Hell, what would they know about hell really. To most of them hell was spending more than an hour at the base with the Uplink System down, the information highway, the global network that had once been called the internet. Maybe to some it was the loss of a loved one, or a child, hell a word that would no doubt be redefined for each of them by the end of the day thought Sgt Fields as he listened to his men relaying commands to the other teams before they went below ground into total radio silence. However he knew he couldn't make the same mistakes again, every Hound carried with them a thudder, a small hand device that produced either a short sharp or long heavy sound able to travel over a mile using vibrations, ideal for communication in radio black zones, and all Hounds were taught morse code as part of their basic training and today it might just save some lives.

"Times ticking, we need to drop and get things moving otherwise we will lose alot of our advantages." Looking at the Owls the Sgt considered how best to use their skills, he didn't want hem in the tunnels below, but as Giles had shown a fondness of blowing things up his could be used to their advantage. "Little Birds, change of plan. I got something for you to do and I think you're going to like it." After explaining in detail what he wanted done he took his team down into the vents leaving the youngsters to get on with their task.

Once the Sgt had left the Owls gathered to discuss what they needed to do, Luke had a gleam in his eye that meant trouble, probably more than his father intended but it was now too late. "Just confirm what he wants up to do, I really think I misheard him." Giles shrugged looking rather puzzled.

"He wants us to literally blow a trench right through the city." Lacy stepped forward looking down the main street. "We are in the centre of the city anyway, if we focus the blast here, then set progressively reducing charges down this street in both directions we can pull it off quickly and help get the Hounds home sooner." Within the few minutes since her father had left them she had already worked out what they were going to do, if it failed it was on her, if it succeeds then everyone wins. However there was an issue with the plan, they didn't have enough charges between them to pull it off. Each of them carried two charges except Giles who would never leave the Nest without at least six charges, his reason, it made him feel safe. None the less they still needed more... a lot more.

Cade walked over to the building directly opposite the old hotel, it was a mess, glass and splintered wood everywhere inside, scorch marks up the wall and a thick layer of ash and dust covered everything. It was one of the few buildings he had seen in such a bad way, most had been ransacked but left intact, it gave him an idea. Looking about in the rubble he searched for something to collect the glass into, he would need to collect as much of the glass as he could find, not only here but right across the city, they may not have the power to bring the ground crashing down but that didn't mean they couldn't make it rain. When Cade found a small tub and filled it with glass he returned to the group who were still talking about the trench. He shook the tub and the glass rattled in side, everyone looked questioningly at the tub then at Cade.

"It's rather simple really, but it will be dangerous." His smile was almost sinister which made Luke shiver with concern "The Hounds can't fight them all down there, lets lure some of them up here, catch them off guard with traps within traps." Lacy looked at him, he shook the tub again and she smiled, whatever he was planning was as likely to work as anything else "Lets do it." She said finally.

Moving as quickly as they could the Owls collected as much glass, nails, wood splinters as they find for Cade's idea, at face value the plan was unquestionably bonkers, yet as he was explaining it the idea gained merit, he was right about one thing, it was going to be dangerous, some would even say suicidal at best, yet it was a plan, and one that didn't put the Hounds in any more danger than they already where. So it was all go, in teams of three they collected what they needed, except for Cade and Giles who had stayed behind preparing the area. Piling what ever rock and stone they could find and move, they placed it all in a rising cicle, forming a bunker over one of the vent access points. Around the bunker Giles had carefully place his charges as well as Cade's and Lacy's, when the others return he would empty their shrapnel over the charges. This part of the plan was solid, when triggered he charges would throw the shrapnel forward while at the same time sealing the vent they would use to get away. The second ring of charges would detonate at the same time blasting their own piles of glass and other sharp objects on all directions, hopefully the area will be over run with screamers, otherwise the whole plan was useless, the Owls themselves would be the bait, a group of pure bloods should be enough to get them out in the open. Everyone knew it was risky, yet it did not stop any of them from mucking in to get it all sorted. Hunter, Duke and Igor had decided to search through the old hotel, it would be littered with what they needed and it was rather close by, between them they could carry large amounts quickly making more than enough trips in a shorter time. Lacy, Courtney and Salt had taken the main street shop windows, they focused mainly of gathering glass, it was small, light and would make a horrible mess which was exactly what they were after. Luke, Brett and Maverick used their backpacks to fill and carry as much glass, nails and other pointed objects they could find, the teams came and went as Cade and Giles worked the area, laying the shrapnel to get the best outcome. The light was quickly fading and time was running out, they had seen no sign of the Hounds since they started, they just hoped they were not too late.

