Killing the snake [GFed, Closed]

[Dicemonk]

OOC: This is grandfathered... no need for anyone to post. If your character should have been involved in some way, message me and we'll discuss it.

The the early morning rays of the tenth brightening following the initial planning were just breaking over Vortex as the first few hundred soldiers fell into their places around the Blood Alley Gang's headquarters. It was cold enough that the men pulled thick woolen cloaks tighter around themselves and danced from foot to foot in an attempt to generate some warmth while waiting for the signal. Murmured grumbles were accompanied by puffs of frozen breath billowing in the air. Those, however, were quickly cut off as one Alexei Deinrovich strode passed. With back straight and boots striking solidly on the paving stones, Alexei was discipline personified. Soldiers quickly took to adopting his stance in a wave which matched his pace. "At your ease men. These could be your last moments and you should spend them thinking of warm dark'nings with a good drink and a warm woman... not minding how well you shined your boots." This rare bit of spoken humor cracked a smile across his lips and brought chuckles from the men who heard it; it was followed closely by whispers down the lines as the joke was relayed.

They know war. The lieutenant commander of the West Wardens reminded himself as he swept a discerning gaze over his men. "They know war." It was barely a breathe of a whisper, but it was enough for his nerves.

The tail end of a muffled cry from around the corner was cut off and was followed shortly by the signature thud of a body hitting the ground. The silence which followed was broken by shuffling of feet and boots scraping. The source of the noise broke around the corner to show two small, thin men struggling to support the weight of a large lifeless body between them. "It's done, commander. We should have a min-" Alexei cut the man off with a growled word.

"KILL!"

At that a great number of men rushed around the same corner toward the main entrance of the headquarters. Still others joined them in droves, after having been notified of the attack with emphatic hand signals from the captains and lieutenants. No battle cry rose from these men's lips, as each man knew that his life and the lives of his friends may depend on their surprising the enemy; though the silence they needed wasn't one of the results of several hundred boots pounding on paving stone. Moving as quietly and precisely as such a body of men could move, the host poured into the building. Every officer took to the sprint as his place came up in turn. "A man must be willing to perform as he orders his men to perform." The words fell off Alexei's lips in a grave tone just before he broke into a dead run behind one of his soldiers. His eyes caught a glimpse of long walkways falling into place above, bridging the gap between the buildings on one side to the hq on the other. They know war. He drew his sword in one fluid motion, crossed the threshold, and flung himself into the battle. The level or resistance in the main room had not been expected, but the plan was solid and his soldiers had adapted well.

His blade ran through one of the last enemy fighters and he quickly turned to survey the situation without removing his weapon. Men had fallen on both sides, but the toll fell much more heavily for the criminals. Those who had come to their senses and surrendered were being rounded up and held by the Vortex guard while his own men finished their fighting on the floors above and made sure those who were lying still here had good reason to do so - or to give them good reason. His officers were already coming to him to report casualties and overall status, but he was in no hurry to hear of the dead. He knew they had captured the building and they had succeeded almost as planned, so he let the men's words wash over him and pass by without more than a nod and a mental note to go over them later.

When all was said and done thirty six gravestones were to be made for former West Wardens, if none of the other several dozen wounded were to die. The gang had lost nearly triple that number and all the 'leaders' who had stayed or fled that morning had been killed or captured, but it was little consolation to Alexei. The tens of thousands of crowns which had been seized in the form of stolen goods and the prisoners released after questioning also did little to ease his sadness, but it was something. At the very least he could rest assured that there would be fewer thugs, 'cut-purses', and 'foot pads' roaming the streets for a good long time to come. He had bought a little light to the dark city of Vortex.