“Interesting findings,” Richard Wellesley, Duke of Wellington pondered.

“Yes. It looks like they were simply hunting in the zone like we usually do. That’s the only team we spotted before retreating, per orders, but then we were in-zone for like four days, and that one’s fairly large,” Jonas completed.

The Duke stood up and walked back and forth a few times, stopping before a large faded world map and contemplating the continent of interest.

“The southern tip of Africa is now terra incognita. Since the Dutch and British colonies got wiped out in 1803 and 1804 – and yes, the reports did imply some form of Professional help in the assaults – nobody has been able to figure out anything about the state of the lands there. The Zulu were the most antagonistic tribal confederacy at the time, but there’s no guarantee they’re the ones behind the attacks.”

“So the fifth Gate really did open in Southern Africa?”

“It looks like. Now, that’s somewhat reassuring. I was kind of expecting you to stumble upon maybe the Chinese. Or the French. The Africans haven’t made a significant move in two decades, so they’re not our enemies. At least not now. Two Gate-empowered enemies are bad for the Empire, three active wars would be worse news.”

The Duke did a little shrug at the notion.

“At least we can rely on the Americans' peace?” Jonas pondered.

“Well, they’ve finished removing all traces of the Empire at home. Once they kicked us out of Canada, they’ve been content with leaving us alone and opening up trade. Even though King George is still there, they haven’t held too much of a grudge. And we now even have a treaty on Labyrinth operations,” he said.

“They didn’t like me near the Labyrinth, though,” Jonas replied, alluding to the massive political dance around his visit to the Gate Gilded Gate of Manhattan.

“You’re different. Although we didn’t know about your team when the Labyrinth treaty was signed, it was mostly to make sure that, in the worst case, we could use their Gate. You’re not a treaty breaker event, though, don’t worry about that.”

“So, we’re mostly allies and the Africans might be in the same position? Does the government want to establish some kind of diplomatic connection with those Zulu? Us or another Scouts team,” Jonas offered.

“Besides the fact that nobody among Professionals probably speaks their language, that’s not warranted. I’d say let it lie for now. If… once we deal with the French Dominion, then we can see whether or not they are hostile and if we can enlist some support against the Chinese. It may take a decade if what we’re doing fails, but I doubt the government will risk a new war starting.”

There was a knock at the door, and a War Office bureaucrat entered at the Duke’s call, bringing a wrapped note. The Duke unrolled it, read it quickly.

“News from the first Agni team.”

“Agni?”

“That is a name I’ve picked from my days in India to refer to the future assault on Versailles. I’d have used Janus, but a name referring to a two-headed God of Doors and Gateways would be a bit too blunt if it leaks. Agni keeps the theme of the dual assault, though,” the Duke explained.

“So, they’re in?”

“Millard tells me they have acquired the Gate between the tier one and two of the trunk, and are now enabled for Brocarres. He’ll wait until he can synchronise with the rest of the British Scouts to see what can be done next.”

The Duke smiled slightly at the end of the report.

…

Our guardian called upon us the most stupendous of stampedes, a truly enormous number of beasts. Despite our temporary team, this was defeated easily, but it was an impressive fight, the like of which I have not seen in the Labyrinth.

…

PS: I hate spiders, even low level. Too many in tier six.

“Oh. So that’s why we could not find that Sentry guardian when we went there?” Jonas wondered.

“You knew that guardian? Oh, of course, you’ve scouted it first. Well, this note is dated from five days ago,” Duke Wellington said.

“Then they were there just before we came through.”

“The next team should be close to the access zone or even waiting for their last Guardian. Make sure to leave at least one guardian up when you go back,” he warned.

“Will do,” Jonas acknowledged.

Jonas’ boss moved on the next topic of the meeting.

“You’ll be happy to take note that the High Labyrinth Office now has nine new Professionals,” the Duke added.

“Oh, we’re getting our first non-Scout teams?” Jonas replied.

“Two teams that I consider very trustworthy. I snatched them from a medium company whose owner I know. He recommended them, even if I couldn’t tell him why I needed them.”

Jonas pondered a bit on the news.

“How many people do you want to be involved, Labyrinth-side?”

“As many as I can squeeze through that guardian stranglehold of yours…”

“It’s not mine. It’s just the zone,” Jonas countered, before checking himself for interrupting to the Duke.

“… and that I can use. I understand it’s going to be a small number overall. With every lair requiring completion, you can’t spread the teams in parallel. So, I’m picking 200+ levels teams mostly. The upper tiers will deal with whatever forces are in the Labyrinth, the lower tiers should be enough to deal with whatever’s waiting at Versailles. Except for the Tyrant and his cronies,” the Duke elaborated.

“Can we participate? We’re already enabled and ready,” Jonas asked.

“I’m shooting for upper tier three, people who’ve got everything from tier three and working on going further. The kind of thing that the Chinese use against us, with too much of a great effect. Your team is not upper tier three.”

The Duke raised his hand to forestall Jonas’ objections.

