The Staff Sergeant watched the members of the team come through the door he smiled at them from where he slumped against the wall.


“Lets just agree that we both helped save each other shall we?” Then he saw Sgt Romo,“Hey there buddy,” His smile broadened, “I should have known you were too stubborn to die. About time you guys got here. I was tired of wearing them down by letting them beat on my ribs and face.”
Doc stepped over to the G.I. slumping against the stone wall. “ Shoot that’s nothing, you should have seen how I lured that flying Gargoyle using my shoulder as an appetizer.”

As Max stared blankly at that comment, Doc checked the man over and assessed the damage to his face and ribs. Pulling roll bandages from his med kit Jack started binding what looked likely to be cracked ribs. Then wetting some gauze he cleaned and treated the cuts on his face and eyes.

“Wow you really did a great job bruising those Germans fists with your face. “

As the worst of his wounds were being tended he told of how he had managed to jump out just seconds before the plane went down. His chute had opened late and well, it had been easy for the Germans to find him really.

“You must have been in that truck we saw headed this way. Glad you chose to scout out the castle. But this ain’t no rocket fuel plant. “ Doc finished up and Max asked for some better weapons.

Then he said, “Ah, no one has found my satchel have they? Damn Krauts took it and I think we could sure use it.”.

“A satchel?....... Oh thank god, you’re a bomber. …Hot damn!” doc chuckled and smiled.

Corban left the communications to those with degrees in communications . . . or whatever it was you learned when you got promoted. he was glad to have one positive outcome from this trip, even if it was just saving the arse of another team member. And one more team member might mean a better chance of saving the rear end of everybody.

So he helped get Brutal out of the pit as commanded, only adding a "nice grab, big guy," as he saw the precarious hold that had saved the man's life.

Once that was done, he took he usual position against a wall, on guard. In particular he kept his eyes on the doors - there had been too many surprises already and they had made a lot of noise.

He did smile when Max commented on their taking care of everybody topside. "oh yeah," he responded. "Lets just say there don't seem to be many. . . ahh . . .people topside anymore. Or much castle, for that matter." But he kept his eyes on the hallway and he listened carefully.

Max asked, “Ah, where exactly are we going and what is going on here? You guys kill everyone topside? I saw a lot of soldiers here and frankly I don’t see this small group getting this far into this place.”

Max was very glad to find friendly faces in this dark place, and the team had another member. You took some time to brief Max on the weirdness that had been the mission and of the monsters that go bump in the castle.

Brutal took one of the machine guns off the dead german soldier and handed it to Max along with two magazines. "Not as good as a Thompson, but beggars and choosers right?" He says with a grin " We ain't seen you bag of party favours but if we do, I'll let you know."

Greta stands back on guard as the team regroups and Max is bandaged up. Considering how much he had been hit, The Doc finds he is in good condition. "We should not linger." She says nervously.

(Assuming you are moving down hallway and into the room)

the doors are open and ajar to the next room. Brutal takes his usual point position and peers in, pushing the door aside slight with the end of his machinegun. Once he has a quick look-see, he shoulders his way through the door and moves in. The is no gunfire and he quickly calls out a "clear".

Inside the room, arched frames of stone form a low wet ceiling over this room that was once a wine cellar. Places where great casks used to line the wall are visible and the walls are brighter in colour where the casks once stood, leaving ghostly reminders of what it once was. Now the room is being used as a barrack and dining area with 6 cots set up around the room, each with a chest at the end for storing clothing and personal effects. A long table occupies the northern section of the room and food is set out (bread, butter, jams, warm coffee in a dented silver urn, milk, sugar). In the southern part of the room is a archway and past them is a huge circular stairwell that leads both upwards and downwards through the castle. For below you can hear the sound of generators humming and voices talking in german. There is a strong draft coming up from the deep dark, and a foul smell to the air, like that of death and decay. Even over the din of voice below, there seems to be another voice whispering in another language, oh so faintly.

Max was tended and tried to clue him in on what was really happening in the castle and what the new mission was all about.

Doc repacked his med kit. The ache in his shoulder and the pain of the stitches were reminders of what had been. John pulled a few aspirins and slid the silver flask from his hip pocket. Tossing in the pills and washing them down with the brandy would take the edge off the pain without fuzzing up his mind.

As Romo finished up with Max, Greta spoke up, "We should not linger." With that the group picked up and Brutal took point again. Cautiously the group moved through the hall and into a large room.

