Tunnel Rat-Chapter 452: Fort Hopeless

Onyx had slowed the airship high above the sea and assembled the crew in the hopes of averting any misconception about their next stop. Miles away, but easily visible in the clear skies, was Fort Hopeless. Somewhere inside this fortress was Bork. "Do nothing as we approach. Don't open a hatch to take a look. Don't cast a spell. If we make it to our mooring, just stay put. Don't react to anything that you see. There will be cannons and far worse things pointed at us, and they don't really care if they send us crashing into the ocean. Extremely cautious and paranoid people are in control of that rock."

Zander said quietly, "Why am I somehow not surprised that our brother chose a spot like this? At the same time, curiosity is killing me. How are we getting him out?"

Onyx glared at him. "There is a play. Your part in the plan, all of you, is sitting still and doing nothing."

Butch whispered to Brad, "You notice how those mooring platforms are like a plank on a pirate ship?"

"Maybe Bork is going to get himself in trouble and get tossed off one of them.

At a glare from Onyx, they went quiet, watching as they approached closer and closer to the Fortress in the middle of the western sea, known as a haven for slavers, pirates, and any criminal with no place left to run.

The tall spire of rock rose over a thousand feet above the waves, crowned by a castle carved from the rock itself. A thousand years before the founding of the human empire, an unknown race had moved into the tall rock, carving out endless stairways that spiraled higher and higher, connecting the layers of rooms and huge galleries. They had dug down as well, going deep into the sea floor, finding rich veins of metals and gems.

What killed them was as unknown as what they had been. The mines and spire were empty when the elves discovered the small island in the middle of the western ocean. They continued the work, building quays and a seaport, eventually turning it into a thriving trading center they called Sea Home. Two centuries of prosperity came to an end during the War of the Five Sisters that split the elven realm asunder in a civil war that lasted a century. Sea Home was a strategic asset that changed hands several times over the decades as one Empress after another gained ascendancy. Three times it was taken by force, but only at the cost of thousands of lives and after years of blockades to starve out the garrisons.

Empress Celestine held the spire for fifty-seven years, ruling from it. She brought in craftsmen from every corner of the globe to create a replica of her family's destroyed castle at the top of the rocky spire. A thousand nimbulkin slaves were bought from the city of Bloth and put to work in the mines far below the city, and to carve the castle above. Their abilities to sense metal, and shape stone were as valuable to the elves as their docile nature. They were the perfect slaves and worth the chests of gems that Bloth demanded for them. The nimbulkin slaves delved deeper and deeper into the seabed, and then, in the fifteenth year of Celestine's reign, they were gone. Openings into a system of extensive caverns were discovered, with creatures so hostile that the elves broke off their pursuit and sealed off the tunnels.

To replace their lost workers and continue the mining, dwarven slaves were brought in. Bloth was happy to provide them in exchange for an exorbitant fee. The mines extended horizontally across the seafloor, never again delving so deep. Mercenaries were hired to discourage escapes, and beer, or the lack of it, was used to keep the new miners in line.

The miners Bloth had provided were the outcasts and criminals from several rival tribes who brought their grudges to the mines. This led to the first arena, where disputes between the clans were settled in blood and broken bones. The guards encouraged the fighting, especially after betting on the fights became popular. So popular that word reached the Empress and her court of jaded elven aristocracy.

While Sea Home was a secure fortress, guarded by ships, soldiers, and arcane devices brought from the elven fortresses destroyed in the war, it was not an interesting place. The Empress herself made a clandestine visit to the crude arena to watch the fights between the clan champions and enjoyed herself immensely. She declared that a new arena would be built in the castle far above, and that nightly fighting would commence as soon as it was finished. To add variety, all of the noble houses began to import their own gladiators for the games, and not to deplete their population of dwarven miners. Soon, slave traders were making regular trips to Sea Home to sell their cargo. The nobles saw profit in the trade, and slowly, the seaport below the fortress became a convenient center for the slave trade on the western seas.

A century passed, and Celestine was betrayed by her own daughter, who took the Jade throne with backing from two of her aunts. Her coronation was held in the fortress of Sea Home. Each noble attending was limited to seven bodyguards and three gladiators. Throughout the week after the coronation, blood flowed like the expensive wine drunk by the nobles, with gladiatorial contests going around the clock. The miners were given an extra ration of grog each day, but they complained bitterly of the quality. Nothing grows anger in a dwarf's heart like light beer. With most of the guards up in the fortress, the slaves took a chance, using their hammers and chisels to free themselves of their collars. The unorganized mob swarmed up the tower, killing anyone they encountered.

