered her mouth with a cloth as she walked, the Harpe in the other hand, whilst some of those behind her coughed as the dust rose in to their lungs as they walked.
"I agree." Decimus replied as he looked ahead, seeing that they had began to gain on the Hoplite's who had slowed their pace. The footprints of the Hoplite's was all that could be seen on the floor, whilst the dim glow stones were covered in cobwebs. One of their Legionaries began cleaning one nearby to bring in more light.
"We need a ram!" The voice of Centurion Linos echoed back to them, as his own lines parted as he headed towards them. "There is a large stone door blocking the way and we can't get any further forwards."
"I don't want to be stuck in a tunnel." Decimus replied loudly, whilst Sun Shangxiang nodded in agreement. The Centurion turned and shouted further up to Centurion Geng. "Geng, we need a ram, get one of the logs."
"We'll get on with it now." Centurion Geng bellowed down, some of his men having only just entered the tunnel and having kept a safe distance between the Centuries.
...
"Halt march!" Tomoe loudly ordered as the nine Centuries formed in to neat formation after having marched at a quick pace towards the enemy camp. She was sat atop her horse behind the first three Centuries who formed a row of shields and pointed tips of their swords. To her right was Subutai and the small Cavalry unit, ready to crash in to the enemy or attack from with arrows from a distance.
The enemy were aware of their arrival, the gleaming sight of over seven hundred armoured Infantry and their Cavalry was hard to hide. They had began preparing themselves to fight back, their sleep and breakfast broken and they now stood in a formation that was better than Tomoe had expected. They had placed a thick line of spearman at the front, with swordsmen behind them. She couldn't see much further back, but suspected that she was only slightly outnumbered.
The ten or so Transport Ships had also began to move towards the coast, either to give them a retreat direction or reinforce them. To Tomoe, regardless of their reason, she had to act fast. At the rear, one of the Transport Ships seemed to have headed away from them, causing her a slight tinge of unease.
The Centuries under her command all lined up neatly, whilst the enemy seemed to be waiting for them to come towards them. She had expected a mad charge from them, but it seemed that it would be her sending the charge instead. She turned and looked towards Subutai, who was sat atop of his horse also watching the battlefield unfold. He looked towards her and nodded his head, a signal that she should go.
"Ready Pilum and slow march!" She ordered, as the Legionaries began to march in synchronisation, a sound that echoed and would put fear in to any one awaiting their arrival.
.....
"Slow and quiet." Gan Ning whispered as those around him began using their Trident's to create holes in the bowels of the Transport Ships that were hidden within the Cove. Some Ships had already began to take on some water and were listing slightly in the water. As long as the entrance way was blocked by those on the outer perimeter, then their role would be complete.
"General, we've received a signal from the Bellona." One of his men explained to him quietly, having stayed closer to the entrance with his Titanaconda.
"What did she say?" Gan Ning asked, the signals were simple flag movements but were enough to convey a simple message.
"Enemy ahead, move to engage." The Hoplite replied, who the enemy was or where they were engaging was lost to him, but the message was clear enough. The sound of fighting above them could be heard as shouts
"So there are more enemy ships." Gan Ning grumbled to himself, as he turned to Centurion Hector. "Hector, we need to retreat to the ships now, or engage."
"I would say retreat Sir, but I am struggling to control my Titanaconda." He replied seriously, the snakes all seemingly raising their heads and looking further in to the darkness beyond. "There is something inside, they are either afraid or wanting to hunt."
"They are beasts in the end." Gan Ning agreed, knowing that unlike a horse, he wouldn't be able to pull it away. He turned back to the Hoplite that was near the entrance. "Wave them on, we will stay here and see how we can support."
The situation was out of Gan Ning's control, the ships around them were listing whilst they took on more water, and soon their position would be exposed. To his left was a smoother surface and they could take the Anaconda's above and join in the fighting beyond. He had heard the Warriors shout Dom's name and he knew that his allies were fighting a tough battle.