The smell of coffee caught Doc as he followed in behind the others. The room had been converted to a barracks and the occupants had left in a hurry. There was stairway at the back of the room that led both up and down. They had earlier discussed needing to go to library on the upper level to find the items that needed destroyed. They also said they needed to find the way out of castle in the lower level. So Doc made his way over to food as the Captain and the sergeants decide what to do next. No sense in letting good food and hot coffee go to waste.

With the brief firefight over, Romo was finally able to move forward and approach his long time friend Max. In a way it peeved Romo as the staff sergeant seemed to recognize him only then for the first time.

“Hey there buddy, I should have known you were too stubborn to die. About time you guys got here. I was tired of wearing them down by letting them beat on my ribs and face.”

“Yeah well at least your good for something. Look Max it’s great your alive right now we need all the help we can get in this crazy s***.” Giving the guy a brief hug Romo turned to the rest of the half dozen allied survivors.

“Ok listen up I need to converse with the Captain as to our next move so Corbin guard duty, Doc check Keller out and fill him in on what’s been happening since we landed. Clements inventory the enemy gear here and see what’s portable without weighing us down.”

Bending down Romo grabbed the last German SMG, it’s two clips, a Luger and a second pair of clips for it. Moving to the Captains side he steered the officer away from the others while conversation continued behind the two.

“Captain with everything going on, our ammo for our own weapons is going to go fast and as you’re the only one without any German weapons I think it’d be better if you added this SMG and Luger to your gear.”

(Slight pause for reply)
“Yes Sir understood, also Sir I’ve been thinking this whole thing through and I can’t help, based on this encounter, but come to the conclusion that not all the enemy troops may realize what the white coats and their upper officers were doing here. I know this is gonna sound crazy but we may be able somehow to join forces with some of them to shut this place down. After all Sir they are soldiers just like us for the most part.”

(Pausing once more for a reply.)…………

Max was stunned by what he heard as he was being patched up; it was hard to believe, like something out of a bad comic book or dime store novel. Yet when he looked at the squad members he could see no sign that they were messing with him.

“Well, I guess we got no choice but to kill these things and put a stop to whatever is causing these things,” he finally said as he got to his feet.

He took the german machine gun and mags that Brutal offered him and chuckled slightly at the man’s comments.

“Thanks Corporal, this is better than what I had.” Looking down at the two lugers still tucked into his belt. He made sure the machine gun was fully loaded and then when the group moved out he took up a position somewhere in the middle of the bunch. He moved a little gingerly, his bruises causing him a little discomfort.

“Clear!” Came the call from Brutal and Max filed in with the others. Once he took stock of the room he nodded towards the stairwell and gestured to Brutal. \\

“Corporal secure that stairwell.” He ordered; he didn’t intend to take over from Sgt Romo who outranked him. He would take his orders from Romo but he would put in his own comments when warranted.

“Orders?” He said turning to Romo and the Captain where they seemed to be conversing on just what they would be doing next.

(OOC: Sorry for the lame posts, RL is just real busy right now and I am not finding a lot of time to write up anything good. )

Corbin stood guard while the group welcomed its new member. He wasn't in command - and he wasn't sure what he'd do if he was anyway. Keep going down, I guess, he thought to himself.

As the group moved out Corbin held his position near the rear of the party. He tended to ignore the command decisions and keep his eyes and ears peeled. He did not want to be surprised. Those Germans were not the worst thing down here.

After the next room had been declared safe he moved forward and took a quick glance himself. He was curious about what was in the trunks. And the food looked good, but probably was not worth the wait. But you never knew about food on a mission like this. Where would the next meal come from? Meanwhile, he stood back near the door they had entered from and kept guard. Although he looked around the room they were in, he kept his eyes primarily focused on the hall they had come from. Having caught a snipet of German from the stairway, he figured Romo would be the one to look that direction - Corbin's German wasn't good, while the Sarge was fluent.

So he sat back and watched and listened. He wondered about the winecellar. Somehow it seemed like winecellars were a traditional place for secret doors. And this place seemed to have legends coming alive, so why not secret doors? It would be nice if for once having mysteries come alive helped them out instead of hunting them.

But while he mused these things over, and glanced around the room a little, especially where the casks used to be located, he kept his focus on the hallway.

As they moved into the next room, the sergeant came over for a few words.

“Captain with everything going on, our ammo for our own weapons is going to go fast and as you’re the only one without any German weapons I think it’d be better if you added this SMG and Luger to your gear.”
“You are right, Sergeant. I’ll keep them with me. We will continue our mission, but I think it would be a waste not to take this moment to take any nutrition we can. Have the men eat and drink as quickly as they can. Take some coffee yourself while it is still hot. Who knows when the next opportunity will come, and hunger starves our wits as well. Can’t have that.”

