Chapter LXXII: Showdown at the Mine

Automatic gunfire barked across the old mine facility. It was like a scene for an old Western flick, except for the fact small piles of snow were littered across the ground and everyone was shouting in Ukrainian. And, of course, the automatic gunfire. Old AKs, shotguns and pistols were let loose as dark figures in armoured suits advanced on the mine, firing in wild abandon.

There were roughly 20 or so men in big trenchcoats, red Zone-assembled suits and even the advanced SEVA suits. They were led by a man in a large exoskeleton, cobbled together from multiple suits with varying decree of success. As they advanced, they chanted prayers to Vyraj, their mysterious deity, amidst orders and taunts.

Anton Anomaly and Mark Garlic retreated further into the mine. Fighting an enemy this large would be a struggle, and neither of them had a particularly good weapons for such close-range fighting. The gloomy setting did not help. Anton was still disoriented from being hit by so much psi-energy, and thus his readiness for such an intense battle was far from perfect. All Mark could hope was that Boris had somehow made it into the Forest and was heading to help them, Hip most likely had not survived.

The Sinners had appeared not long after the demise of Alpha Karlik. Mark had just gotten Anton back to the land of living, still shaken from the dreams. The Sinners had encircled the mine and ordered the men to surrender, which Mark vehemently opposed, mostly in the form of 5.56mm fire.

• I've got one grenade for my launcher, should we try to use it somehow, Anton shouted over the gunfire. Mark nodded, he was furiously thinking of a plan to save them.

• I'll cover you, go down to the lower mine and wait for them to pass. Once they're overhead, blow the planks out from underneath them and let rip. I'll be the anvil, you be the hammer, Mark ordered and Anton leaped into the hole leading to the second level of the mine.

Mark prepared his SVDS PMC, belonging to his now deceased friend Pavel. The rifle let out a series of soft thunks, followed by the supersonic cracks of the bullets. The swarm struck the Sinners ahead, and three of them left this world for another. The cramped entrance of the mine made them a vulnerable target for Mark's rifle, and the darkness of the dungeon made it hard for his opponents to pinpoint his location.

They did not relent despite the mounting losses. More fell to the accurate fire, but it was not enough. Fire filled the tunnel as the Sinners fired down it, sending dust, roots and dirt flying. Mark laid down, hoping none of the bullets struck him.

• Theo and Balin, if you're watching, give me strength to kill these sukas, Mark whispered to the sky and once more raised his rifle.

• Kill the infidel, spread his entrails across the mine, was the only answer that came, though not from Theo or Balin, but from the Sin leader.

Yet more Sinners fell, the exoskeleton leader amongst them. They had now reached the planked section, barely hanging in the air. Suddenly, the floor exploded beneath them, causing it to collapse. Steel creaked horribly as industrial beams and earth fell down, crushing some of the Sin members with it. They screamed in horror and pain as they fell down. On the second level, Anton swiftly tried to finishoff the survivors. Dust had now covered the entire mine, making it impossible to see ahead with flashlights or night vision gear.

Mark stumbled forward, his gasmask thankfully sheltering him from swallowing dust. Many of the Sinners were not as lucky, he could hear them coughing ahead. But amidst the coughs and spitting, a new voice could be heard. The wailing of iron and steel was still too loud for the Sinners to hear it, but Mark's enhanced sense of hearing could pick it up even in this cacophony. Someone was marching through the duststorm, and the Sinners were getting slain one after another.

A figure emerged from the smoke, but it was not the saviour Mark had hoped. A large Sinner in trenchcoat charged him, trying to use his bayonet to slice through Mark's abdomen. The experienced hunter dodged it, but the sheer viciousness kept the Sin member going and he plunged his rifle towards Mark again. The bayonet passed by mere inches from Mark's shoulder. A blast came from the dustcloud, temporarily lighting the swirling storm, and a round slammed into the Sin zealot. He whimperef and fell to the ground.

Mark turned his rifle towards the shooter, who now emerged amidst the smoke and airborne dirt.

• Holster that shooter, Mark, is that a way to treat an old friend, a familiar voice said with a humorous tone.

• Boris? How the hell did you get here? I mean I am glad you did anyway, Mark replied, lowering his rifle.

He could now see the familiar Spartan helmet and the combination of red and black of the suit. The blade Boris was holding was dripping blood, and the FNX pistol he had in his right hand was still smoking. Boris smiled and responded:

• It's a long story my friend, but I am glad you're alive and well. Let's just say this journey wasn't without its ups and downs. I assume the karlik is dead?

• Dead, thank God or whatever else, Mark said, raising his gasmask just enough to spit.

Anton appeared from below, covered in dust, blood and dirt, but alive.

• And good thing you're alive too, that was a close one, Boris said to him, and Anton gave him a friendly but faint smile.

• Damn sure, I was almost an Anton sandwich, he replied, prompting a hearty laugh from Boris.

The main mission of this excursion was finally over for Boris. It had created a lot of new questions, and the Sin bodies would have to be examined to find out what they were doing here, but it had been a victory altogether. Finally a victory that was not a hollow one. Perhaps the Zone could be pacified to its original level, Boris thought to himself, but it was far too early to tell.