"General, what is that?" Another Hoplite said, rather louder than he should have. Beyond a listing ship seemed to be a hidden tunnel that was very low to the ground the water almost glowing a aqua blue. Gan Ning wasn't sure were it led and paused for a second before responding.
"General, I think we should explore, their ships are sinking and they'll notice soon if they haven't already. We found this navy by exploring, let's see what else we can find." Hector implored him, the Centurion already moving his Titanaconda towards the entrance, that seemed keen to follow the path.
"Let's do that then." Gan Ning agreed, making a firm decision. They had done more than planned already and Hector was right.
.....
"Push through!" Centurion Linos shouted as the ram finally cracked through the tall stone door that blocked their entrance beyond. A large amount of dust and musky air had already flown through to them earlier when the first hole had appeared. Sun Shangxiang watched as the ornate carvings were smashed to pieces by the heavy wooden ram that Centurion Geng's men had brought down from the forest above. Linos's men began pushing stone blocks away as Linos himself climbed through the wide gap that had formed, followed by the men around him.
"I just realised something." Sun Shangxiang said to Thucydides beside her as the second Century continued to climb through the gap, whilst others around them pulled more pieces away so the door was wide enough for more to head through. "If we had left this door closed, then the enemies wouldn't have come to us."
"They may have been able to unlock it from the other side." Thucydides replied, however Sun Shangxiang could tell that he was just trying to reassure her that they hadn't made a mistake.
"Clear!" A voice came from the other side as Decimus led Sun Shangxiang, Thucydides and the First Century through the doorway. They headed through with different thoughts in their head as the dust from beyond hit them again.
They arrived in a huge underground great hall, with dust covered stone tables everywhere. At the far end was a top table, whilst there was two corridors that led in to different directions. The air was heavy and it was clear that no one had been down here for a very long time. The Second Century, full of Hoplites, began spreading out, whilst the Legionaries of the First and Third Centuries began arriving and standing in loose formations near the entrance way.
"Search the room, clear tables so we have a safe retreat route if needed!" Decimus bellowed, the Legionaries responding with their actions as both Centuries began pushing tables clear or searching an assortment of rooms that seemed to be hidden amongst the far wall.
"Commanders on me." Sun Shangxiang added, as she headed towards the top table that had a slight raised throne in the middle of it. Behind was a mosaic on the wall that had been damaged due to time, showing a tall and muscular man with tusk like teeth sat looking down at those below him. The colour from the mosaic had gone, leaving a pale imitation of the art that would have once been there. The room was still lit by the glow stones, albeit dimly.
"A Type 2?" Centurion Geng asked, having heard of the tales from the other Centurions.
"A bit more intimidating than the Type 3's." Decimus agreed, with the others nodding their heads. The seats were around half a seat wider than those they were used to, as they all pushed some heavy stone seats together so that they could sit down and discuss their next steps.
"There are two directions to explore once this room has been cleared." Sun Shangxiang explained, looking back at the mosaic face above her, a slight feeling of inferiority under it's gaze.
"We should take the eastern path." Zenodotus commented, amazed by the view but his mind thinking of the current situation. "That will lead towards the Cove and the reason we are here in the first place. If we discover it goes to the Cove, then we need to block the retreat point. If it doesn't then we can explore."
"That does make the most sense, but I would feel uncomfortable with an unexplored path behind us." Decimus stated after some thought.
"I can take half of my men and half of Centurion Geng's down the Western path, you take the rest of the men towards the east." Centurion Linos put forwards, offering his Hoplite as a lighter front unit whilst he made sure their rear was safe.
"One hundred and sixty men doesn't feel like much." Thucydides explained, "But it would be the best course of action."
"I'll take the lead with the other two halves then." Geng said, shrugging his shoulder. Before turning to Sun Shangxiang for confirmation. They all watched as she looked up at the mosaic figure again.
"Let's go with that plan then, call down some of the Civilian Militia to clear this point as well. I am sure they will be excited to discover it's mysteries." She declared, as they all nodded in agreement.