He assumed the food wasn’t wasted by whatever had happened. He doubted there would be anything wrong with it.

“Yes Sir understood, also Sir I’ve been thinking this whole thing through and I can’t help, based on this encounter, but come to the conclusion that not all the enemy troops may realize what the white coats and their upper officers were doing here. I know this is gonna sound crazy but we may be able somehow to join forces with some of them to shut this place down. After all Sir they are soldiers just like us for the most part.”
Luke knew the man was right. It was highly likely that the German soldiers were looking for a way out as badly as they were. It would be tricky to trust them though, but they could always try to get as far as possible with whatever ally they would encounter. He had been considering this problem, and knew that the hardest part was drawing a line somewhere. A war was still going on, and you never knew how insanely loyal some folks were around here. Judging from how he had heard the chain of command went, the more loyal the more stripes.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing.” He replied. “Men trapped in the wrong space and time. We will negotiate with any soldiers we come across. However, we will not be forgiving on their superiors. Any officer we come across is a potential threat, and will be dealt with accordingly. Any SS-er we find is dead on sight.”

He looked around the room.

“We will each take turns in guarding the entrances to this room while the rest eats. We should be fast. After that we will move onward. Where do you expect we need to go, Miss Hoffstetter? Further down?”

The team made its way to the basement level of Castle Rautenberg meeting with very little resistance. In fact, it seemed like many of the Nazis were gone or fighting the horrors you had seen along the way. However, when you got the crypts, you realized that some German soldiers were all stationed to keep you out. There were several intense gunfights in corridors and through the dungeons plus more "things" coming to life to attack like suits of armour and statues. Corporal Brutal was severely wounded while defending the team from an ambush where Nazis hid in the upper level of a chamber and rained machinegun fire down upon you. The team would have been decimated if not for his quick actions. Doc patched Brutal up as best he could but both of them knew that Brutal's chances were slim.

You go through a number of rooms, finding a store room with a large stash of explosives and finding the commander's room (Metzger) with a secret room within it. There you find a journal that describes the experiments within the castle. Seems that a "Herr Doctor" (name never given) found an "elder sign" and was convinced he could open a dimensional portal to bring god-like creatures into this world that would serve him as he bore the sign. Greta said his theory was wrong because he was working through a book called Unausprechlichen Kulten by Von Junzt and not the Necronomicon by Abdul Alhazred. During his first attempt to open the portal, a soldier was killed but then appeared to have a embryo egg inside his chest. The solder and egg were taken away for further study - confirming the story told to you by the German scientist.

.....okay then .... What did this mean to an average Joe?

Well the good news is that Herr Doctor did not transport a 100 tall god of death into your world. The bad news was that he did bring in something from that dimension into your world and it was wrecking havoc with reality. Furthermore, it is possible it has spawned more and that the Nazi scientist was attempting to open the gate again. The elder sign would protect him from enchantments and harm but give him no authority or command or whatever comes through the gate.

You grabbed the explosives and took out the guards to the crypt and the rushed the room. The crypt was a massive underground graveyard and the last of the Germans were here. You fought between the crypts and stone, and eventually were successful in taking the room. Herr Doctor proved to be full of surprises as gunfire knocked him down but did not wound or kill him. He managed to escape with a book and the elder sign.

You shut down the generators and wired the room with the explosives. The only problem was there was no radio equipment to create a remote detonator and not enough length of cord to clear the explosion. Someone had to stay behind to blow the charges and bring the castle down.

Someone suggested drawing lots and Captain Edintore said he would stay. But Brutal took the charge wires away from him. "Listen. There is no way I am going to make it down that mountain pass the lady is talking about. I'm hurt bad and I caught more during this fight. Get everyone out of here alive and I'll cross the wires with a smile on my face. I knew that war was hell but I didn't think I'd be fighting ye olde monsters and ye olde creatures. So go. It's been an honour to serve with all of you."

Doc knew Brutal was telling the truth so you gave the wires to Brutal and quickly made for the hidden exit. Brutal was good to his word and as soon as you got out and down the secret pass - the castle blew up in a fiery explosive and the creature with the tentacles was consumed by the fire.

You made it out and managed to get back to England to report on your mission. You are first met with scepticism but soon the allies get confirmation of the events. Greta stayed behind, promising to send her reports to Intrepid, whom she reported to, but she felt she could still be a service to the war effort by staying in Germany.

