The Northern King's Vendetta

Chapter 7: Old Money Trap

​The temporary base of operations Caleb had established in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the industrial district was suddenly bathed in the blinding white light of dozens of high-intensity searchlights, and the heavy, mechanical rumble of tank treads grinding against the pavement echoed through the corrugated metal walls, signaling that the C Family had finally played their trump card. Inside the warehouse, Aris was checking his thermal scanners and looking at the monitors with a grim expression, seeing that they were completely surrounded by at least two battalions of local infantry and several armored divisions, and his men were already taking up defensive positions behind crates of equipment with their rifles aimed at the bay doors.

​"Sir, it looks like the Thorne family didn't take too kindly to what you did to Silas, and they've brought in General Barrett along with the City B garrison," Aris said as he tapped a screen to show a live feed of a silver-haired man in a decorated military uniform standing on the back of a command vehicle, "they’ve put out a city-wide broadcast labeling us as an international terrorist cell that’s responsible for the blackout and the hospital shooting, so they're giving the soldiers an order to shoot on sight the moment anyone tries to leave this building."

​"Barrett always was a man who could be bought if the price was high enough, and it seems the C Family offered him more than his pension was worth," Caleb replied as he checked his sidearm and calmly walked toward the center of the warehouse, his face showing no sign of panic even as the loud hailers outside began to blare a final warning for them to surrender or be leveled by tank fire.

​"Attention inside the warehouse, this is General Barrett of the City B Defense Force, you are harboring a dangerous criminal named Caleb Vance who is wanted for multiple counts of murder and domestic sabotage," the voice boomed over the speakers, "you have sixty seconds to lay down your weapons and come out with your hands behind your heads, or I will authorize the use of lethal force to clear this sector."

​"Commander, we have a clear shot at the General from the roof, just give us the word and we can take the head off this snake before they can even load their main guns," one of the snipers called out over the comms, his voice tight with the urge to protect his leader, but Caleb held up a hand to signal a hold.

​"No, if we start a firefight with the regular army, then we really are the terrorists they’re claiming we are, and I won't have my men killing honest soldiers who think they're doing their duty," Caleb said as he adjusted his tactical jacket and started walking toward the main exit, "open the doors, I'm going out there to talk to them myself."

​"Sir, that's suicide, Barrett won't hesitate to give the order if he thinks it will please his donors in the C Family!" Aris argued, but he signaled the men to retract the heavy steel bolts on the door anyway, and as the massive metal gates groaned open, Caleb stepped out into the spotlight alone, his hands empty and his posture relaxed.

​General Barrett stood on his command deck and looked down at Caleb with a sneer, his hand resting on the hilt of his ceremonial saber while his soldiers aimed hundreds of rifles at Caleb’s chest, and several members of the C Family stood behind the General in their expensive suits, whispering to each other and pointing at Caleb as if he were a specimen in a zoo.

​"So, the great Caleb Vance finally realizes he's outmatched, and you thought you could just walk back into this city and start a revolution without paying the price," Barrett shouted down at him, "soldiers, prepare to fire on my command, we are ending this threat right now!"

​"Barrett, you should take a very close look at who you’re pointing those guns at before you make a mistake that will get you court-martialed for treason," Caleb said, his voice projecting clearly across the silent parking lot, and he reached into his inner pocket to pull out a heavy, obsidian-black coin embossed with a gold wolf's head, which he held up so the soldiers in the front lines could see it.

​The soldiers nearest to him lowered their rifles slightly, their eyes widening as they recognized the "King of the North" seal, a mark of authority that was only given to the highest commander of the national border defense, a man whose rank technically placed him above every regional General in the country. A murmur began to ripple through the ranks of the infantry, and young privates started looking at each other with confused expressions, realizing that the "terrorist" they were supposed to kill was actually the legendary commander they had been told stories about in basic training.

​"That's a fake, he probably stole that from a real officer's body in the trenches!" Barrett screamed, his face turning a deep shade of purple as he saw his control over the situation slipping away, "I gave you an order, soldiers! Fire! Aim for the head and fire now!"

​Not a single shot was fired, and instead, a heavy silence fell over the area as Caleb stepped forward, walking right up to the barrel of a tank until he was standing just a few feet away from the front line of infantry.

​"You men swore an oath to protect this country and its people, not to act as a private security force for crooked politicians and old money families like the Thornes," Caleb said, his voice booming with a natural authority that made the soldiers stand straighter, "I am Caleb Vance, the King of the North, and I am here to clean the rot out of this city, so you have to decide right now if you are going to stand with a man who takes bribes, or if you are going to stand with the commander who actually bled for your freedom."

​The tension was so thick it felt like it might snap, but then, one of the younger soldiers in the front row lowered his rifle completely and took a step toward Caleb, snapping a crisp military salute that was quickly followed by another soldier, and then another, until half of the garrison was standing at attention in a sign of total defection.

​"What are you doing? This is mutiny! I'll have you all arrested!" Barrett shrieked, but he was ignored as his own drivers and guards began to climb down from their vehicles, leaving the General and the C Family members standing alone on their command deck like survivors on a sinking ship.

​"Aris, come out and take charge of these men, and secure the General for questioning," Caleb ordered without looking back, "it seems we have some new recruits who are ready to help us take the Sterling Tower.”