The Final Nail

After a body had been discovered inside Fort Iron, the travellers joined the Iron Tide troopers investigating the back door where it appeared the incursion had come from, but a grenade booby trap left Zhil with grievous wounds and in need of surgery. The Colonel and another trooper investigated the doorway, and were sniped for their troubles. Tossing smoke out the back door, the Iron Tide began to investigate any further attackers, but a motorbike could be heard receding from the attack scene. When one of the troopers discovered another motorbike and decided to mount a pursuit, he was blown apart by yet another booby trap. Just when the travellers thought the attack was over, a mortar attack began to rain shells on the hideout, leaving no option but to flee down an escape tunnel. Zhil was taken away for surgery for several hours, but refused to stay to recuperate.

Later that evening Zhil, Tex and the Colonel all visited the aslan nobility, with Halfnir forced to wait outside. Excellent progress was made with Zhil managing to charm Hiiraol into accepting the Iron Tide as the new force in town, and Tex bumped into Syaoku, one of Hiiraol's wives, who offered to smooth the way with Hiiraol for a future favour, which Tex agreed to. The deal was struck.

Meeting back at the docks, the travellers were briefed by Colonel Eriksson who outlined their final mission, to mow down Ozegin and his aide when they went to meet Hiiraol, who had already agreed to lure the Waterfront's leader into the trap. He had already hired another group, some vargr mercenaries lead by Zorzaeng the Ravager, to make the final attack on the warehouse. Everything went as planned and with a hail of laser, stun and bullets, the two were slain without incident. Not even the barman survived without an encounter with one of Tex's grenade booby traps.

But notably absent from the grisly slaying was Halfnir, who slipped away when the bullets started flying...