Allied command decides that this occult threat must be countered. They decide to form a team based on the findings of this mission. When asked to give the team a name, You remember the last words of Corporal Brutal and call yourselves "Team Yeolde".

In the coming months you find yourself on many missions. You stop the Nazis from getting a shield from a knight's tomb. You find the Holy Grail only to lose it afterwards to a guardian protecting it, but at least the Nazis did not get it. You travel to Romania and fight an undead creature called Nosferatu where you rescued an American scholar who now helps you with knowledge of the occult.

Master Sgt. Troy Romo was sent away to aid the Monument Men on the front. Max Keller rejoined his unit after "too much weirdness" by his own words. Greta Hofsetter managed to get herself into the secretarial pool of the SS headquarters and is a key source of information to the allies. She also organized a group of German women who are opposed to Hitler and Nazism to act as spies and assist the allies.

New members join the team and you continue your fight against the occult and the evil in the world. You know more now than you did before but you continue to discover a world hidden behind the one you thought existed. There are creatures that go bump in the night and you are the ones that bump back.

Thanks Almerin for the Graphic!



The team sits around the table inside a conference room at the headquarters. Colonel Kevin Darling has called you here for another mission briefing - looks like it is time to fight some monsters again. As usual, the Colonel was thoughtful enough to have sandwiches and tea brought in for you. Darling is your Liaison officer with High Command. He is very pleasant, bears stoically with being teased about his name and has the most amazing ability to "make" things happen. When you were on the Holy Grail mission, three of you were captured and taken to a Turkish Prison. Darling managed to bribe officials in Turkey to have your doors left unlock and a truck left in the delivery area with the keys left in the ignition.

"Right. Now listen up." Darling begins with a light tap on the board with his wooden pointer and a small sip from his tea cup, "Early this week, we received a coded transmission from Miss. Hofsetter with a set of coordinates and the message that the SS occult division was highly interested in this site. The message also mentioned the SS was sending the "Coven" to retrieve whatever is there. Unfortunately we have no idea what or who the Coven is. The coordinates are in Egypt, about 100 miles south west into the desert from Fort Maddalena. Thanks to some work by Sidney Cotton, we were able to get some aerial photo graphs using a small plane and special cameras." Darling pulls several black and white pictures out of a manila envelope and puts them up on the board. The photographs show some sort of ruins in the desert but one large building or temple still intact.

"According to our research people, this is most likely a tomb of an ancient ruler called Hamon-Rye. Apparently he was considered a mage of great power and is rumoured to have collected some antiquities of note. Like most of the rulers of the time, he bankrupted his kingdom building an enormous tomb and his people rose against him. Nothing left but these ruins now." Darling stops to take a breath and drink some of his tea. "Whatever is there, the Jerries are moving fast. We got a report that three lorries were spotted heading in the direction of the ruins this morning. So, as you can plainly see no time for dilly-dally. Gear up and get yourself out to airfield 4 within the hour. We want to be wheels up as soon as possible so we can drop you at dusk. Usual mission. Stop the Jerries, get the magic, bring it back home. We have a man in Fort Maddalena who can get you home once you get out. Any questions?"

Alistaria had filed into the room with the rest of the team. It still felt odd to be so included. Star took a seat towards the back if the table farther away from the Colonel. Even though Colonel Darling was a good man whom she respected greatly military men still made her feel slightly ware.

Star listened intently trying to read the colonels tone, how good was his intel? was he with holding something?

Star perked up at the mention of Hamon-Rye. Sipping her tea she listened to what the colonel said, as the colonel paused to sip his tea. Star set her tea cup down hard making a loud ear abrasive clank.

shrinking back an blushing slightly she apologised quickly an began to speak.

"Colonel, if it pleases you, I'd like to add what little i know to the pool as it were." Star looked at the group one after another then closed her eyes, drawing the information from her mind she spoke.

"Hamon-Rye an his consort Monanedra were great rulers long before the pyramids were constructed. It was said that they were great an powerful couple. Who made a lush an fertile kingdom in the desert for his people. So great was their magic their it is said that the waters that flowed forth fresh sweet an could could heal a man of illness, plague or injury. With the high priestess Monadedra at his side, he wheeled the great staff of Mo-Pelar. Through which its said that his magic flowed through the giant diamond which topped the staff.

It is said that he was the very first to build a tomb, to transport his earthly remains to the afterlife. Accounts differ on why he was over thrown or how simply that he was. Upon his death his consort gathered his followers and hid Hamon-Rye in a secret tomb underneath the temple. She then sealed herself into the tomb so she could be with him in the afterlife and cursed the lands that were once his to shrivel up and die. After his death, the waters ceased to flow and the lush fertile lands dried up and were taken by the desert.