“I know. You’re special, but that’s an even better argument not to involve the Adapted Professionals in this. If it fails, we need to ensure we have something to forestall the Labyrinth shenanigans from the French, if we need to. But the final point is that you don’t have the vitals, potentials, nor even ranks to match. Given that we can’t recruit everyone anyway, we’ll get the highest trustworthy people we can.”

Jonas could see how Jonathan would be disappointed when he was told they wouldn’t be participating.

“Meanwhile, if you need weeks to get resources to scout any zone… I’d like you to do the French access first. Hopefully, it’s like that Zulu zone, just fighting the guardian next to the Gate suffices. If not, we need to revise our assault plans to cross the Brocarres-Argenmart Gate. And yes, your team will determine that.”

“We’ll grab an additional Fast Travel charge first because I’d rather have us with a spare charge once there, but then we’ll sneak in.”

“Before you do, there is someone you’ll need to talk to.”

“Who?”

“The French defector. He won’t know why exactly, and try not to let him guess too much. He’s been loyal for the decade he’s been around, but let’s not risk him spooking up at the perspective of a British invasion of his homeland.”

The Duke pulled up a small paper and started writing the details for Jonas, before handing him the introduction note.

“He alternates between teaching newcomers for a few companies and doing large materials harvesting in tier three. You should be able to find him at the Saltesford Services’ headquarters in Gatepost.”

“No, he’s out in the field, training three people from Newport Wood in Phasian next door. But Baudouin will be back on Friday if you want to meet him,” said the Saltesford quartermaster.

“I might not be there,” Jonas grimaced.

“He’s scheduled for a run in tier three next week, but he’ll be back next Friday,” she replied helpfully.

“Wait, what? They do not want us?” Jonathan blurted.

Jonas had anticipated the outburst. There was little he could do, but shrug.

“The Duke’s decision. Although strictly speaking, if it works out like that Zulu zone, we still could tag along anyway. But acting as independent people during a military operation would be counterproductive. And besides, yes, he is our boss.”

“On paper,” Jonathan spat.

“Can we get to upper tier three fast with the Adjustment bonus? I mean… Babbage even said we probably can skip the upper tier three and jump straight into tier four without taking a side Profession,” Alton said to mollify his friend.

“That’s true. And something I wanted to talk about,” Jonas replied.

“What do you mean?” Jonathan asked.

“The progression to tier four is ongoing, and all we need is time. Lairs are good, untamed zones are good, and we might even get to tier four before Wellington gives the operation a go,” Jonas said.

“So… you’re saying there’s a chance.”

“Level 200 is mostly synonym of late tier three for everyone but us. I mean, we are going to be tier four long before we’re 200. That part is obvious. So, yes. If we get solidly into tier four, no matter what effective level we are, we can argue our case to the Duke.”

Jonathan anger seemed to subside once that possibility was raised.

“It’s still going to be a race against time. And we still have those scouting missions,” he said finally.

“One that has priority. The rest, we can do at our own rhythm. Besides once there are more teams enabled, some will be able to assist, although they’ll be concentrating on the upper tiers, presumably,” Jonas said.

“Has Cowen found any other entrance further up?” Ira asked.

“The Duke had no news. Apparently, she has not left any information at their usual Recall hangout in tier five so far. Not as of last week.”

“Is that normal?” Ira frowned.

“I don’t know. Wellington doesn’t know that well how the Scouts usually work, his brother would probably judge that better. But then, her team is probably usually thorough, and going through tier five is going to take a lot of her time.”

“Then she probably did not find anything major to report, is that it?”

“The Duke would probably have liked if she found a shortcut,” Jonas speculated.

“I wonder what kind of Plaza guardians she found,” Laura wondered.

Guss snorted in laughter.

“Based on the one we fought… I’m not that anxious to face them yet.”

“So what do we do?” Jonathan asked, steering back the discussion. “We need that experience fast.”

“We can head to tier three and fight normal creatures there. They should be easy and give reasonable experience, like when we finished your last level before tier three,” Ira offered.

“Lairs give a better experience, and gear,” Guss countered.

“Yes, but the higher lairs in Outapis are almost all at the other end of the zone from our Fast Travel point,” Ira replied.

“The tier one Gate is near there. We can switch our useless tier one point,” Guss replied.

“And once we’ve done the handful of higher lairs, we waste time on the lower ones? Do they give more experience than the tier three outdoors?” Ira insisted.

Both Laura and Jonathan watched with mounting incredulity the heating debate between the two. Jonas felt he had to intervene.

“Well, we can try to see what’s better. I need to see the French guy on the weekend, so let’s head to Vuneras, fight everything we can, take note of lair locations for the future, and then, next time, we’ll do Outapis and lairs to see how it compares.”

“Besides, if the loot holds in Donerkal, we’ll be better outfitted from there anyway,” Laura added.

“Yes, but there are only five guardians apparently, and we’re being told to leave some for the incoming teams,” Jonas corrected her.

“Hey, stop shooting my suggestions as well,” she replied, her tone belying the faked irritation.

Jonas raised his hands in mock defence.

“So? Some experience, your talk, then scouting the French?”

“Apparently. And this time, we will be in enemy territory, with presumably more teams around. We will need to be careful, even though nobody suspects we have the trunk to shortcut there.”