The elves, outnumbered, drunk, and exhausted from the weeklong festivities, were slow to react. There was no coordination with each house fighting on their own and trying to escape on the few airships. Once the gladiators were freed and joined the rebellion, it became a slaughter. The new Empress died on her throne, her skull broken by a rusty pickaxe. The nobles and their retainers were hunted throughout the spire and fortress, and killed when they were found. After the first ships were overrun and their enslaved rowers freed, any slaver or captain who could get away set sail. Behind them, ships and warehouses were burning in the harbors, and Sea Home was under new management.

With typical dwarven bluntness, Barney Goreaxe stood on the throne where he'd killed the empress, her crown dangling from his beard, and declared that those clan heads who wanted to challenge him should assemble in the arena for a battle royale. Seven other dwarves and two gladiators entered the arena, and the battle commenced with no rules and no quarter given. It ended with Barney slamming his forehead into Dalin Hammerbeard's chin three times, and splitting his skull.

Barney declared himself Boss, taking no other title. He ruled his fortress with an iron hand and was quite popular, with everyone except the elven kingdoms, but they were busy killing each other. He kept the beer flowing, expanded the slave trade, and opened the arena fights to anyone with a gladiator to toss in the ring. When the mines ran out of ore, he converted them to slave quarters and gladiatorial training. A decade later, when Barney wasn't moving as fast as he used to, an orc named Clubber Blacktoe defeated him in the arena. Boss Clubber declared a 5% sale on any ship buying more than 50 slaves in a day to celebrate his reign, and extra food for all gladiators for a week. He also, was very popular until his skull was caved in by his successor.

Sea Home had died in the rebellion, and Fort Hopeless was born from it. For the last thousand years, it had been the heart of the slave trade. Onyx hated being anywhere near it. But with perfect precision, he docked at the protruding mooring, opened a hatch, and stepped out onto the three-foot-wide walkway leading to the interior. He didn't move, waiting until a guard waved him over.

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Six guards and a short, muscular, and overdressed human were waiting for him. He bowed low in the elven manner of a minor noble to a king, touching his forehead to the floor. "Boss Grubber, I thank you for your hospitality."

The Boss squinted at him, "Hospitality? I haven't promised you anything other than blowing you out of the sky if I feel like it."

Onyx smiled at him, inclining his head. "This is true, but the ship and I are still here, and for that I am thankful."

The Boss grunted, then turned. "Bring him out."

Two nervous guards walked out, a goblin walking between them. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit with a leather belt with pockets and a large backpack, as big or bigger than himself. One eye was a crude mechanical affair, and his face bore scars of claws that had raked down that side of his face. He was thin, smelled bad, and was nervously looking in all directions at once. He was also whistling to calm his nerves. The sound carried to Onyx, confirming that this was indeed his brother.

Boss Grubber glared at him. "Your rides here. Tell me why I should let you go?"

Bork looked up at him, something few people would do to Boss Grubber. "Well, there's a lot to be said for just killing me here, actually. I mean, I threatened you with death, blackmailed you, and subjected you to the ridicule of the masses. Everyone is wondering why you didn't kill me, and the rumors I spread about you going soft certainly didn't help. There are a bunch of people who believed me and are going to push things a bit to see what you do. Really, all said and done, you should toss me over the side right now."

The Boss stared at him. "Now tell me why I shouldn't."

"Oh, easy, I made a ton of gold when I rigged the betting. A certain Captain may have helped me, and thinks he's going to sail away with it. There's no way I can smuggle it out of here, but I can tell you how to get it. Dealing harshly with the thieves will restore part of your reputation. You also don't know where I put all the explosives, or if I lit the fuses. Also the small, niggling matter that you gave me a job and I may have fixed that thing that was broken. You're welcome. Have fun blowing people out of the sky. But, really, the best reason for not killing me is that you'd piss off my employer, Philistron the Benevolent Sage. And, I have a very nice parting present for you."

The Boss glanced at Onyx, then at the airship. "He's here? He hasn't shown up for his last three visits. He's a big gambler and the boys miss his gold."