The only other accounts i've come across are accounts of A Roman Centurion named Decimus Severian. Found the tomb around the time of Cezar Augustus. taking everything of value an wealth of torching the rest. However given the ease of success the Romans had and the relatively small amount of loot that was found. It is believed by most scholars that Decimus found a false tomb.

In 1865 Heinrich Karl Brugsch found the temple. Which is why it is on the map. It is noted that He said the tomb was long plundered. Though the temple was in control by cultists. They believed Hamon-Rye would return one day and grant them the secret of eternal life. Heinrich was hampered insistently by the cult unable to make a long expedition of the tomb because of them. To the point he had to leave in a hurry or face their wrath.

He did make mention of a mysterious fire within the tomb that was still burning bright when he discovered it but he later recanted that story claiming to have celebrated the discovery with bad liebfraumilch with lead to him seeing the impossible."

Star took a long sip of her tea sighing an looking around the room apologetically as she had been talking quite along while.

Rex lit up a cigarette as he intently listened to the mission briefing from Colonel Kevin Darling:

"Right. Now listen up." Darling begins with a light tap on the board with his wooden pointer and a small sip from his tea cup, "Early this week, we received a coded transmission from Miss. Hofsetter with a set of coordinates and the message that the SS occult division was highly interested in this site. The message also mentioned the SS was sending the "Coven" to retrieve whatever is there. Unfortunately we have no idea what or who the Coven is. The coordinates are in Egypt, about 100 miles south west into the desert from Fort Maddalena. Thanks to some work by Sidney Cotton, we were able to get some aerial photo graphs using a small plane and special cameras." Darling pulls several black and white pictures out of a manila envelope and puts them up on the board. The photographs show some sort of ruins in the desert but one large building or temple still intact.

"According to our research people, this is most likely a tomb of an ancient ruler called Hamon-Rye. Apparently he was considered a mage of great power and is rumoured to have collected some antiquities of note. Like most of the rulers of the time, he bankrupted his kingdom building an enormous tomb and his people rose against him. Nothing left but these ruins now." Darling stops to take a breath and drink some of his tea. "Whatever is there, the Jerries are moving fast. We got a report that three lorries were spotted heading in the direction of the ruins this morning. So, as you can plainly see no time for dilly-dally. Gear up and get yourself out to airfield 4 within the hour. We want to be wheels up as soon as possible so we can drop you at dusk. Usual mission. Stop the Jerries, get the magic, bring it back home. We have a man in Fort Maddalena who can get you home once you get out. Any questions?"
Taking a deep drag on his unfiltered cigarette, the soldier code named 'Rat' spoke up with a thickly accented German accent that he had perfected years earlier, while serving on numerous KP duties under the tutelage of the American German-born Cook Lars, during his early Marine training days:

"Hey Legs! Thanks for the History Lesson!"

[Waits for a response from Lieutenan Alistaria Thanatos]

"So ... Colonel Darling ... Sir! No trace of Panzers?"

[Waits for a response from Colonel Kevin Darling before continuing]

"Sarge best have a supply of explosives for any unexpected German tanks!"

[Waits for a response from Sargent Richard "Dick" Harris Branigan]

"Hey Doc! There be some nasty critters in the desert sands! You got plenty of medical supplies to deal with poison critters? Them African desert snakes, lizards and spiders make the Kentucky mountain critters seem tame!"

[Waits for a response from Cpl. John Stewart (Doc) Reid]

"Hey Cap! Never heard tell of any 'Coven' during my days with the British 'Rat Patrol' units! But there be plenty of Scurvy Cut Throats roaming the sands! They be ready to slit yer throat for yer canteen of water! Any strategy suggestions Cap?"

[Waits for a response from Captain Luke Edintore]

"Well I ate enough sand over there in that ungodly sand box to know we need to be extra special prepared for this mission!

"We be needing plenty of salt pills, be wary of all those stinkin' sink holes and be prepared for the rapid temp changes! Best to travel at night under cover of darkness!

"Corban you prepared for Snipe Huntin' in the desert sands?"

[Waits for a response from Private First Class Corban McGuinness]

"I never heard of no Coven, but them Jerries be up to no good for sure! Hey Legs! You know anything more about this Ham Sandwich Tomb or what the Jerries might be searching for?"

