Caldwell lifted a pair of night vision binoculars to his eyes and took the three people in for a moment. “They might be able to take everything the infantry has right now, but they don’t look untouched. At least not up close.” Jessica took the binoculars when he offered them to her and got a closer look herself.

The first of the three was the spellcaster. The one who had raised the thick, white wall of force that radiated light into the dark night. She was wearing traveling robes, with only light armor made of some kind of hardened leather. Everything she wore was meant and designed to increase movement capability, while at least providing some amount of protection. Her staff radiated a white hot light that reminded Jessica of the still strobing day flairs overhead.

The second leader stood in the middle of a circle of dead spearmen. He wore the same gear as the basic infantry men and women dead and dying around him, but he carried a spear as black as black. His hair was slightly longer than the other infantry, but that was virtually the only thing that distinguished him. He stood confident, staring down the guns of hundreds of Rangers.

The third man stood between the other two. His armor gleamed golden even in the dying light. His shield was massive, and the sword sheathed on his hip looked deadly, glowing with an unearthly purple.

Jessica looked through her spell list and decided on a course of action. “I think I have something that can take down that shield and its caster if it came to it. But I don’t know about the other three.” Caldwell looked towards Max, who grinned and nodded.

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Max pulled out a bayonet and affixed it to the front of his rifle.

“Where did you get one of those old things?”

“Every Marine is a rifleman, and every Marine knows how to use one of these.” He patted the handle of the bayonet. “And one of these.” Max patted the pouch at his hip that looked like it held the handle of his shovel.

“What’s your level, Marine?” Caldwell asked, and Max smirked.

“Level twenty five Marine Close Combat Specialist lieutenants. Got my class yesterday.” Jessica raised her eyebrows. She had gotten the opportunity to choose a class months ago, but she hadn’t selected one yet. “Think of it as something akin to an old-fashioned role playing game fighter class, close combat sword and shield type.”

“We might very well need your skills if this parley doesn’t happen the way it needs too.” Caldwell said, and he settled in to wait for orders from on high.