Brutin looked up from the sheaf of papers as the runner returned. He saw the man had been in fighting but looked none for the worse for wear. The man bowed instead of saluting proper but Brutin ignored it, proper military discipline would come for those who survived.

"We have encountered resistance finally in the lowest level, the cavern has evened out into cut stone and we have rescued several of their slaves." He said and Brutin nodded, it would be important to talk with them, see them for himself.

"You should unleash us." Philodus offered but Brutin simply shook his head.

"There are twenty Kurii out there if I am not mistaken, they can rip through this force with ease if that is the case, I need you prepared to fight 'the demons' as they appear. It will be dangerous enough and I need all of you fresh for the fight." Brutin warned him but the other Goreans had heard and nodded to him, the gravity of the situation fell on them.

"We will be ready." Philodus pledged and Brutin nodded.

"Break yourselves up into five man groups, use spears, once you close with a Kurii you have perhaps one thrust of the sword to make your will known and then you will know if you live." Brutin said gravely, the men did not react to the dramatic words, he had fought Kurii before and they knew that most men, even Goreans, died easily at their hands.

A new runner came scrambling up to them, skidding to a halt and then falling to his knees as he raggedly tried to catch his breath. Brutin glared at him impatiently as he waited to hear his message. The man was sweating profusely but he managed to point the way he had come.

"They come."

Brutin waited until the light died in his foe's eyes and then stepped forward, the beast no longer breathed and only now was it safe to approach it as he bent down and cut it's throat until the head lolled freely in the blood soaked dirt. Philodus stood beside him a grimace of disgust and distaste meshing his features.

"I would not give you a fallen leaf from my garden as to what you think of this Philodus but if you take your warrior's code into battle against the Kurii then you will end up it's noontime supper, remember that." He cautioned his friend and Brutin stopped short to make a point of considering the remains of the man who had tried to honorably end the life of the fallen beast. The rest of the men considered him as well and then looked up at Brutin. "Let not another man be fooled that these Dogs have an ounce of honor and I shall never look down on you for simple slaughter." He said and they all nodded. "In the meantime...." Brutin switched tones and smiled, "We can show their pets all the honor we like." He joked and the men laughed.

"Forward!" Philodus called out and the Goreans brought their weapons up and advanced. Brutin fell in with them but he would not engage the men and underlings of the Kurii, no, he would save his energy for the fighting to be done with the Dogs. They might have kicked him off his home world but by the farts of Priestkings they would not infest his new home either.

They pushed over several old battles, many dead littered about and Brutin realized that his mercenaries were making a good account of themselves. Impressed he pushed forward and encountered the first of the slain Kurii. He was lying on his back surrounded by mercs. They had brought him down by sheer numbers and their loses had been high.

Brutin sighed and pushed on. Philodus kept silent and watched him carefully as they continued down the passage. The second scene was much like the first only this time there were less dead mercenaries. Brutin glanced over it all and then looked at his friend. "They are learning." He said and stepped ever onward.

If Philodus objected to Brutin's callousness he said nothing until finally they entered the very final chamber where the Kurii had made their last stand. Already too late the Goreans amongst him cursed and fidgeted at the lost opportunity but Brutin only smiled. This was as it should be.

The Goreans fanned out but the fighting was done and there were three large groups of fighting men standing about central to three people, possibly their leaders. Good, the men and selected the most capable of their lot during combat. It was amazing the truths one could find amid death. Brutin gave the nod and Philodus motioned for the three prominent members to join them.

Brutin watched them walk up, they were all battle scored and breathing heavily from exertion. Dust and blood coated them like skin and the one man with no helmet watched Brutin with fiery eyes. here lies a fanatic he thought and smiled to him.

"Well done you all, I see the mission is accomplished, is this the lot of them?" He asked and Fiery Eyes nodded in reply. Brutin turned to regard him and the man pulled himself together.

"I am called Deacon and I've counted them all out and confirmed they are dead." He said firmly and Brutin nodded. He turned his attention to the second man who took his helmet off and spat on the ground to clear his throat.

"My name is Gemonom and I brought my group right up the middle after we were ambushed and most of us killed by the demons I was able to rally the survivors and keep us alive while distracting the enemy." He said, there was no pride in his voice and Brutin glanced over to see that few of his group remained, he had rose to the challenge after everyone better than he had died.

Brutin finally turned to the third man and squinted. "And I am sure you struck the flank as Gemonom here kept the Dogs busy." He said and the man nodded solemnly before reaching up and pulling his helmet away from his head. He did not spit on the group but instead shook out her long golden curls, her green eyes piercing Brutin in a challenge as if now that she was revealed as a woman she no longer had a place on the battlefield.

"I am Salbeth and we let none live." She said simply, her voice high, fit for a singer or poet instead of a warrior captain. As a man she had a barrel chest but as a woman Brutin could guess what filled that space instead. Such are fantasies born. But he had too much experience with beautiful yet capable women to mistake them for playthings.

"You three are promoted to Captain. Each of you will command two hundred men, even out the troops as needed but keep the overflow. I will provide instruction for uniforms and we will get the men situated in the compound." Brutin commanded and they nodded in understand while he turned to Philodus. "Make sure we take all of the Kurii slaves out of here but leave the bodies, a reminder for those coming afterwards to leave."

As everyone moved off to do his bidding he took one last look around and the walked up to the largest Kurii body he could find. It lay in death, the various cuts and spear shafts sticking out from its flesh announcing how it died and Brutin silently hoped it had been horrible for it. He finally sighed and unsheathed his sword, cutting away it's lifeless head and then thrust a spear into the ground, placing the cut head on it as warning to those that would come later. He cleaned his blade off and re sheathed it as the troops filed out of the catacombs to head for the surface and Philodus joined him. They were ready. He smiled and then regarded the Kurii one last time.

"Welcome home Dog."