[Waits for a response from Lieutenan Alistaria Thanatos]

"How about you ... Colonel Darling ... Sir? Any Theories?"

Rex scratches both of his tooth bitten ears, as he awaits a response from his commanding officer, seemingly lost in thought regarding the various responses from his teammates.

Corban McGuiness listened to Lieutenant Darling present the mission outline. "Well, here we go again," he thought to himself. We have been sitting here on our duff for a bit too long. Eventually the weirdness was bound to pop up again. And . . . Egypt. What on earth (or not from earth?) did he know about Egypt? Why was it that while you were in school the last thing you ever wanted to do was pay attention, but as soon as you were out you found yourself wishing you had been paying attention?

Pulling himself back from his momentary trip back to his high school history class, Corban tried to remember those lessons on Egypt. He'd had a really good history teacher before he'd snuck off to enlist. Still, the information was a bit thin. Pyramids, the Nile, flooding and silt, the Suez Canal, a god with a dogs head. Osirus - wasn't he the one that was sorta like Jesus? Maybe not. Mummies. Oh. Dang. Mummies. What were the odds there'd be a mummy or six on this trip? Old Mr. Dahl in history class would have said "no way," but after the last several assignments with Ye Olde, Corban was willing to bet there would be mummies.

And crocodiles. He remembered what Mr. Dahl had said about the Nile crocodiles. They were huge, nasty and always hungry. He just didn't like crocs. Actually, he wasn't very fond of anything that came out of the water. You couldn't see it coming and you couldn't shoot things under water very well. He really didn't want to meet up with a huge Nile Croc. Or even a small one.

As the image of a charging croc came to mind, Corban had to suppress the giggles. Here he was, about to march off into some long forgotten temple, chase after some long forgotten pharaoh and priestess with mysterious magical powers, and almost certainly confront a mummy or six - and what was he worried about? Crocodiles. Perfectly normal crocodiles. What kind of person, when confronted with mummies, thinks "gosh, I hope there aren't crocodiles??!!" The kind that had already faced Nosferatu, giant tentacle beasts, gargoyles and other strangeness. This was certainly one Weird War.

But he still didn't like crocodiles.

When Alistaria started to talk Corban listened carefully. The lady knew her stuff. And she obviously had been paying attention to her history teacher. Corban knew his role within the team, and it was generally not to be the source of information. Others knew more about this than he did. Star certainly did. His job was to keep everyone alive through threat elimination. And to do that he needed the information the others could provide. So he listened quietly.

When Star finished with her disappointingly short lesson, Rex let loose with a slew of questions including "Corban, you prepared for snipe huntin' in the desert sands?"

Corban smiled at the man and replied, "snipes are nothing. Sniper, remember?" He looked around at the team that was about to head off on another weird mission and commented, "Now, if I were a betting man, I'd be willing to lay some good money on mummies. Anybody want to lay some odds on meeting a few good mummies? I'm thinking we'll get a chance to see if Boris Karloff got this one right."

Getting a bit more serious he turned to Alistaria and said, "Honestly, mummies, right? You ever hear anything about how to fight a mummy? Or any other legends of Egyptian critters we need to prepare for? Is there anything we need to be sure to bring?"


As soon as answers were given, Corban was ready to gather his gear and move out. He'd ask for advice on desert fighting. He really didn't have much experience with that. But it was time to move. The Lieutenant had said an hour and the clock was ticking.

Doc sat at a table inside the conference room at headquarters. Colonel Kevin Darling had called the team here for another mission briefing. The Colonel was thoughtful enough to have sandwiches and tea brought in. The British officer was now the Liaison officer with High Command.

Doc thought, "High Command", he was still finding it odd how they got to here from that near botched mission to destroy a rocket fuel plant at Castle Rautenberg. The paratrooper company was quickly reduced to a few men when their planes were shot out of the sky by Nazi fighters. The few survivors pulled together to attempt completing the mission. Only the mission changed when they found out that the castle was not a fuel lab, but actually a secret sight to access occult stuff to give the Germans unbeatable forces or creatures. A woman they had saved, Miss Hofsetter , had been there to try to regain the items being used to call these creatures and she guided them to recover the mystic things. They had eventually recovered the items but lost a good man, sergeant Brutal, who sacrified himself to save the team. Now here they were, a special team that was sent out to stop other such Nazi unnatural plans. Apparently it was decided the small group was more effective than creating a company.

The rest of team, some from the original survivors and a couple of new recruits, had also now gathered at the tables in the room. In his proper British accent Colonel Darling started to outline a new assignment.