Onyx shook his head, "He is indisposed in his laboratory with a new subject, breaking them in. An annoying ratkin he's feeding cheese to. He mentioned that if the process goes well, he will have a valuable addition to your gladiators for a substantial sum. And if it goes poorly, he'll give you a berserk cheese fiend for free, complete with chains and a muzzle."

"Fething hell. Too complicated. What's my present, you little conniving piece of shit? I'm damned curious what you think you could give me that's worth more than killing you?"

The goblin pulled a ring from his pocket and put it on. Then he pointed at a large pirate airship a mile away and approaching them. "I mentioned I may have fixed something? That's Captain Blightwind's ship, the Foulbreeze. He's got a load of locoweed, firewater, and a new drug called Bloodshed. He's one of those people who thinks you went soft. He's going to challenge you when he lands, and hopes his drug-filled rage can beat your superior battle skills. I may have suggested all of this to him. Watch carefully now."

Bork pointed, and a green ray of light from the top of the highest tower illuminated the ship. Then he said, "ZAPthatsuckadead!" A ruby ray lanced out, passing entirely through the ship, exploding its boilers and turning it into a flaming wreck that plummeted to the sea. Bork turned to Boss Grubber, "Told you I could fix it."

Grubber was grinning, "Damn...that was pretty. Can you do it again?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Oh, sure. It has a 5-minute recharge, and it's good to go. The ring, the location of the gold, the names of two other captains looking to challenge you, and the location of the explosives are yours in return for my release. I'll even toss in a tune-up whenever my new boss swings by, but you'll have to dicker with him over that."

The wreck of the ship was starting to sink, then exploded, scattering flaming debris across the water. Boss Grubber nodded, "It's a deal."

Bork grinned and handed him the ring. "The explosives are in the central elevator shaft. There are nine different piles, one for each of the main levels. Captain Stainer is who has the gold, but she can't leave because the leaky boiler I fixed won't hold any pressure. Captain Yohan and Captain Wafting are your next challengers. Neither will want to do that tonight, they aren't feeling well. Bad eel meat last night, or so I heard. It has been lovely working with you, Boss Grubber, but I'm afraid our employer is on a tight schedule."

He began walking to the plank, passed Onyx, and hopped aboard. Onyx made an unhappy face. Grubber laughed. "The little shit is your problem now. Have fun."

Onyx bowed again, "I can only hope the Master decides to put him in a cage with the cheese fiend." He also turned and left, a spot between his shoulder blades itching as he walked away from the Boss. He was equally careful leaving as he had been coming. The minutes ticked by as they crawled away from Fort Hopeless and out of cannon range. When they were a mile away, he set the helm on autopilot, opened the throttle, and went to talk to Bork about a small flaw in his plan.

"What is the range of that weapon, Bork?"

"Oh, hard to say. Some sort of coherent plasma laser? Probably the horizon, but you'd have trouble hitting an elephant at anything over a mile."

Onyx stared at him. "We are considerably larger than an elephant, barely a mile away, and slowly picking up speed."

The Goblin's eyes got large, and he jumped up on a seat to look back at Fort Hopeless. "Golly, you're right. That sucker can put a shot right through us. How forgetful of me. But we've got two things working in our favor."

"I'm listening...."

"Well, the Boss loves me. I'm pretty sure I predicted his reaction."

"And the second?"

"The wax."

"The wax?"

"Yep, the wax I used to secure the mounting of the weird eye in the gimbals of the targeting mechanism. If it gets hot, the wax melts away, and that sucker comes apart and swivels with the eye pointing straight down the center of the spire, about where the main elevator shaft is."

There was a flash of red light at the top of the tower, then a series of explosions that blew rocks and dust from nine places along the length of the rocky spire. In slow motion, two halves of the rock separated and slowly fell away from each other, crashing into the sea, leaving only a small stub of rock surrounded by the rubble of the harbor.

Butch summed up everyone's thoughts. "Holy shit!"

Onyx looked at Bork. "Slavers."

He nodded. "Yep, slavers. I figured we'd need to deal with them one day or another, so why not right now? All of the slaves and gladiators were down below. The whole place was on lockdown because of a few riots, missing explosives, and other small details I won't mention. If all goes well, the underground rebellion I organized should swarm the ships in the harbor and take them over. Most will head to Shadowport, but that's Captain Squint's problem, not mine. I hear we have a bear to rebuild"