The vent systems had been too quiet, even after an hour there had been no sign of the creatures, it was as if they had just vanished, but looking at his team over his shoulder he knew that was not the case. All of the regular updates from the other teams came back clear, it was eerie and everyone felt on edge. A horde would not simply disappear. He was in part glad that nothing had happened so far, it meant the Owls were safe above them, that at least put the Sgt at ease a little. It wasn't until he turned a corner and looked down a long tunnel section that those few minutes back in the bowels of his home city that he suddenly understood. He signalled his men to hault, they drew their weapons and took formation instinctively, each was armed with their rifle, lessons had been learnt and the Sgt was keen to prove it. He waved Mason to his side and when he stopped asked him if he had brought his knife with him, the three hundred and twenty pound, six foot four specialist nodded, he never left home without it. Giving him an order the Sgt watched as he quickly but quietly made his way down the long tunnel. The Sgt turned his attention to his remaining team "Right lads, this involves a certain amount of skill and precision, I've ordered Mason to cut open the left hand side of the tunnel, we are going to follow him in three teams so get ready." Timothy Fields explained his plan and divided the nine of them into three teams of three and prepared them for action.

As the first team ran their boots sounding off on the base on the tunnels caused movement within the dark void between the Hydro-Thermal Tunnels off to their left. One by one they pulled the release pin of their flash grenades and threw them through the torn side of the tunnel, one by one they leap frogged each other as they went, the faint flash of light appearing now and then through the tunnel side. The second team followed a little under twenty seconds later enough time for the team in front to throw the grenades and have them go off, team two without looking too much fired indiscriminately through the tunnel wall into the void, the gun fire echoed down the tunnels as a mass of explosive claps, their position had been compromised but they were not going to linger. Team three led by Sgt Fields had readied their night vision visors and followed behind taking their time to survey the scene behind the tunnel wall picking off any creatures still lingering, further ahead they could see more grenades flash and gun fire stun and mow down groups of the screamers as they scurried around confused and caught off guard. The plan was working and the horde scurried away deeper into the darkness, however their gun fire would still bring others, it was time to change tactics.

Sgt Fields and his men rushed on down the pipeline until they found a junction above the junction was a vent hatch, "Time to go." He said looking at the hatch, Jonas pulled out his morse code stummer and began sending the signal, the letters RGT vibrated through the tunnels, and each group who heard it passed it on. As soon as the Team was above ground the Sgt realised how much time had passed, more than he realised, his move to regroup his troops might not have been the best idea now. However he was committed to the action, the Hounds in his own team quickly reloaded before the Sgt sent up a flare. He had half expected the Owls to have fulfilled their mission by now, something must have gone wrong, fearing for them he turned to his men "Stay here and wait for the other teams, when everyone is here head to the old three dragons pub, something is wrong with the little birds I fear." His men nodded then hey took up positions to secure their position until the others showed up, they watched as Sgt Fields headed off on his own into the alley across from them.

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Nothing was going to plan, most of the charges were set and Cade and Giles continued to worked as Maverick, Luke and Brett dealt with the few stray Screamers that had began to appear from the shadows. Only a few, but they weaved and stalked from alley to alley never staying still, refusing to approach directly, it was as if they were watching, gathering what information they could.

Meanwhile Duke turned sharply to face his pursuer unloading a volley of bullets, the Screamer cried out as it fell to the floor, its body wriggling as the pain took hold and it refused to die. Another appeared at the end of the alley and Duke decided to catch up with the others. Hunter and Igor were not far away, at the far end of the alley Duke turned left and was instantly pulled off his feet. Igor has his rifle trained down the alley as Hunter shifted to make space for his friend to fit behind the large trash bin. Not waiting Hunter knelt resting his rifle on a ridge of the bin allowin him to cover the other alley. Duke sat with his rifle, deciding it was best to wait and then support fire in which ever direction needed it. They waited a few moments and nothing, they began to feel at ease but the feeling was short lived as Duke felt a few small stones and dust cascade over him, knowing instantly what this meant he looked up, knowing what to expect, there looking down on them, their white soulless eyes peering hungering for blood, a knot tightened in his throat, there were to many to fight off.

The girls were not faring much better, maybe slightly better, Courtney had managed to grab a pretty solid position that was well covered, had no flanks and just enough room to manoeuvre the rifle. She was able to hold the screams back under a constant fail of fire which allowed Lacy to pick off a few as they frantically scurried about each other. Salt on the other hand was struggling with the rifles kickback so was tasked wih the roll of look out, and her head moved quickly one way then the next watching everywhere for any sign of more threats. Lacy and Courtney listened intently to her warning of income hostiles and from which direction.