"Right. Now listen up. ,Early this week, we received a coded transmission from Miss Hofsetter with a set of coordinates and the message that the SS occult division was highly interested in this site. The message also mentioned the SS was sending the "Coven" to retrieve whatever is there. Unfortunately we have no idea what or who the Coven is. The coordinates are in Egypt, about 100 miles south west into the desert from Fort Maddalena. Thanks to some work by Sidney Cotton, we were able to get some aerial photo graphs using a small plane and special cameras." The Colonel pulled several black and white pictures out of a manila envelope and puts them up on the board. The photographs showing some sort of ruins in the desert, but one large building was still intact.

"According to our research people, this is most likely a tomb of an ancient ruler called Hamon-Rye. Apparently he was considered a mage of great power and is rumoured to have collected some antiquities of note. Like most of the rulers of the time, he bankrupted his kingdom building an enormous tomb and his people rose against him. Nothing left but these ruins now." The Colonel stopped to take a breath and drink some of his tea. "Whatever is there, the Jerries are moving fast. We got a report that three lorries were spotted heading in the direction of the ruins this morning. So, as you can plainly see no time for dilly-dally. Gear up and get yourself out to airfield 4 within the hour. We want to be wheels up as soon as possible so we can drop you at dusk. Usual mission. Stop the Jerries, get the magic, bring it back home. We have a man in Fort Maddalena who can get you home once you get out. Any questions?"

Star, a young women they had rescued during another mission and was now their team expert on occult, nearly dropped her tea cup when she heard the colonel mention Hamon-Rye.

"Colonel, if it pleases you, I'd like to add what little I know to the pool as it were." Star looked at the group one after another then closed her eyes, drawing the information from her mind she spoke.

"Hamon-Rye an his consort Monanedra were great rulers long before the pyramids were constructed. It was said that they were great an powerful couple. Who made a lush an fertile kingdom in the desert for his people. So great was their magic their it is said that the waters that flowed forth fresh sweet an could could heal a man of illness, plague or injury. With the high priestess Monadedra at his side, he wheeled the great staff of Mo-Pelar. Through which its said that his magic flowed through the giant diamond which topped the staff.

It is said that he was the very first to build a tomb, to transport his earthly remains to the afterlife. Accounts differ on why he was over thrown or how simply that he was. Upon his death his consort gathered his followers and hid Hamon-Rye in a secret tomb underneath the temple. She then sealed herself into the tomb so she could be with him in the afterlife and cursed the lands that were once his to shrivel up and die. After his death, the waters ceased to flow and the lush fertile lands dried up and were taken by the desert.

The only other accounts I've come across are accounts of A Roman Centurion named Decimus Severian. Found the tomb around the time of Cezar Augustus. taking everything of value an wealth of torching the rest. However given the ease of success the Romans had and the relatively small amount of loot that was found. It is believed by most scholars that Decimus found a false tomb.

In 1865 Heinrich Karl Brugsch found the temple. Which is why it is on the map. It is noted that He said the tomb was long plundered. Though the temple was in control by cultists. They believed Hamon-Rye would return one day and grant them the secret of eternal life. Heinrich was hampered insistently by the cult unable to make a long expedition of the tomb because of them. To the point he had to leave in a hurry or face their wrath.

He did make mention of a mysterious fire within the tomb that was still burning bright when he discovered it but he later recanted that story claiming to have celebrated the discovery with bad liebfraumilch with lead to him seeing the impossible."
Doc raised an eyebrow as he looked at her, "Phew,you sure about that?.....You seemed a bit sketchy on the details." Then he let out a low chuckle, "Mercy girl,what could you find if we gave you time to look that stuff up?" Doc was always amazed by what was locked up that brain of hers.

"Well good thing you got it inside that head of yours, we don't have time to go to no library when we're in the field."

Almost before he could take a breath Doc heard that German accent coming out of that Hillbilly Marine. Just like the rapid fire of his favorite tommy gun Rat let out a blast of questions; one after another while not seeming to wait for an answer.

"Hey Legs! Thanks for the History Lesson!"

"So ... Colonel Darling ... Sir! No trace of Panzers?"

"Sarge best have a supply of explosives for any unexpected German tanks!"

"Hey Doc! There be some nasty critters in the desert sands! You got plenty of medical supplies to deal with poison critters? Them African desert snakes, lizards and spiders make the Kentucky mountain critters seem tame!"

"Hey Cap! Never heard tell of any 'Coven' during my days with the British 'Rat Patrol' units! But there be plenty of Scurvy Cut Throats roaming the sands! They be ready to slit yer throat for yer canteen of water! Any strategy suggestions Cap?"

"Well I ate enough sand over there in that ungodly sand box to know we need to be extra special prepared for this mission!

"We be needing plenty of salt pills, be wary of all those stinkin' sink holes and be prepared for the rapid temp changes! Best to travel at night under cover of darkness!

"Corban you prepared for Snipe Huntin' in the desert sands?"

"I never heard of no Coven, but them Jerries be up to no good for sure! Hey Legs! You know anything more about this Ham Sandwich Tomb or what the Jerries might be searching for?"

"How about you ... Colonel Darling ... Sir? Any Theories?" Doc looked over at the Marine and imitated the rapid questioning, "You get that nick name Rat from being in the desert patrol or because of that cheesy chatter of yours?

,,As a cook you should know it ain't no regular Ham samwich, it's Ham on Rye,.

You ever breath when you're talking?......

And if'n you take care of them snakes then don't you worry about me taking care of you, but if all else fails I got nice toe tag with your name on it."

Looking back to Star, "Say ain't them Coven things usually women,,you know like a bunch of witches?"

(Back Storey Post Of Doc and Star, By Ody and Astrid)

Doc's Storey........

"Hey Doc! ", Jack turned and roll his eyes as the girl entered the room, he smiled as Star grinned.

"Hey Ali", Jack replied knowing she didn't like being call that.

"Don't call me that!", she huffily growled under her breath,.....Ya, got a minute?... I need you to look at something for me."

Star made a gesture with her thumb over her shoulder as if pointing to her back. She winched as the muscle pulled taught; her arm froze in place before going limp to her side.

Jack had been treating her ever since that day he found unconscious in a Nazi holding cell. He can see that day.

She had been placed on a dirty cot, face down on her belly. When she had not responded to his whispers he took the keys from body on the dead guard and entered her cell. He checked her for a pulse and was relieved to find she alive.

Her shirt was rapped open and marks of torture were heavy on her back. An ugly open sore gaped on her shoulder. He could tell from smell and the seeping that gangrene was setting in. The wound must have been from an acid burn and was left too long. The medic couldn't wait to get her back to treat her, they still had this Nosferatu thing to find and stop.

Jack had seen this rot before and knew it must be removed and wound cleaned or this girl would die of its poison. Pulling his combat knife Jack opened the scabbing that was crusting over the wound. The girl didn't move, now worried that the poison may have already effected her too much to respond Doc knew he had to get that puss out. Taking a deep breath Doc leaned in and placed his mouth over wound sucking the mass of slime and blood. He was careful not to swallow, but the putrid taste invoked a gag reflex. He spat and then wiped his tongue on his sleeve. He continued this between each attempt to draw out the poison. As the taste changed from rot to blood "Doc" Reid knew he'd got out as much as he could.

Grabbing a mouthful of water from his canteen the corpsman flushed the poison from his own mouth. Jack then washed and cleaned that and the others wounds on the girls back. After treating the open wound with sulfa he closed it with tape and covered it with a bandage. When he heard a slight moaning he realized the girl was awakening. He put the GI issue med bag where she could see the Red Cross. He saw her hands tense, ready push and move. As she turned her head he saw more scars on her face," You're not in great shape kid, but I got to get you out of here,.."

It must have been his America accent but the tension went out of her. He was amazed that she able to sit up and then stand. The girl was made of pretty strong stuff and soon was holding her own as they continued the mission.

they soon found she had a knowledge of things spooky that proved essential to being able to defeat creature that was their assignment. It was as if she was born to hunt the things that go bump in the night.

When they had returned," Star" as she liked to be called, stayed and joined the team. Jack was glad because now he could continue to treat the damage that had nearly ruined her should. He hoped through treatment and therapy she would regain full control again.

Star had been a bit upset when some of wounds had got infected, but it was her own fault for not keeping them clean and following his instruction. She even tried to fight him once when he needed to reopen and clean the festering. "If you want that arm to fall off you just keep doing as you please, it as if I know anything about it. I can get help to hold you down and this time you'll be awake." Doc guessed that someone must have told her about how he cleaned her wound back in that cell because she seemed to be a little more tolerant of his care. She had even attempted to apologize, but Doc told her, "Listen..my sister Anna never needed to say nothing and neither do you,, just don't screw up my good work!"
Now Alistaria regularly came in when thing didn't work right. So when he saw her arm twitch and fall limp he said, "Ok..STAR,you get yourself back to the examin'n room. I'll see if we can't loosen that up a bit."