"Incomeing Friendly!" She shouted the others stopped instantly, "Right hand alley!" She added before picking up her rifle, it was now or never, placing the rifle on a rock out crop she concentrated her fire down the right hand alley, the kick back ached her shoulder but there was a friendly out there, she couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

The gun fire echoed down the alleys, at first the Sgt couldn't decide which direction it was coming from, then as he advanced down one alley he realised the youngsters had been seperated, three groups he suspected, which meant more trouble than he hoped getting them back to safety. He weighed up his options, assist the nearest splinter or the furthest, it took him seconds to decide, the nearest would be better, the more of them there were the better. The sun was fading fast so he knew every decision matter and time was not on his side. Ahead the gun fire intensified, he was getting closer, faster than he expected, as he turned a corner he heard a faint shout   it was one of the girls, most likely on look out, he gave it a seconds thought and concluded it was most likely to be Salt and if it was Salt, then who ever was with her needed help quickly. In the alley up a head he could make out a swarm of Screamers clawing over each other, he allowed his rifle to drop on its harness to his side as he drew his two pistols, the rifle would just cause more disarray he wanted to bring them down. Now running as fast as he could his pistols in the air he approached the group of Screamers with a thunder of gun shots.

From her location Salt watched the Sgt charge into the back of the screamers trying to get to Courtney. With each mighty clap of the pistols a screamers head exploded in a rain of blood and brains, one by one they suffered the same fate, dropping like flies under a swatter. Salt and Courtney continued to lay down a hail of bullets into those at the front of the group, seconds later the Sgt stood at the base of the building along side his daughter and her friend. Salt quickly joined them by which time Courtney had climbed free of her safe place and they were ready to leave.

Cade had stopped assisting Giles, instead he had to join the others in laying covering fire as the numbers of Screamer rose. It took a lot of fire power from the rifles to bring down a single creature and for every one that fell it felt like three took its place.

"Giles we are seriously running out of time mate," shouted Maverick as he dropped an empty magazine from the rifle and clipped a fully loaded one in. "And Ammo!" He added pulling the trigger and peppering a group of snarling monsters as they charged forward.

"We need a few more minutes, I've got one more charge to fuse then we are ready to go." His confidence was not reassuring the others, he had already had to go back and rewire the charges twice, they hoped that this time he had it sorted, if not the plan for what it was worth would be pointless.

For what seemed like a life time Hunter, Igor and Duke had been doing nothing but shooting Screamers off the walls above them, those that hadn't died scurried away only to be replaced by others, wave after wave they spewed over the edges of the rooftops. Igor shifted as he thought he could hear more gun fire, as he turned he spotted four figures running up the alley guns ablaze. Nudging Hunter then Duke he pointed down the alley. They stood up rifles still roaring as they backed out from behind the trash bin, he others were at their side in seconds, the Sgt signalled them to move, they would have to try and out run them. As they were running a Green Flare shot into the sky, it was the others, the charges were ready.

"Hounds, this is Sgt Fields, when you see green smoke start moving toward it, the little birds have a plan in action. Do not approach until you hear from me, hold a battle line but do not advance, expect heavy rain." Replacing his radio he looked at his daughter, right thats that, now we have to find the others. They rushed off down the alley hearing more gun fire what they saw made their hearts sink as what looked like hundreds of screamers were rushing across the rooftops and down the side of the alley toward a rusty trash bin that seemed to be firing a large amount of ammo. As they approached they aimed for the creatures and moments later three figures moved from behind the bin. Not stopping to talk Sgt Fields signalled for the lads to start moving forward.

The run back to the old hotel was a short one, with screamers following close by the plan was working better than expected, they were leading them toward their own doom. As they rushed from the alley into the main street they could see the others atop of the bunker laying down fire to the growing numbers of the creatures that were now appearing from every possible location. Cade noticed them and tapped Giles on the shoulder, he quickly slipped away to activate the charges, Cade jumped into the bunker and down the ladder, Brett followed behind as Maverick and Luke continued to hold their position, the others cleared the first set of charges as Giles hit the count down, 10.

Lacy was first up into the bunker, 9. Sgt Fields stopped beside Luke and joined them laying down hell, 8. Salt and Igor were next up and into the bunker, Giles waited a moment incase he had to cut the countdown, 7. Duke leaped up quickly tapping Maverick on the shoulder who turned to climb up as well, 6. Giles moved from the trigger up to the bunker, he grabbed his rifle and began shooting the on coming horde, 5. Hunter was last to the hill he watched as Sgt Fields climbed the bunker and disappeared, he went to follow and found his foot stuck, 4. Giles quickly climbed the bunker then looking back noticed Hunter struggling so leaped down and ran to help him, 3. Luke climbed he bunker calling out to Giles as he watched him trying to get Hunters foot free, Hunter tried to help but his boot was wedged tight, 2. The others were now below the bunker running down the vents to the safe zone Cade had marked out earlier, they paniced as the other three were not behind them, they stopped to listen. With a final attempt to free his foot Hunter stumbled but his foot was free, seconds left they ran for the bunker, 1. With no time to spare they reached the bunker Luke grabbed and pulled Giles over and down, Hunter made it to the top as the first explosion sounded.